How to Achieve Success in Creativity

The tortoise won the race, not because of speed, but because he kept working.  He didn't take a rest.  The finish line was where his rest was waiting for him.  He succeeded because he followed one tiny step with another inspite of the obstacles and the opponent's skills.  This is how you achieve success in creativity too, but it has taken me years to learn that lesson.

How many times have I gotten frustrated with something because I couldn't get it done as quickly as I anticipated and walked away from it?  I could point to small things like the stenciling I started in my kitchen 10 years ago and never went back to because I realized it was taking to much time and boring me to tears.  I could then think of other things like the lack of determination to do something with my art talents. I chose to not pursue my art because it seemed too hard to make the pieces and then to find a place to show them, because, what if in the end, no one was interested?

I have always been in a hurry.  Gotta get it done now or it will never get done, right?  If I knew the job would require a long drawn out wait, I would probably abandon it.  I wonder with dismay how many successes I have passed up on because I gave up before I even started.

But for some reason, I still want to write and create visual art.  Why have I kept that dream in my heart like a little nugget, hidden but quietly burning under all of the clutter?  Then every once in a while, I would find it again.  I would take it out, brush it off and dream.  Then I would start a project and before long, the urgency of life and my own lack of will power would cause me to toss the dream away, back into the dark places of my psyche.

But millions of other people have the will. Fortunately for me, I get to be around some of them.  They have taken their dreams and walked out the journey to make them reality.  They take the baby steps and one step at a time, come to the destination of seeing their dream happening.

I follow Graham Bradshaw on Face book.  He is a graphite pencil artist, capable of making the most amazing photo realistic art.  I enjoy how he posts progress photos so we can see his journey.  He has mentioned that he is a part time artist, working full time at a job that is not so creative but pays well and he is so gracious to say how thankful he is for that job which supports his family.  But his art has to wait for those stolen moments when the kids are finally in bed or a weekend gives him a stretch of time.  And he seems to be okay with waiting.  Art is food for his soul, not food on the table but it is just as nourishing and he is willing to do what it takes to make that art.

Another friend I have is a dog groomer.  She does it out of her home and it is a source of pride and satisfaction for her, not just income.  She took her inner frustrations and focused them into a business.  She is a craftswoman who sees people pleased with her work and those people are a source of enjoyment for her.  She says it took her a few years to get really good at her craft, she didn't have much support from those close to her and she wasn't even sure at first if she would ever get any customers, but eventually they came and she now has a business that is just right for her.  And she has is because she was willing to do the work, and wait.

My friend has told me she wishes she had started her career sooner.  She had to overcome personal issues, but she finally took that step and she has not looked back.  Though her craft and mine are not the same, the determination needed to make either of them happen is.

I so appreciate the examples of determined people I have around me.  They are mentors to me, showing me the value of waiting and being patient while I continue to work to excel at my craft.  I learn from their example and gather strength from their experience.

I hope you will be encouraged to wait patiently as you do the work of your art, whatever form it may take.  If this post has helped, I'd love to know. Please leave a comment.  And if you have a story from your own life or from the life of someone you know, please share it here. Thanks for stopping by!

Running to Finish

The name of this article may make it sound like winning is not the main objective of running a race.  After all, isn't the point of running a race winning it? Only if you are a world class athlete who is a rare specimen of physical ability.  Now, it is possible you are that kind of person and in the field you are in, you excel in ways that leave everyone else in the dust.  You are remarkable and will probably end up on the cover of TIME magazine.  Then there is the rest of us.  If we take an accounting of our abilities, running a race to win may be beyond what we can achieve, so we should just kick up our recliners and leave the winning to the deserving... right?

I don't agree with that statement and the reason is this: winning isn't the main point of the race; finishing is.  Many people who participate in marathons don't expect to come in first.  They are participating to complete the race, to be able to say and know that they achieved something remarkable which the majority of people will never even attempt.  They may not be a world class athlete but they can take pride in being fit and healthy and determined to cross the finish line.

Now that I have exhausted that metaphor, I am going to suggest it is not just races we should be seeking to complete, but dreams too.  And maybe that dream is to complete a marathon.  But other dreams might be to take up photography, or bake wedding cakes, or open a book store, or publish a book, or become an illustrator of children's literature.  The dreamer may not make a million dollars on a product Oprah puts on her favorites list, but they can enjoy the journey of making the dream come to life.  So to those brave souls who are willing to stop dreaming and start doing, to get up and do the hard work, I say, go for it! Don't be afraid of running the race because you won't win, be afraid of not running the race and missing out on finishing!

Most dreams seem like marathons, with miles to go, and leg cramps and side stitches and long stretches of road where there are no other runners and no crowd to cheer you on.  All you have with you is God and your desire to finish.  Push though and never  give up! Write that book, bake that cake, open that shop, or train and then run that marathon, if that is your dream.  Do it in your spare time, sneak it in before you have to get to bed.  Work at it a little here and there.  Believe in yourself! Then when obstacles come, find ways around them! Sell books on eBay, self-publish that novel, make the cakes out of your own kitchen when you can't afford to rent the space.

The finish line is up ahead.  It seems so far away, but it is closer now than it was a mile back and closer still than it would be if you had never started! Run the race, and finish.  I know I'll be proud of you!

Swimming in a Sea of Paper

This week's theme for Illustration Friday is "Swim".  I decided to try using construction paper.  Not sure how I feel about the colors.  Not really very vivid, but it is a low cost kind of paper.  It was fun to play with and because it is a low cost medium, the creative process felt more playful and free.  So, construction paper is not just for elementary school children!

Thanks for stopping to look at my art work and blog.  Please leave a comment.  I love to know what you think because I am always wanting to learn something new and I know you have something that you can teach, not just to me but to others!  And remember to play!  Making art should be fun.

Add to the Beauty

Looking at other's people's art can either be inspiring or it can be discouraging. I don't know how many times I have looked at art work and thought, "My stuff looks so childish and unfinished. I can't compete with that!"  Now, that can completely stop the creative process.  But if I can look at other's art work and say, "That is so beautiful, I want to make something beautiful too," then I am looking with eyes that are not clouded with my own ego but rather they are lighted by understanding that we are all creative creatures, born to create.

Appreciating another artist's work should bring out the best in other creatives, not squash any hope they have of making something lovely.  I spent an hour or so on deviantart.com this evening as well as a couple of artist's pages on Facebook.  On other day that would have put a wet blanket on my creative drive, but tonight, it was as if I was ready to be stirred up and looking at other's art work made me want to create too.

The next time we feel discouraged about our art because we think someone else is "doing it better", remember, you were given your gift just for you and that means it is unique to you.  Art shouldn't always be one pitted against another.  Rather we all contribute to the beauty of the world by every creative effort we make.  It is so much the inclination of human beings to make that which is ugly (ie. war, murder, lies, gossip, etc. you get the idea).  Any time we can make beauty it is a good thing.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you were encouraged to go and make something lovely!  Please leave a comment and a link if you post it on line.  I'd love to see what you do!  Blessing!

Eye Glasses

"She put on her eye glasses and still could not believe what she saw!"

This week on Illustration Friday, the theme is "Eye Glasses".  This was my very first post when I began my blog last fall and I felt like it was a good fit for the theme.  I can't help it... I love this drawing.  It's funny how an artist can be so self critical most of the time, but then there comes an art piece that just turns out so good.  The look on her face is full of wonder and disbelief.  I felt that way when I finish this drawing!  I  just have to pat myself on the back for this one :)

Thanks for stopping by to check out my work and put up with my self congratulations.  Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.  And that includes any comments on how it could be better.  I want to learn and improve!

Remembering Yesterday

Finally!  I actually completed a new piece for Illustration Friday before Friday!!!

I don't know about you, but I get caught up in memories sometimes.  So, for the theme "Yesterday", I chose to feature a woman recalling memories of her youth, triggered by an evening spent looking in her yearbook.

Thanks for stopping by to check out my artwork.  I haven't used watercolor in a while, because I am still new at it.  I like how quickly I can lay the colors down.  It goes much faster than colored pencil!  Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.  I sure do appreciate it!

The Lord Has Compassion...

The past couple of weeks have been hard.  I mentioned some of it in my last post.  The loss of a dear friend has really taken its toll.  It's strange how we can think we are struggling and suffering in life and then a true tragedy comes along and it puts everything into perspective.  The struggles don't seem so bad and all the worries become silly and petty.  The true tragedy tears at us and jolts us back into reality.  Then real pain grips us and we are overwhelmed.

Yet always, God is there, offering his comfort.

I did this watercolor as I grieved for my friend and his wife.  I am so glad we have the gift of creativity to express our deepest emotions.  In this expression there is comfort and healing.

Thank you for stopping to see my art and read my words.  I would love to know how you, dear reader, use your creativity, art, writing, music, etc. to work out the hard primal emotions.  Please leave a comment.  You might help someone find an outlet for their pain.