I suppose you are wondering how I actually did manage to complete 38 paintings,  and organise my own art exhibition in 6 months?  I sometimes wonder how on earth I managed it myself, considering how I do love to put things off until the last minute!  Well I really tried very hard to put the following words into practise.  That and the sheer fact I knew I had 24 weeks to produce about 35 paintings – you can do the maths on that one!  (And – shhhhhh!  stay with me, the real secret’s at the very end!)

So… I mentioned last post that I had two favourite chapters to quote to you, but when it came down to it, I could quote the whole book!  I’ll settle though for this one… At the end of the day, this says it all for me.

‘A pro views her work as craft, not art.  Not because she believes art is devoid of a mystical dimension.  On the contrary.  She understands that all creative endeavour is holy, but she doesn’t dwell on it.  She knows if she thinks about that too much, it will paralyze her.  So she concentrates on technique.  The professional masters how, and leaves what and why to the gods.  Like Somerset Maugham she deosn’t wait for inspiration, she acts in the anticipation of its apparition.  The professional is acutely aware of the intangibles that go into inspiration.  Out of respect for them, she lets them work.  She grants them their sphere while she concentrates on hers.  The sign of the amateur is overglorification of and preoccupation with the mystery.  The professional shuts up.  She doesn’t talk abou tit.  She does her work”

So it seems then that dwelling on the mystical side of our art can bring us undone, and that has been key for me.  You’ve no doubt heard it said before from a creative friends that they can only paint when they’re ‘in the mood’ or when the ‘muse strikes’ or when the stars and planets align.  Well I’m out to bust that myth.  That’s not to say that those moments dont happen, or to make them less wonderful – because they do happen, and when they do they truly are magical.  I know the creative time-stands-still-bubble, the one where you could just continue painting uninterrupted all day long without food or water.  I’ve expereinced it and I love it when it happens.  But truth be told, that’s not the norm. That’s a blessing that comes around every so often.  And, if I relied purely upon that magical bubbles’ decension, then I wouldn not get half of what I need to get done…

So it is resistance that keeps me from growing as an artist and also fear.  Fear of things being birthed into the natural, because then they are real…

 Here’s another exerpt on fear…

The amateur believes she must first overcome her fear; then she can do her work.  The professional knows that fear can never be overcome.  She knows there is no such thing as a fearless warrior or a dread-free artist.  What Henry Fonda does, after puking into the toilet in his dressing room, is to clean up and march out onstage.  He’s still terrified but he forces himself forward in spite of his terror.  He knows that once he gets out into the action, his fear will recede and he’ll be ok.

 Did you catch that last line? 

He knows that once he gets out into the action, his fear will recede and he’ll be ok…

And that is the key folks.  Painting is a VERB.  Remember from primary school – a verb is a doing word?!  Well it involves deliberate action.  When resistance is there because you fear the outcome of birthing your dreams and soul into reality (after all our paintings are our hearts and souls on canvas for all to see) then the only way – the. only. way.  is to force one foot forward and make a mark on the page. 

You know how it is to be in the shower in winter time…  It’s lovely and warm and you never want to hop out, but you know you have to?  So you just make a decision to turn off that tap and endure the minute of cold as you stand on the mat and dry off.  But pretty soon you’re in your warm pjs with uggies on and it’s all good!  Well it’s exactly the same!

I’ve come to realise that lamenting over the magic not being there is wasted energy.  My big realisation is that My muse ALWAYS VISITS ME when she sees me hard at work and persisting with my dream.  When I give myself permission to make mistakes and paint over the canvas if I don’t like it, then that is always when the magic happens.  If I let go and not get so attached then she always visits.  BUT, as soon as I get filled with fear and anxiety or worry about the end product (will it be good enough to warrant calling myself an artist?  Dare I ?)  then resistance sets in and my gears completely freeze. 

 Here’s another quote on my pin-up board…

“We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing.  Action always generates inspiration.  Inspiration seldom generates action”  Frank Talbot

Can you see what I’m saying?  I’m not taking the beauty out, or suggesting that our passion become drudgery.  Absolutely not!  But that action is a key ingredient to keeping that passion and creative muse alive! 

Oh and how on earth could i forget this… This is definitely something you will need in order to make your creative dreams come true…

Now – let’s all forget about how dirty the floors are and go paint !!!

X D