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dianebriones
Posts:6
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| 01/07/2008 2:25 PM |
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Hello everyone. I am in need of a great advice and maybe some pep talk about motivating myself. I am going through what I call a slump rightnow with my art. I haven't been motivated to do any art bec. my schedule is so hectic;  I work 50hrs/ week plus Im going through a career change and going to school for a degree in Studio Art. It's all so stressful rightnow and my mind is cluttered with school work and also worries of not being able to support myself with my art when I'm done with school. I know that to be a proffessional artist, I constantly need to enhance my skills. Please give me a word of advice....... |
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mikec@pols
Posts:791
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| 01/08/2008 7:52 AM |
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Geeze! 50 hours a week, a career change and school???!!!
You don't need motivation, you need a vacation!
I find that when I'm in a slump it helps to just doodle, make small sketches or even color in a child's coloring book (yeah, sounds funny, but it keeps the creative juices flowing). As far as supporting yourself, well that's a crapshoot unfortunately. You can control that somewhat, but honestly, you just never know. Don't fret over it, just do your work the best that you can and you will be just fine. And, I believe as you do about "constantly having to enhance your skills." However, once you develope a style and it sells, you might want to do two things instead of combining one (i.e. paint a certain subject matter in one style and another in a different style...does that make sense?). Or, you could even branch out into another medium with the new style...
You sound very commited and ambitious so I don't honestly believe that you're going to have any problems surviving in the art world!!!
Mike |
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"You either grow or regress...nothing stays the same...." (unknown)
"A man may fall several times in life, but he is not a failure until he says that he was pushed..."
www.portraitsoflifestudio.com |
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Maggie429
Posts:319
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| 01/09/2008 10:39 AM |
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an idea would be to carry a small hand-size sketch book with you and make sure you do at least one sketch a day... even a sketch of a pencil, or a coffee cup... you can do wild things with the sketch to keep it interesting. Then, when you get one you really like or an idea comes to mind... I bet you will start to paint again.
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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The Viking
Posts:36
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| 01/12/2008 9:04 PM |
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What works well for me is music. I sit at my art table and listen to a seritain song that does IT for you. Puts you in a sertain state of mind. Or read a book that tells about taills of wonder and make your self draw the story line in rough sketches.
As for being able to support your self as an artist...that is a gamble, but you will need to force your self to paint or draw when ever you need, not just when you what to. A commision needs to be done at a sertain time and not later and that means putting your own work to one side for while. But never forget, that commisons pay the bills!!
Good luck |
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http://www.freewebs.com/vikingart13/index.htm |
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vikingwife
Posts:878
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| 01/14/2008 10:40 AM |
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Hi Diane.....
I totally know how you feel! I've been in an artistic slump myself. The desire to create is there.....but I get so bogged down with the daily activities that I just find myself "putting it off" all the time. I used to frequent this site every day....and lately I find myself commenting maybe once a week. I've been thinking about what REALLY stops me from sitting down and creating, and I think I don't spend enough time really sitting down and finishing a base drawing. I tend to dive into colors without finishing the initial drawing and then....as always.....I get stuck.......and then I lose interest......and then I add yet another unfished project to the heap.
So I finally FINISHED a base drawing the other day. And then I went to AC Moore (with the mutitude of gift cards that I recieved for Christmas) and bought a new box of pastels. It's impossible to have a new package of any art suppies.....and NOT open it that very day! So I sat down last night and started working and I finally felt better that I was at least working at it again.
I went to school for studio art as well. You are probably already taking lots of art classes. Just try to pour your creativity into your school projects.....and you may be able to put some of the finished work into your portfolio. I remember very well how demanding those classes can be....and having multiple art projects due at the same time is pretty stressful. Focus on the school stuff for now. You don't need to burn yourself out trying to crank out art on the side. But if you have free time and you feel inspired....by all means...CREATE!! 
Jess |
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Rotrautstill
Posts:9
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| 01/15/2008 11:39 AM |
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| Hi - Diane and Vikingwife - I think if you tried changing procedure just a bit - you wouldn't get stuck. Base drawing is the good start . After getting the composition set (in a medium size format, 10 by whatever) I have it Xerox-enlarged and transfer it to the support. I described this time-saver in another entry. After that I take the composition sketch and make about three (or how many I need) Xerox size for size copies and tape them to a board, spray-gesso them and let them dry and then make colour layouts. I can make all my colour mistakes on these and when I finally see what I wanted, I cut it out, tape it to a poster board which I hang up where I can see it when I then paint. I don't mind the initial buckling (it will flatten out when dry) and I will use anything that gets me where I want to go! Acrylics, gouache, pastels, gesso, oilsticks etc, gets me on the right "feel" track too. Saves lots of time and baaad moods! |
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claudiamah
Posts:86
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| 01/16/2008 1:16 PM |
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| Life is hectic and there are many demands on my time...and the need to create is a low priority if you aren't a professional artist. I, too, find myself in a "slump". Two things keep me going, though. Firstly, I meet with other artists once a week at someone's studio, and we work on life studies, still lifes, landscapes, or whatever. Even if I don't touch a pencil or brush that week, at least I've painted or sketched for two hours with friends, and have had lively discussions about the process of art. The second activity that renews my interest, if not my painting, is to read back issues of Artists' Magazine. I rescued two dozen 2000-2002 issues from the library discard box, and read when I find a moment or at bedtime. There is always something to stimulate my brain, and occasionally shoves me before my easle or at least into a sketch book. I guess that what I need to do is place my artistic urges, higher up in my priority list. BUT, easier said then done! |
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banina
Posts:3
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| 01/19/2008 3:29 PM |
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I know a lot of people do art to de-tress. Finding time to do artwork sounds very difficult for you right now. Do you do anything to de-stress? See art as your time to relax.
check out this artist if you want to get motivated about creating art.
www.tionamarco.com
All her work is with crayola crayons!
Banina
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jason
Posts:107
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| 01/19/2008 11:47 PM |
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Hi- If you are dedicated to be an artist , but are worried about supporting yourself, yet want to be motivated too, and already work 50 hours- then consider working in an art related industry . Working in a gallery, art supply store, teaching art, setting up websites for artists , working in an art museum. This will give you plenty of motivation, ideas, contacts, networking, and peace of mind. Good luck .
Jason |
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Jason Alster MSc
http://jasonalster.googlepages.com/creativityandrelaxedconcentration |
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mksarts
Posts:98
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| 03/22/2008 8:51 AM |
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i too have a demanding day job. although i am not planning on supporting myself with my art, it is important to me to keep making it. what has really helped me is blogging. i write about art, in some form, every day.
i take my little digital camera with me when i travel for business and make myself take "arty" pics to post. if i can't work on something, i think about how i'm going to do it. i write about how art & my life intersect. i bought a variety of markers to doodle with when i fly. never been good at using a sketchbook, but boy can i color!
i cannot believe how much creativity has grown out of this exercise. it keeps me focused. journaling would work the same, but i like being able to post photos with the words. it's also fun to look back and see how pieces progressed. if i am stuck, i go back to see what ideas i had that i never followed up on. and my friends and family get to see where i am.
the other good idea is the group painting one. took an art class weekly (as much as possible) for 7 years. even if nothing else got done, it was fun, relaxing & inspiring. my teacher died and i have finally found a location to paint with some friends again.
good luck- i am impressed by your energy & desire to make a living doing what you love. remember to play!
marianne
http://mkonvalinka.blogspot.com
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marianne |
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mksarts
Posts:98
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| 03/22/2008 8:55 AM |
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| one other thing about being stuck- mike is right on- for me, playing with a new medium is generally the best way to get the juices flowing again. i can give myself permission to play, no pressure to have the "good" finished product, can learn about new techniques, etc. and the fun thing is to see how the side excursions inform the more traditional work (for me, oils) when i get back to it. |
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marianne |
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