This is the Thirtyseventh article in a permanent column for Stroud Arts that appears in the Stroud American. The mission of these articles is to inform, educate and inspire you, the reader, to Make Art Happen in your life and the life of our community.
Last week we looked at ‘TTYWGTD’ or ‘That Thing You Were Going To Do’ and in a continuing vein, lets look at moving our lives forward. More specifically, moving our Artistic Lives forward.
When speaking of our ‘Artistic Lives’, we should look at what an Artistic Life is. It is a lifestyle of being creative, productive and reaching fulfillment. Please note, I didn’t say a lifestyle of Painting or Singing, or Acting or Writing but a lifestyle of creating something you (and maybe others) enjoy. A lifestyle of consistently producing something that you (and maybe others) can take pride in and of. Most importantly, a lifestyle that brings personal satisfaction in the doing of any action and is therefore personally fulfilling.
This isn’t an impossible goal. You can do it and to move forward and achieve this Artistic Lifestyle, you can implement the following guidelines;
1) Find your Quiet. Turn off the phone or place it in another room. Our modern, interconnective world is constantly striving for our attention. It is a distraction to sustained concentration and productivity. You will be amazed how much you can accomplish without its incessant plea for attention.
2) Find your Optimal Time of Productivity. Everyone is different and has a different time that they are ‘At Their Best.’ Some people are ‘Early Morning Risers’ and others are ‘Night Owls.’ You have to step back and observe yourself for when you are more creative and productive and then dedicate that time to your Daily Routine of being creative, in whatever capacity and form that brings you fulfillment.
3) Find your space. Just like you have a certain time that you are most productive, you also have a certain place in which you are most creative. Do you need a private, quiet room to be creative? Is the dinner table where you find your Muse? Is the comfy couch and a warm blanket what you need to bring your art to life? Everyone has a place. Find yours.
4) Find your Balance. You must relegate other duties to their proper place and time. Everyone has duties and expectations that must be attended to. Perhaps you have to mow the lawn or wash the dishes or other duties around the house. If you don’t attend to them, at the proper time, they will nag at your subconscious impeding your creativity. Many of us have heard about the creative person who is taking a week off from work to finish an artistic ‘TTYWGTD.’ Sadly, what happens is they do everything except what they intended to do. Find Balance. Work on what must be done, then play.
5) Find your place. The final act of living a creative lifestyle is one that is often the most difficult to implement. As a creative person you should put your work out there. It is an incredible act of bravery to submit your creation to the scrutiny of the world. But you should not let your fear of criticism or lack of acceptance keep you from sharing your creation with the world. Not everyone will like or appreciate your work and that is the beauty of Art. It is truly in the eye of the beholder.
You are creative, You are an artist and You should Make Art Happen.