Completing Goals: Finding an Incentive

Hey Stranger,

It’s mid September, and I know lots of people, including myself are incredibly stressed. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t gotten to sit down and paint since about July. I’m sure I might have mentioned that in my last post but I tend to revisit the same thoughts over and over for periods of time, so if I did, I’m not surprised.

I’m itching to paint. But at the moment, I lack the space to do so and because of lacking the space at the moment, I feel the incentive depleting. I’m a pretty proactive person, and because I feel the itch and know my cycle with how this dance goes, I need to create an incentive so I can paint and not feel like I’m committing creative suicide because I haven’t been practicing because life calls.

I have three jobs right now, I am exercising regularly, and I’m even getting back into the ice rink (I’m an ex figure skater). All of this is great despite everything else feeling out of control, but I still haven’t gotten to paint.

So here’s my ideas for slowly adding in stuff to get back into the groove of things before I lose it!

1) get a plein air easel and paint outside, both from life and actual projects. Do it before it starts to get too cold.

2) sketch (draw or watercolor or gouache) at my jobs and make the time happen. I work with children, and I’m sure they would love to see me draw more. I did a drawing of a child recently that was silly and with an oversized pencil and they all watched in awe.

3) keep writing, keep pouring my thoughts here so I feel less jumbled figuring everything out because it reassures me that I am capable of keeping up with all kinds of things

4) Keep applying to showcases, grants, residencies and don’t let the rejections deter me. There will be a hit!

5) keep applying to creative jobs, and then reward myself after by going to look at art in galleries and drawing in there.

6) plan my next big project, I’ve started to but I haven’t sketched a composition for it.

The point is, if I have 15-30 minutes—I can draw or do a really fast painting sketch. I just have to do it.

SO, that’s it for today. I’m in my office job, thinking, plotting and even scheming.

PS. don’t forget to free yourself (me too) from the shame of having periods of zero creating. Your skills go elsewhere, and that’s ok.

Happy friday!