Friday, May 14, 2010

More Randomly Speaking....Defining Moment

Time again for Randomly Speaking....random things I've read, seen or heard that inspires and helps me (and hopefully you!) in the artistic process.

I love it when I read or find something that identifies and expresses exactly what I am feeling when I am at a loss. What's my problem? AHA .....I just read it. I found it the June issue of Art Calendar.

I have expressed being in an unsettling creative funk and ebb of artistic motivation over these past weeks. After reading several hitting close to my mental home articles in the June issue of Art Calendar, I am no longer at a loss. I can definitely see and say part of my creative paralysis stemmed from trying to create work based on WOULD this sell ( I dunno), do I think this would SELL, who would buy this, rather than just creating for ME. A little self-censorship. I am also guilty of occasionally defining my success based solely on sales. A change of thought process is due and in effect.

Thanks to a profile about featured artist Melissa Peck, I read and recognized my problem. Nothing random at all. It was all there. A few highlighted quotes from this fantastic article:

"When I was the only one I was creating for, that's when I tapped into what makes me unique, which is the thing that makes my work sell........It was such a gift to create for me."

"What I mean is to continue creating for me and not imagining who would be buying my art. By setting aside what I thought I should be painting and doing what I found most exciting I have stumbled upon
something that is uniquely me.
"
Melissa Peck


"Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art."
Andy Warhol


I do feel so much better after having read this entire issue. Now I'm done stroking the keyboard and off to picking up a paintbrush. For me.

1 comment:

  1. Bravo! It's a lesson I need to be reminded of all the time...art shouldn't be so hard...and it isn't when I do it from my heart. That's when it is easiest and there is no pushing and pulling with the universe...They are always the pieces I am happiest with and other people seem to connect to.
    As for the selling part...
    there is a reason for the term 'starving artist'
    LOL Hugs to you Marilyn :)

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