Artist Block

[Steven Sweeney]

I lost twelve years of potential painting time because I didn't think I could do it well enough or whatever.

It

[Patricia Joyce]

"Reaching the Goal by Giving Up the Attempt to Reach It"

Steven, that's juicy!! I'll be chewing on it all weekend!!!

[Steven Sweeney]

The website's being a little dodgy this morning -- the full title (which is appearing in the AOL browser edition but not in Explorer's) is "The Paradox of Intention -- Reaching the Goal by Giving up The Attempt to Reach It." It is accessible through Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/IS...rokeofgeniusA/

(Explorer is still not displaying the hyperlink. I'll come back to it later.)

[Janel Maples]

Patricia,

I do not have any deep words of wisdom for you just something that fosters creativity for me. When someone else's art work catches my attention, I'm done. I get all excited and happy.

When I get this feeling I go to my studio, play a CD I enjoy, and work on something. It is only under these conditions that I am able to enter that place where, when I come out of it, I don't remember working on certain portions of my project (and my children say they caught me dancing when I stepped back to take a look. ) In my opinion, my best stuff comes from me when I am there.

My best stuff comes when I am happy.

I don't know if this is the same for others; but for me, the quality of my workmanship is directly related to how I feel. It is not possible for me to enter that place or produce something I like if I am preoccupied with other stuff. Just make sure you properly identify what that other stuff is otherwise it may surface again at a later date. I've been bit with that one more than once. I have to remind myself to answer the question "What is the root issue here?" only then can I be in control of my own happiness.

Anyway, my simple, and I like to keep things that way, suggestion is if you take the time to do something for yourself that makes you happy, and most importantly allow yourself to enjoy it, then maybe you won't be preoccupied with worrying about it so much and you will give yourself a better chance at getting where you want to be.

Good luck.

[Tom Edgerton]

Originally Posted by Steven Sweeney

I would not characterize those years as unproductive.

Steven--

I believe that most of what you've said here is so, especially the above.

I often feel that I'm playing catch-up when I compare my work to others, but in the privacy of the studio, I realize that what matters is the time ahead and not the past. Like you, I accept that most times, "It'll shine when it shines." And too, that regret for the past--trying to "understand backwards"--is usually a waste of spirit.

As you might expect, when I DID get back to hands-on work, it was there for me in a completely new and powerful way. All the pent-up looking at art and analyzing it that I had done during that "lost" time came roaring forward almost out of nowhere--as much to my surprise as anyone's. So I must have been doing SOMETHING during those years I spent 'getting ready" to work. I was just unaware of what it was.

Just one cautionary note to everyone: If you're feeling blocked, take a cue from Steven and others and take a walk. Just don't make it a TWELVE YEAR walk.

Even though you speak the truth, I've got to give a nod to your dad, too. I have a quote from philosopher Friedrich Engels on my studio wall that goes: "An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory."

Best as always--TE

[Steven Sweeney]

A final channeling of others

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Thank you Steven for posting that quote, it gave me just that little push that I need today. That one is going up on my wall.

Joan

[Garth Herrick]

Originally Posted by Joan Breckwoldt

Thank you Steven for posting that quote, it gave me just that little push that I need today. That one is going up on my wall.

Joan

DITTO!

Thanks Steve, that quote is so true. Now I will load my brush!

Garth

Oh well, after five minutes it got too dark to paint after all. I will clean my brush and try again tomorrow. No computer for me tomorrow until day's end!

Garth

[Patricia Joyce]

Tom, you mentioned that when you did get back to the work, it was there and in a powerful way. "All the pent-up looking at art and analyzing it that I had done during that "lost" time came roaring forward almost out of nowhere...So I must have been doing SOMETHING during those years..."

I did not, was not able, to pick up even a simple pencil and paper and sketch for twenty-five years. But every look at a portrait caused a physical pull on my stomach. I just knew I could draw and paint portraits as good as the ones I saw in galleries. Even going to my niece and nephew's art shows in grade school and high school (they are now both majoring in art in college) created an anxiety and a cosmic pull toward drawing again. Maybe that is why the very first piece I attempted was better than any portrait I had drawn 25 years previous. I WAS "doing SOMETHING during those years" as Tom said.

The only mistake we make is to deny the essense, the core of who we are - artists. Even cowering 25 years did not take the artist out of my soul, it only caused suffering. I will never stop doing art, even during these mysterious blocks. I cannot deny that part of me any longer...she is real, and hungry, and oh so eager. I think my greatest anxiety is that I do not have enough time.... to become accomplished...