Artistic outlets

I must admit social media can be a fantastic outlet for artistic output, that is, if you know where to go and how to use them. In my initial poking around, I became aware that Instagram, Facebook, Twitter are the instantly recognizable places to begin. There are a few other sites out there for publishing one's art, but these three are the most immediate venues I can think of. As I've begun to be more active on my Instagram account, I've taken to following several uniquely creative souls that give me a taste into different mediums (cross-stitch, felt sculpting, pottery, etc). Facebook is the other place I go, but I find it's more concentrated, so more information  is available from the artist. Additionally, Facebook is great for becoming a part of different artistic communities.

The particular FB community I've joined is Daily Sketching Workout. It posts daily themes that can be quickly drawn and it's an active group of artists from beginner to advance. I've been following the page for quite sometime and in my earlier endeavors I have posted a few quick sketches, but as everyone knows, I fell off the band wagon. As I fire up the creative furnace once again, I am looking for a consistent source of ideas, and this is the place I will most likely go for ideas and to post for feedback. For now, this will most likely be the singular place I will participate in, however, in a year's time if I want more challenges, I will start hunting around for another interactive group to join.

And away we draw!

Grittiness

I've been going through some serious self-analysis over the last couple of days. Much of what I've been mulling over has been my lack of creativity, drive to create and digging into past memories of driving creativity. The process to begin the dig into my memory banks has been prompted by reading Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance (Angel Duckworth). The theme is what is grit (perseverance) followed by multiple stories of accomplished individuals. By exploring each narrative, as possible (it really depended on if she could contact the person and ask specific questions), I was able to reflect on my own process and came to a few conclusions about my own journey.

I gravitate towards stories.

The Time Wanderer

I grew up listening to a cousin read Little House on the Prairie series to us. As soon as I could read, I would consume books by the armloads - raiding my school library, the local library and sometimes the regional library. Helping the thirst along was the restriction of certain literary genres in my conservative religious household. Fiction was off limits. Interestingly enough, someone in the family was being home-schooled and their English textbook was my prime reading target. I often would sneak into a corner and read short stories. Once in a while, I'd be found and the book was confiscated. Another homework byproduct laying around the house was Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. I consumed it in 6 hours. In in high-school, I failed grade 11 Biology because I was reading young adult fiction, hidden in the textbook. Lastly, I discovered inter-library book loans at my college library and I began the raid for fantasy and sci-fi books, binge reading into the early mornings of school days.

So I have a thing for stories. 

Yet, I don't write stories - I draw stories. Well, not whole stories, but snippets, a snapshot of the protagonist. A friend once told me that each of my drawings is a glimpse into a story, a moment when the protagonist turns and we see a reflective look into the distance before they strive on into their narrative. This observation has just sunk in. Ever so often, I finish a piece that I really resonate with and I realize it's because I can see a story unfolding beyond the drawing. I want to know where they are going, what are they doing - I want to read the adventure.

Year End

I am getting older, and there becomes a point where the procrastination of my youth is starting to become irrelevant. It's not an irrelevancy that I choose, but rather a disbelief in myself for continuing in this manner. Time and memory are perhaps the largest warnings. What I do now affects me in the morrow. My feelings tied within those actions are irrelevant - for how I choose to remember is based on the results. To date, my most significant contribution to self change this year has been my weight loss. What was the foundation of that success? Realizing what worked and sticking to those die hard habits. Cycling, gaming and eating clean foods that I could easily focus on for the long run. 

In this coming year, I am going to continue with growth in body, but I also want to tackle other areas. I am going to read more, I am going to steadily produce art, I am going to write creatively, and also eat creatively clean. This is a year of "I am" rather than "I need to".

Day 5: The business plan

Ultimately, I would like to make a business out of all this drawing and painting. There is a market out there, and eventually I will find it. However, for this year, I am aiming just to get into the groove of having a high output of creativity or in other words, being consistent. This year is also about researching the market and creating a general sources list to reference when I start putting the plan together.

Still working on the background

I did manage to read over the art business plan template I secured last year, and I will be tinkering with a draft over the next couple of weeks. The most immediate ideas outlined were goals, market and budget. Since reading it, I've begun to pay attention to artists' products, styles and where they advertise. In the back of my head, I am making a list of sorts. 

I know it's a long road but if I've learned anything in 10 months of unemployment - you learn to appreciate and even savor the process. I have a general goal, and have an open ended answer to what I envision, but I know that the process is where it matters. Cheers!

Day 4: The art of delaying

Took me forever to complete
the hand and spear (The Yellow
Guard)

I remember when I use to whip out a painting or a drawing or two in no time at all. Those were the days. I would hole up in the art room, absorbed in the canvas, the paints, the music - there was definitely music - and melded all together created this concentrating atmosphere. As I reflect, I wonder what chemical reaction was happening in my brain to create that utter abandonment to the creative chase?

I miss those days. I am undecided as to my slow progress of completing projects. I must admit though, I am more aware of the style I invest into the piece, and the attention to detail. There is definite deliberation going on. Maybe I can chalk it up to the maturity of becoming an artist - becoming calculated.

Today was a good day with regards to accomplishing the to do list. Yes, I started creating a daily to do list. A list I know that I can accomplish and is within my means of completing.  I read over this art business template I downloaded eons ago, set up Photoshop on the PC, reviewed the Coursera class I'm starting next week, and lastly, worked on The Yellow Guard.

Tomorrow's a new day and a new canvas. Cheers!