me, my car, and the Guggenheim
A few weeks ago, I was standing in front of the Guggenheim in New York City. The Guggenheim Museum is one of a handful of museums I must see. We had very little time on our first short visit to New York and did not get to visit. I do remember standing for this picture wondering if my career as an artist was heading in the wrong direction. I have landed in Unity, Maine; a beautiful place to be inspired to create art. However, I have found myself in debt from the move and a few other unexpected losses (see the six armed cat blog post). Life has switched from following my passions, to paying my bills. While I still have time (like right now) to create new work and find inspiration I find myself without focus. My art room is overcrowded with boxes, my cats invade my smaller projects and my mind is easily distracted by other much less important things. Excuses. Yes.
I need to set myself some new goals. I was so ready to get here and conquer Maine. Sell art at galleries, join art groups, display my work, teach classes. Instead... I am trying to find a second job and I don't even feel like pulling out the sketchbook. So what has happened? Am I forever doomed to work terrible jobs and squeak by in life while never again doing the things I love to do. NOT A CHANCE.
Yet, any second wasted, is a second wasted. I am content with telling myself this is just an unexpected phase in which I need to make money my focus in order to re right the system; however I know this moment is just like any moment. I can take advantage of it, and find a way to do what I love to do, or I can miss it (and then regret it).
This blog post is for me, to set some new goals and reveal them to you in order to keep myself heading in the right direction on my personal quest as an artist. I have no interest in excuses nor regret, all I want to do is create:
Goals (to be completed in six months)
1. Create five large paintings (over 3 feet tall)
2. Find a place to show my work
3. Finish 200 new small works (bunnies) and other side projects
4. Finish one 10-24 page one-shot comic book
5. Find a group of artists in the area/ join a group or start a group with a focus on creating new work and talking about it
I feel that these are small goals, which should be easily accomplished in six months. I wanted to revisit each 5 goals every month and make sure I am on track to completing each one. In order to further inspire myself I am also making it a rule to myself that each goal I accomplish from the above list I must start a new goal to takes its place.
I appreciate each one of you that reads this blog because knowing you are there is helping to motivate me to be proactive and get things done. If you are interested I would love to hear 5 goals that you would like to accomplish within the next 6 months.
5 comments:
as an additional goal I am going to add:
6. make a limited print number of a collection of my 100 comics I created last year. even though this seems difficult from Unity (compared to minneapolis) its something I really want to do
Why so many!? I'm curious as to why you're focusing on the #s so much- like 200 small works in the next 6 months? Not critiquing your tactics so much as inquiring about someone else's method.
thats a good question. I think my best work comes after a certain amount of volume. I need to do a certain amount of things before I get to my best work in that theme. Sometimes I get caught up with small works, and deliberating over every small decision. i feel my work is better when i am loose and exploring options with energy and not minute details.
I like to set the bar high, in attempt to get myself into a pattern of creation.
Best of luck with all the goals ... hopefully things will go smoother in the next few months! As with all great art ... hang in there!
i am progressing on my goals. although other priorities are making it very difficult.
3. i have finished over 150 new works.
5. I have built a community of artists on the internet, via web cam.
now i just have to work on 1, 2, and 4
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