Over the last several years I have made art-making a priority along-side everything else. Some weeks are easier than others and it’s important to me to stay disciplined and motivated.
The artist Chuck Close says, “Inspiration is for amateurs — the rest of us just show up and get to work.”
Here are some ways I stay motivated…
I write about it.
I like to write, I write morning pages when I wake up. Sometimes they make no sense and that’s all good. If I am trying something new I’ll write about it. I include any thoughts that come up for me in that moment. I believe getting things down on paper helps make it tangible and as a visual person I like to see it there in front of me.
I’ll pick up a good book.
I like to pick up books that can motivate me and get me thinking creatively. I even started a book club recently. Getting into a quiet space with a book is a peaceful thing. When there is some peace around me new ideas can have space to pop up.
I do something little everyday.
This week I needed new motivation. I decided to play with texture and use some mediums that have been sitting on my shelf for months untouched.
Here is a small piece that I played with.
I used tar gel, acrylic skins, coarse textured medium, and modeling paste. The new materials brought me the excitement I was seeking.
After I started playing with these mediums I felt I was in a flow and now I am excited to see where these pieces will go from here.
I think of it like everyday a drop of water in a bucket, eventually those drops will turn into a bucket full of water.
Lastly, I like to set goals.
I decided to enter a juried show in November this year for artist’s who work with paper. This will be something I look forward to and because there is a deadline, I have to stay on schedule.
What do you do to stay motivated? What are you working on? Lemme know in the comment section below 🙂