Today's Productivity Post and Refocusing My Purpose: Consistency and Meaning in Effort

Today I pulled some drypoint prints from an acrylic sheet.

I made four pulls from each of my three shell plates.

 

I also recorded more on a painting I am doing, but my camera battery ran out and I couldn't find the charger I thought I had at my art corner.








I am also working on refining the purpose and meaning to pull my art from.
An artist could work to have a consistent body of work many ways, by design of the individual pieces, their display, style, media, etc. I would like to take it one step higher up, however.

I would rather work for and from a purpose. I crave meaning in my career and efforts, and I figure  that if the origins of the art stem from a shared purpose, or theme, that the consistency will grow out of that instead, and create a stronger unity to my body of work overall, with themes that run through the projects individually.

This re-vamping of purpose will mean re-writing my artist's statement, a lot of journaling, and changing around my portfolio. I'm ok with that. It's about the long term body of work, not the skill building simple paintings I have been doing so far.

So Many Projects And Jobs Time Management

God has given me many opportunities and ideas lately. This just happens to coincide with having two jobs. But if God wants it done, we will make the time.

Writing a book for visual christian artists. An art show that wants 40-50 seasonal pictures. ( I may have stepped into that one, but I'm looking for people to share it with me.) and two jobs. And preparing for a move, and the portfolio to get me a job when I'm moved. And a reiteration on protestant prayer beads, which requires a booklet as well.

So in the meantime, I am praying and fasting to get confirmation on all of these things.  I see the need for the book, even all the wild and crazy ideas I have for it. I would even love to take a lot of time off to work on it. And I want to paint.

The idea of moving still feels pretty sure, but what my career out there will be once I get there is still pretty open. Originally, I thought it was games, digital computer and video game art. Now, I feel like my passion is elsewhere, but it could also be because that's what has been in my brain lately. These jobs and projects are what I have been feeding into my brain, and those are the ideas it's producing. I don't have too many complaints, but I do feel wishy- washy about my career.

My ministry wasn't going to be tied to my career, that's what I thought I heard. Maybe it's changed or I didn't hear right, I don't know.

So if you have the inkling, drop a word in with God for me to get these thing sorted out.


There are so many art projects I want to do.

Lots of great ideas, only one life.

Polymer Clay Sculpted Creatures In Progress

Well, here's a bunch that are waiting for more clay and more sculpting. I found myself doing too many giraffe like creatures so I branched out in to turtles and scorpion dudes.

I have used up almost 12 yards of armature wire in the past two days. Some of the wire has gone to my felted creatures.

Why the World Needs Your Art

                        

  In this world there are 8 billion of us and counting; inundated with countless mediocre artworks that drown in a sea of social media and overpriced galleries. And yet the few and brave of us admit that we want to create even more. 


And this short article is why you really need to create, even with everything else that's similar to your idea, even with the people saying you won't be successful, and especially when you don't think your idea is very good.


           Have you seen the world lately? It kinda sucks. 

          Each thing that you create will 1) relieve you of the tedium and 2) give someone a redeeming quality to this world. 



         When you create artwork with a message of any kind, you speak it in your own language, and it might just be the language that a person needs. Maybe the same message through a different perspective never really got through to them. That's why we need you. And with 8 billion people, that's a lot of languages, visually and verbally. 

         What if "they" say you can't create? Time is going by without you, and unless you start, you won't get better. Art is funny that way, just by attempting it, and by multiple attempts alone makes you an artist. Just do it, there really is no excuse, and time is passing anyway, whether you did even a single line more today or not. Baby steps. Even one line, one sentence written today is more than the person who has nothing. 

Persistence in trying is what makes you an artist, and the subjective judgement of customers that makes you a living. 

The world needs your art, and not as a product, but as a tool for coping with the world. Maybe a tool for enjoying the world and appreciating it. 

There's power in stories: borrowing strength from fiction to fight monsters in reality.

And until you write that story, and until someone SEES it, they may be lacking the sword they need to slay their dragon. 

So don't be afraid to show your artwork. We need your art. Enjoy it, and make the world a better place.  


Peace out.

Anna.


  I've been thinking more about the purposes for making art.