Why You Will Fail

Larry Smith

 

I just finished watching an amazing TEDx talk of Larry Smith titled "Why you will fail to have a great career" on YouTube uploaded by TEDxTalks.   WOW.  If it is not a smack in the face to wake up, I don't know what is.

 

My best friend called last night and it wasn't long before he asked what number of work I was on for the year.  He cares and is holding me accountable, and I absolutely love that.  My reply was an apologetic, "Not much from when we last talked...I'm on number 16 now."  He gave encouragement by saying, "Think of it this way, that's probably 10 more than you would've done by this time."  He's absolutely right.

 

I've been thinking a lot lately about longevity.  The fact that I'm still painting seven years after earning my BFA is a good thing - a great thing.  I was talking to one of my college pals the other night and we talked a bit about having the motivation and determination to keep going even when it gets tough.  It has been tough for both of us in the last seven years, but we still create.

That in itself is an accomplishment, though I don't necessarily think that it is praiseworthy.  Art is just what I do.  It keeps me sane and I need it.  It is the only way I feel myself, and the only area of expertise that I can confidently say is an expertise after so many years of studying so many different aspects and the long history.  Without it, I would be a hollow shell...what's crazy is I don't even think I'm being dramatic.  I think without it, my zest for life would be gone completely.

Some of our peers have fallen out of love for creating as they once did.  It doesn't turn them on anymore, or they found other interests that became passions more powerful than what they had for art.  Others still enjoy visual art, but maybe are doing other things such as curating or writing about it.  It's not that those of us who are still creating art have any more determination than our peers that are now going in different directions.  I'm hoping that it's just due to their finding other interests and passion in other areas that didn't occur to them before, or are just now getting the chance to pursue.  Other opportunities may have resonated more.

I remember being warned in the first year of college that we would be weeding ourselves out through the years there and the process would still continue out in the world.  Only a small percentage of us would actually graduate in the Fine Arts field (which turned out to be true), and an even smaller percentage would actually still be creating after the diploma was framed upon the wall (which is turning out to be true).  I remember one of my favorite mentors telling us that if you could be successful and happy doing anything other than art, than do that instead.  He was warning us of the difficulties, and preparing us for what we need to have a career - consistancy and longevity.  A brew of passion and determination -  you really have to love it in order to have the diligence to keep at it through the years.

My little prayer to the universe is that we all find our passions and have the ability to pursue them.  What a wonderful and different world this would be.

Love to all! 

The Nudge

This lesson is one that I have learned throughout the years.  You will recieve a nudge when you need it, you just have to be open, to listen, and be alert.  The message will be right there when you really need it.

Over the years, I have found answers to my questions by means of a song coming on over the radio, by a mysterious message on a computer screen at work, and through the dialogue of my friends.  Some people would think that I was completely crazy for reading into things and bringing meaning to things where there is no meaning.  Maybe I'm a bit off my rocker on some things, but if it works to move me in the right direction, to give a push, or a moment of revelation, what harm does it do?  It's exciting to feel this connection through unexpected avenues that motivate and inspire.

My last post was the question and here is the answer that I saw today.  I know that it will reach others who are seeking answers or nudges, and I'm just needing to be another messenger for you too.

It was posted on facebook by Ruprecht Studios and is titled "a must see for every artist...well everyone!" created by "Tragedy and Hope".  Enjoy the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151397745507577&set=vb.150082065062250&type=2&theater

 

The Mastery of a Horse

Last night I had the pleasure of re-watching Secretariat win all three races to win the Triple Crown on YouTube.  The original film quality itself is so haunting - the grains of the images are unpolished, the colors take on this palette that we now refer to as vintage or retro, and the audio is fuzzy with the announcers' microphones picking up the spectators' excitement with a touch of white noise.

The ESPN Sports Centry Special of Secretariat found on YouTube.

 



To witness the greatness of these races is so powerful, even though it's on a screen.  I'm sure that I'm not the only one who tears up when viewing this footage.  The word that keeps coming to mind is 'pure'.  It's just a pure performance of greatness and making the unimaginable appear right before our eyes.  It is mastery and it is pure joy.  It is a miracle.

I'm not even into horse racing. 

I think perhaps that's what greatness and mastery can do.  It transcends limitations of the viewer and allows all to appreciate the astounding level of skill and meaning.  This is why crowds flock to see Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, why people cry at the sight of Michelangelo's work inside the Sistine Chapel, and why Bernini's Ecstacy of Saint Teresa makes jaws drop.  The meaning and skill wrap together to form this overwhelming sense of awe, inspiration, and achievement.  A promise that this astounding greatness can be accomplished with dedication and a relentless hunger for reaching beyond what we know is capable.  A letting go of limitations and just going for it without fear of failure.

Much can be learned and inspired.  I'm thinking that a photo of Secretariat is the perfect addition to the studio space for 2013.

Love to all!

What's Better Than Watching Paint Dry? The Runs!

This morning I came across this video on the Huffington Post site.  It's a timelapse video of artist Amy Shackleton and I quickly became mesmorized by it.  There is something so fantastic about paint running down a canvas - and what a great end result!  Love it and it's a cup full of inspiration for my day of drawing.  Enjoy your day and each other!  Love to all!

Are You a Catalyst?

http://networkedblogs.com/lfOr5

The above link is a great article written by Isaac B. Watson on the site IHeartArt: Portland.

Are you ready to be inspired?
 

So I Lied.

Supposedly, I was taking a hiatus from this blog for exactly one year. 

Then, I looked on the analytics of this blog this morning just out of curiousity- I haven't checked them since February -  and good grief, I'm letting people down!  I'm happy that so many people have checked out this blog lately, but know that because there is nothing new here, they leave quickly.

Originally, I was going to take a year just to do my thing...perhaps, not.  Besides that, I always have a difficult time being quiet for long periods of time.  So for all intensive purposes, let the writing begin again!  I am renewed enough to give it a go anyway! 

So recently I've been reading a book about Egon Shiele by Frank Whitford.

I can't say that I'm extremely far into it, but I've learned Schiele was heavily influenced by Gustav Klimt.  It doesn't take an art historian to tell you that, because they do have this similarity of line and composition.  When I was in college, I always confused them with each other.  I had no idea though that Klimt actually helped Schiele get started and into shows.  I had no idea that they knew one another that well.

Before all of you arty-smarty peeps make fun of me, I truly never studied Schiele in college.  He was not covered.  Granted, yes, I should have conducted my own research, but I was researching in a different direction back then.  I kind of ignored him along with Klimt.  It hasn't been until the past year that his work has really appealed to me, and I feel foolish for overlooking him for this long. 

His lines, his lines, how I love the lines he makes!  He makes everything look so fragile, wounded, and raw.  He makes it look like they are all just so vulnerable, and needing some compassion.  All of this just from the line.  Crazy how he captures it all like that without a ridiculous amount of detail.

I don't know if he was a jerk or not yet, but I'm betting not.  We'll see.
One thing is for sure though, I love his hair!  Kind of crazy scientist look, which is always fun!

What artists do you really get into, or like to read about?  I would love to hear who you look to for inspiration, or for stories!

A Dose of Inspiration

"Let the critics spot trends.


Let reviewers concern themselves with
what is in and what is not.


Let us concern ourselves first and foremost
with what it is within us that is
struggling to be born."


- Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way

I guess this is the dose of inspiration that I needed upon receiving yet another show rejection.  It was for a group show called "Small Works" at Harper's College.  I really thought I stood a shot, but when the results were posted this morning, my name was clearly not there...I ran over the list three times checking for my name.  No Dice.

Oh well, I guess I'm just one rejection closer to a "Yes!", and that's some good news!  Get these rejections out of the way early.  I'd rather start slow and end brilliantly.  I want to be a comet invading the atmosphere- gaining speed, rather than fading further away.

The point is this- do the rejections in life hold all the weight of our decisions?  Do we let obstacles bully us into taking the easy path?  No, we don't.  We are who we are for a reason.  We do what we do because it is simply what we must do- to be more of ourselves and fulfill our duties in this life.  We rarely know why.  We only know about the driving forces within all of us and it is our choice to listen to it or not.  We have the responsibility of becoming more of ourselves everyday- this is a simple idea, though it is not always easy to do.  I'm still trying to get off of my training wheels, but it certainly helps when I see others off of theirs and being true to themselves despite the judgements of others.

This is not unlike when I actually did get my training wheels off of my bike- thank you Amy Grandin for the extra push I needed!  Without your inspiration, I do believe it would have taken years for me to have the courage I needed to shed those squeaky things!

The Artist's Way- End of Week Three- Synchronicity

Julia, Julia, Julia!  The questions you posed this week in the tasks were unexpectedly tough! 

The list 5s are stumpers!- list 5 people you admire, now list 5 people you secretly admire, then list 5 people who you wish to meet but are dead, and list 5 people who are already dead who you would spend part of your eternity with...all of these of course followed by answering why and/or what traits that make them be a part of the list. 

At first glance, it looked so easy to do these, but to tell you the truth I'm still working on my five people that I secretly admire.  Limiting choices down to only five is crazy when you think about these questions in terms of  everyone who is alive or has ever lived on this planet.  I became so extremely picky about my choices, but it was fun at the same time- that puzzle part of my brain was definitely activated for this.  Even if you aren't doing The Artist's Way, I completely dare you to do this some time- I'm wondering if you will find it as difficult as I did!


Morning Pages

I'm not minding them as much now.  It is not requiring me any discipline to get through them this week as much as it did during the first two weeks.  Instead...dare I say it?...it's actually been a pleasure to do them.  It just feels like it helps me organize my thoughts and gain some momentum going into my day.  If anyone else has been doing morning pages, or writing in the morning, I'd love to hear how you feel about it.  I'm currently wondering how often people stick with writing three pages as soon as they awake way past the length of this twelve-week venture.  I wonder if I'll be sick of them by the end of this.


Synchronicity

I did notice a few instances of synchronicity this week, but I'm never that far away from it- it's a very big part of my faith (which in all honesty I don't talk about that much, but am seriously noticing just how much I have been recently...so in short I look like a liar when I say that I don't. ha!LOL).  I believe that we get exactly what we need at the proper proportion at the perfect time.  There are no coincidences.  People, places, and experiences all play an intricate role in our lives that constantly help us to progress on our journey- God/Allah/The Higher Power/Universal Energy sends messages to us through some pretty creative avenues.  My favorite experiences of this have been through a mysterious computer message while I was at work printing out payroll, and several instances of the radio.  We need to keep our eyes open for the answers and inspirations that we are seeking, which goes along with this fabulous clip of Grace Coddington from "The September Issue" movie that I watched last night- How's that for some synchronicity?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo1vnibK3vA

If you have not watched this movie before, I highly suggest it to anyone interested in seeing behind the scenes of magazine publishing, fashion or Vogue to be exact.  Samm and I have fallen in love with Grace Coddington after seeing this documentary.  She is brilliant, and her work is a feast for the eyes that I want to overindulge in...just like ice cream with Birthday cake!

Vision Board

This is the Vision Board I created as a kick off to 2011 along with a detail of my favorite clipping on it.  I'm going to hang it in a place that I will see daily as a reminder to stay focused and motivated.  I left some blank areas to place new goals later on.

As cheesy as this may be, it really does help me.  The only reason why I made a new one is because a lot of the old one came true- solidifying the fact that they help me!  Have you ever made one and if so, did it work for you? 

Mmmmm...Bread Pudding

This is hands down the BEST bread pudding I have ever tasted!

Inspiration comes in all forms. I do not blame Wayne Thiebaud for painting wonderful images of desserts. The Beaverton Bakery is such a place that would inspire such works. It is beautiful- especially the fruit tarts that are bold in their color with the fruit perfectly placed in a circular composition. It's the overlooked objects in life that give the most visual satisfaction.

Let the Games Begin!

The Winter Olympics are back! Vancouver 2010! Witnessing greatness as it happens. Watching stories of the athletes’ trials and tribulations which have brought them to their current state. Cheering for the triumphs. Getting teary-eyed at the beauty of a perfect run, or routine. Understanding the dedication it takes for these outstanding athletes to reach this level of excellence. The sacrifices. The heartbreaks. The courage. The euphoria of victory.

The Olympics are great for inspiration, but maybe not so great for allowing me to work. Here is the extent to which I have worked on my art since the Vancouver Winter Games have begun…

A bit of collage work…

And


Yes...paper hats...