Creating Space
Turning inward instead of outward as an artist.
As the days get longer and my clothes get lighter, I find myself needing distance from the urgency of exterior demands. In a place where summer is fleeting, I take a long deep breath and create space for myself and my work. Basically, I just want to be left alone to paint.
Today, artists have to be the creator, the producer, the promoter, and the seller all at the same time. But what if this model puts the artist on a track of overwhelm and dissatisfaction?
The need to be a jack of all trades is not a recent phenomenon. The difference now is the seemingly unlimited amount of options to engage and the pressure to master them all. There are endless galleries and exhibition spaces to research and send proposals to. Then there are grants, residencies, online platforms and of course, social media. Oh and what about selling on Tiktok? NFTs for artist sales anyone?
We live in an age where technology is supposed to make things easier when in fact it feels much more cumbersome.
And what about making the art? How does all of this ease of access to information and other people’s visuals affect what we make as artists? And how we see? The artist’s ability to see differently is what makes our work special and unique.
What are the consequences of sensory overload?
Feeling the pressure to keep up only muddies the water more. For me, when I’m feeling this way, I know it’s time to take a step away and just focus on the art making.
Instead of trying to force myself to do all the things all of the time, I adhere to a rhythm that works naturally with my own output. This means that I focus on one particular activity at a time that I put all of my efforts into. I’m just not willing to have my actions dictated by outside forces.
It’s a choice that I’ve made not to be reactionary to outside demands. Rather, I want my actions to come from within and work outward. Some may judge this as not being competitive enough or not keeping up. But my focus is always on making the most authentic work I can and engaging outwardly in the most genuine way possible. All the other “stuff” simply doesn’t matter. It becomes a distraction.
The ultimate definition of a creator is one who can make something (art, promotion, an exhibition, etc) that is unencumbered by the limitations and boundaries of others. A consumer pursues what’s laid in front of her. The creator leads the way. A consumer waits for others to show what’s possible. The creator creates the possibilities. And in order to be a good creator you need to create space around you and your work.
Are you a consumer or a creator? You get to decide.
In my work, I always create space for the finished painting or sculpture. I’ll hang it on the studio wall to see how it does on its own. Then, I’ll hang it next to other works to see how they interact with each other. Can it stand on its own or not? What is the existence of the object I just made?
I am relentless about the strength of a work. If it doesn’t hold up, it gets recycled. I have no qualms about letting go of a work that can’t hold it’s own space.
I find it’s also important to create space for the promotional and administrative aspects of being an artist. There is an apathetic fatigue that can set in when you constantly pressure yourself to “get things done”. Instead of an ever growing To Do list, what if you allowed your inner guidance to determine the timetable of administrative work?
Do you ever feel that your list is so overwhelmingly long that you end up doing nothing on it at all?
There is an untenable pace that we are compelled to keep up with today. And it’s not our own doing. While some people thrive at this level, most of us need some down time; some quiet and some space. The problem is that all of this interconnectedness facilitates a momentum that might not be in line with who you really are at your core. And that creates a disconnect.
If you aren’t honoring your own way of doing things, then you are subscribing to someone else’s idea of what success is.
Is that really what being a creator is all about: following what’s already been determined by someone else?
And what about joy? When lethargy sets in, it impacts everything I do, and affects the energy of the work itself. My job as an artist is to generate a sense of awe and enthusiasm that others can experience through the work I make.
So, I’m creating some distance from the doing and the promoting and the connecting. Space that is better utilized by sitting still and just breathing — deep. I’ll engage socially when I feel like it, not when I’m supposed to; which is way more often than I ever liked anyway.
What I gain by this approach is real swaths of quality time to make my work unencumbered by external forces and the constant thinking that goes with them. I just focus on the art and making the best work possible. What an incredible gift to give myself!
I call this “Oxygenating My Practice”. When a body is in a healthy state there is an abundant flow of oxygen circulating through. By creating space in your art practice, you re-energize and oxygenate your intentions, ultimately gaining true clarity. When I feel revitalized, I have more energy to make my work and promote it on my own terms.
Are there really any other terms worthy of pursuing anyway?
Today, when I’m ready to put my paint brushes down, rather than heading to the computer, I head to the garden. Surrounded by fruit trees, lettuce and vegetables, I take off my shoes and tilt my head to the sun. Yep, this pace feels pretty good right now. And breathing just got a whole lot easier.
If you’re ready to take your art career to the next level, I am here to help. Over the years I’ve had artists reach out to me for advice. I’ve put together some resources that you might find helpful. Check them out here.
