Battling the mundane
The daily struggle for me as an artist is to keep the mundane world at bay, while trying to focus on the sacred, spiritual world, from whence my creativity flows. It is a battle every day, but some days more than others. Unfortunately I must work a job (not as an artist) to pay my bills, like many others do. My job is part time and allows me days to work in the studio, market my work online, go out and take photos to work from, etc. It is a thin line, though. that keeps the grind of the world of bills, chores, and maintenance at bay. It wears at the confidence of my spirit, when nothing sells and the stock of art builds up and the part time job doesn’t bring in quite enough. Where can I turn . . . when I was young I had the strength to say ‘the hell with it’ and paint and change my life style to accommodate my artistic needs. But now, I seem worn thin by this struggle, the clock is ticking and I do not know how to stop it. Oh, some days are much better than others, I have great ideas and my paintings are, for the most part, very good. I know that the part time job is not working out right now, I should look for another. But I really want to do my art, as I near 60, the finite-ness of my life weighs heavy on me. If I could get ahead of the mundane and draw the line in the sand . . . here is where I make my stand, I am an artist and nothing more. I feel that the moment is always close, just around the bend, but then the mundane slaps me upside the head and says, “here’s a broken car, here’s a shift at work you only make 30 buck, here’s a stack of bills, here’s the flu you got no money coming in. . . ” This breaks my spirit and turns my mind to mush, I have no ideas, my paintings suck. And so it goes, I hope this rant does not come off too whiny. But I had a bad couple of weeks. I know that these spells happen from time to time. I just wish this one would end and soon!
November 14th, 2009 at 9:54 am
It does not sound whiny at all! We have all had these times, some long lasting, others mercifully fleeting.
Occasionally it helps to let it out.. to say I have had enough, I am at the end of my tether…and somehow, just saying that can give us another spurt to carry on.
However, if the job is getting you down and is part time, leaving you more…perhaps you could spend an hour of that extra time looking around for different work. You then feel as though you are stepping outside the mundane or depressing, and making a move toward a lighter time.
Your art is as important as you are…it is a part of who you are, so if you are low, then your work will be low. You can use that. It does not make it bad art, just different, and shows a different time of your life. That is what artists do, translate pain as well as good onto the physical canvas, from the mind.
This time will end, you know that deep down. You are a strong man with a deep heart and a great sense of humour. These WILL see you through.
I probably have not helped at all but I truly believe this is just a glitch in life and you will come through stronger.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:06 am
I echo everything Beth has just said, those periods in our life without strife are usually pretty unproductive in my experience. I have to take one day at a time. Use the little time I have for art for creating and spend no time on making my presentation to the world. I hope the world finds me
November 14th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I think many of us can relate to this. Painting is my only source of income and although I don’t usually have a problem with slow sales , I often battle to find the time I need to really let my creativity flow and produce sufficient work to sell. I am a single mum to 3 teens and so often my days are completely taken up with household chores and attending to their needs. I don’t think “non creatives” understand the extent to which we really need to stay focused on the sacred spiritual world from where out creativity flows and just how frustrating and demoralizing it can be when we have to constantly deal with the mundane . There is nothing whiny about how you are feeling. I understand your desire to draw the line and be what you are , an artist and only an artist !
I wish you well
November 14th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Every Artist has had those feelings, you are not fussing at all!! Right now.. I want to finish with the sofa part of the painting I am working on at present. But because of some mundane chores yesterday, am in a lot of pain and hardly can move. So no painting on my Traditional painting today. One reason I also do fractals. I have to create in some manner, fractals allow me to do so on days like this.
Anyway.. do not worry about your age.. my Grandmother painted until she was 89 years old, so you have many, many years ahead of you!
Also think it is our Religion of Art, that keeps us going, keeps us looking ahead. Things will get better and you will be ok!
November 14th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Thanks you all for the words of encouragement I know this to shall pass, I just want it to pass NOW!
November 14th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Venting is important, especially to sympathetic ears, like here. People who don’t vent wind up shooting up their workplace, there’s too much of that. Be glad you have Some type of job, I lost mine in downsizing, makes what you had seem pretty OK after the fact. A creative slump can be broken lots of ways, or at least trying, here’s only one: take a painting you like least or never finished, turn it upside down and attack with brushes, don’t be careful, work up a sweat, change it, use your hands, wipe it with a rag, jump up and down on it, whatever. Then have a beverage.
November 14th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
DT I know that feeling.
My DH is still looking for a job after 10 1/2 months of being laid off. Like Syd said.. is not a good thing. We are holding it together..just. I don’t know what the future might bring and when I will have to say enough and at our ages..move to my parents place. If you knew my parents.. you would avoid it at all costs too. The stress is incredible but I try very hard to take it one day at a time. Tiny bites so to speak make it a little easier to handle.
Also Wish my body would heal but nearly 3 years after the accident, this is good as it is going to get. When I am feeling down, I remember how many more people that are worse off than me…
To remind myself.. things could be so much worse than they are now.
And as Syd said… we are here to lend an ear. VBG Don’t be afraid to talk.
Syd’s idea for a painting, is a great one.
Or you can start playing with Fractals like I do, they really can inspire you to create! Chaos and Apo are free.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:31 am
How are things going today DT?