Ever wonder what your purpose for existing is?
Ever wonder why you are here?
The answer is surprisingly simple: Your passion is your purpose.
The not so simple part is figuring out what you are passionate about.
The hard part is actually committing yourself to pursuing your passion.
The really hard part is doing it.
The next hardest part is doing it regardless of how crazy it seems to you.
The hardest of all is committing yourself to your passion when your friends and family think it's crazy too.
The best life you can have is in doing it regardless and thus you justify your existence.
--
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Countermanding Success
A touch of fatalism has set in since I got back to NB from my “vacation” that was two pampered weeks of doing little more than reading, writing and pushing a button to produce espresso.
While on vacation at my friend’s place, I was able to avoid the usual drudgery of domesticity. The only laundry to wash was my own, dishes were plunked in a dishwasher as compared to me plunking my hands in a dishpan twice a day, floors were ignored as the broom had been used the previous week to sweep mouse droppings from the garage and a replacement had not yet been acquired, likely hasn’t been yet. I did the nice thing and cleaned the bathrooms, as much for my own sanity and good sanitation as anything. Stripped the most gawdawful wallpaper border out of the master bath, face it, my friend writes about war, he’s not into pussycats, moonbeams, sunflowers and butterflies, unless they have something to do with Cold War and Nukes, of which I have yet to find evidence.
Even cooking was off my radar for the most part, he barbeques, he makes good bacon & eggs and uses a microwave like a pro. Life was easy, get up, get caffeinated, breakfast (either being cooked or I had breakfast kibbles as desired), either stay put and write or read on a warm sunny deck or toddle off to the local Starbuck’s for the morning round of writing. Lunch was either in or out, as was supper. Movie and/or conversation in the evenings, if we weren’t out with friends. Lost weight while I was there too, no snacking, it’s a surprisingly easy habit to break when there isn’t any being brought in the house. The only regret is not finishing off the bottle of
This schedule was surprisingly productive for me, I finished a couple of pen & ink drawings that had been sitting untouched for months, wrote both a lot of prose and poetry (a lot of it real bad though). Took photographs, none worth much of a mention, and did a lot of planning that may result in some good presentations if I finish them.
The fatalism in my case is the result of too many years of habit that has grown into the expectation that certain things will be so for the remainder of this household. It is a hard pattern to break and here I am noon time with the dishes from last evening’s grazing (after supper snacking) and this morning’s breakfasts done. Two loads of laundry washed and out on the line, as compared to the simple act of tossing them in a dryer, a clean bathroom (well almost). Bed made, neatly as compared to tossing the comforter on top and leaving it, clothes picked up again vs. being tossed into piles and sorted through only as necessary to find the T-shirt that is wanted or clean undies. It’s not my partner that expects this of me. It is me that expects this because I expect that the remainder of the household members expect this of me.
So again, here I am at noon with nothing more done for myself than email checks, news updates, espresso in hand at last, and I am now thinking about what to make for supper so that it is on the table for 5:30. I have approximately 4 hours to myself at this point to work on my art, and I wonder why I never seem to think that I can get full day in, in the studio.
The insanity of this is that I thought that things might change when I got back, I didn’t, though now I recognize that this is not a productive pattern for me, as an artist that wishes to make the most of my day. Just because the studio is across the driveway from the house doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t be in it and it doesn’t mean that it is a less important job than that of the people that leave home to go to school or drive 10 minutes to their business or 20 minutes to their job.
I have to relearn that this is not how my day needs to be, and I have to change my own expectations in regards to domestic duties taking precedence over all of my arts. Their clean knickers do not sell at a show, a spotless bath is not a picture to frame, and it doesn’t make me a happier or more productive person, especially when productivity is a large part of how I define success.
So for any of you that have actually followed this post to this point, the question is this: what are you doing that countermands your definition of success and therefore is actually holding you back from achieving it?
--
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Spring
A selection of spring narcissus and daffodils:
Salmon pink daffodils:
Trout Lilies or Dog Tooth Violets:
Rhododendron in bloom buzzing with bees:
Painted Trilliums:
My favorite fluffy yellow and orange daffodil:
Maple leaves just starting out:
An early narcissus:
Pileated Woodpecker totem:
Salmon pink daffodils:
Trout Lilies or Dog Tooth Violets:
Rhododendron in bloom buzzing with bees:
Painted Trilliums:
My favorite fluffy yellow and orange daffodil:
Maple leaves just starting out:
An early narcissus:
Pileated Woodpecker totem:
Friday, April 24, 2009
Fire the Customer
Last year a jewellery colleague and I were speaking about custom work.
I suspect that most of us have encountered the problem of being asked to produce an item that we have agreed to make and then find ourselves completely without inspiration or ability to meet the request. “What to do?” becomes the question.
You will recognize that you have fallen victim to this when you know that it will fail to meet the client’s expectations as well as your own.
This conundrum occurs most often when have already produced impressive work and receive numerous compliments from the client. They will go on at length about how wonderful the pieces are, how talented you are and how much they think that you are the answer to solving their problem of producing the work that they have in mind. Inevitably, this ego boost from their praise will lull us into a belief that we really can do what they want. Reality hits later back in the studio and we begin to procrastinate on the project.
First, we are unable to come up with a design in our own head, let alone produce a basic drawing of the proposed design, based on the notes and quick sketches made during conversation with them. Secondly, as the deadline looms we start to panic and wonder why we are not able to do this. Thirdly, we start to look for a reason to escape the work; we start to defer it in favor of other projects, even the mundane of domesticity.
This should give you a clue that you are attempting to make something that is beyond your ability.
There is nothing wrong with knowing your limits. Perhaps the request involves a skill set that you have not mastered to your own satisfaction or perhaps not even tried yet. The issue becomes trying to do this new thing with a lack of confidence in your own ability. Do you really want the custom work to be your first foray into the new?
Probably not. So the reasonable solution may well be to fire the customer instead of staying stuck in the problem. Staying stuck in the problem is self-defeating, your other work is not being done, nor are you building your own confidence and ability at this time. It is wasting your creative effort.
Firing the customer is only difficult because of the guilt that you may feel because you have “let the customer down” but your honesty may well win you some respect too.
Explain to the client the efforts that you did take to complete the work, let them know that you do not have the skills necessary to undertake the work at this time. If you plain to master the skills later, let them know when you think you will have done that. Suggest another colleague that you know can complete the job and allow the client the option to pursue the work elsewhere in the near future, or come back to you later when you have learned more.
There is no shame in indicating that you need to learn more and intend to do just that.
The ultimate reward of firing the customer is that you will have restored your own equilibrium and relieved yourself of a job that has been holding you back from pursuing other tasks that will reward you. The sense of relief is palpable for most of us.
My colleague fired her customer after we talked about this block. She felt a lot better after the firing and indicated that it was a real relief to her to not have this ‘scary’ project pending. She did indicate that her other work had suffered as a result of procrastinating on the custom work too.
I had to fire a customer early last year because the praise went to my head too. It was not easy to do, and it felt like a failing at the time, but it was a relief to me too, and the customer was glad to have her stones back and a reference to another jeweler in the region. I still have not taken the time to learn a very particular skill in creating soldered sterling brooches and I am not sure that I ever will, since it still does not interest me, but at least I know my limits in this regard now.
Moral: Know your limits and respect them but do not let that stop from trying new work when you are ready and willing to encounter the issues that relate to the learning curve; and sometimes we have to make decisions that we don’t like.
I suspect that most of us have encountered the problem of being asked to produce an item that we have agreed to make and then find ourselves completely without inspiration or ability to meet the request. “What to do?” becomes the question.
You will recognize that you have fallen victim to this when you know that it will fail to meet the client’s expectations as well as your own.
This conundrum occurs most often when have already produced impressive work and receive numerous compliments from the client. They will go on at length about how wonderful the pieces are, how talented you are and how much they think that you are the answer to solving their problem of producing the work that they have in mind. Inevitably, this ego boost from their praise will lull us into a belief that we really can do what they want. Reality hits later back in the studio and we begin to procrastinate on the project.
First, we are unable to come up with a design in our own head, let alone produce a basic drawing of the proposed design, based on the notes and quick sketches made during conversation with them. Secondly, as the deadline looms we start to panic and wonder why we are not able to do this. Thirdly, we start to look for a reason to escape the work; we start to defer it in favor of other projects, even the mundane of domesticity.
This should give you a clue that you are attempting to make something that is beyond your ability.
There is nothing wrong with knowing your limits. Perhaps the request involves a skill set that you have not mastered to your own satisfaction or perhaps not even tried yet. The issue becomes trying to do this new thing with a lack of confidence in your own ability. Do you really want the custom work to be your first foray into the new?
Probably not. So the reasonable solution may well be to fire the customer instead of staying stuck in the problem. Staying stuck in the problem is self-defeating, your other work is not being done, nor are you building your own confidence and ability at this time. It is wasting your creative effort.
Firing the customer is only difficult because of the guilt that you may feel because you have “let the customer down” but your honesty may well win you some respect too.
Explain to the client the efforts that you did take to complete the work, let them know that you do not have the skills necessary to undertake the work at this time. If you plain to master the skills later, let them know when you think you will have done that. Suggest another colleague that you know can complete the job and allow the client the option to pursue the work elsewhere in the near future, or come back to you later when you have learned more.
There is no shame in indicating that you need to learn more and intend to do just that.
The ultimate reward of firing the customer is that you will have restored your own equilibrium and relieved yourself of a job that has been holding you back from pursuing other tasks that will reward you. The sense of relief is palpable for most of us.
My colleague fired her customer after we talked about this block. She felt a lot better after the firing and indicated that it was a real relief to her to not have this ‘scary’ project pending. She did indicate that her other work had suffered as a result of procrastinating on the custom work too.
I had to fire a customer early last year because the praise went to my head too. It was not easy to do, and it felt like a failing at the time, but it was a relief to me too, and the customer was glad to have her stones back and a reference to another jeweler in the region. I still have not taken the time to learn a very particular skill in creating soldered sterling brooches and I am not sure that I ever will, since it still does not interest me, but at least I know my limits in this regard now.
Moral: Know your limits and respect them but do not let that stop from trying new work when you are ready and willing to encounter the issues that relate to the learning curve; and sometimes we have to make decisions that we don’t like.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Starving Artist… redundant phrase?
The vision in my head last night was one of crossing the border and proceeding through customs with my passport, which simply lists my occupation as “Artist”. It is a straightforward word, which can be embellished upon with the words painter, photographer, sculptor, metalworker, lapidary…. The joke that occurred to me was that of being asked to explain what kind of artist, and instead of stating my art interests, I replied with “starving, what other kind is there?” Of course, my humour was well received in my little imagining; perhaps it would not go over so well in real life.
This personal humour combined with some articles that I have read and watched lately on “successful” artists, i.e. those that aren’t starving for money, lead me to the following musings:
1) We are all starving artists, regardless of the monetary success. We are all still hungry for something.
2) To insert the word “starving” in front of the word “artist” is redundancy at its finest.
I think that the issue for so many artists is that we have come to accept the definition of success as one of monetary means. If we make money, lots of money, the works sell, has representation in galleries, and orders keep pouring in, then success has been achieved. Add to this that the perception of the public is that the artist is no longer starving and voila, an artistic genius at work, but are we missing something when this is the only measurement we use?
The genius might be hard at work, filling the orders, creating the pieces that replicate the ones that the gallery sold. The genius is staying so busy in the studio that they have neither time to recharge, visit old friends, nor work on developing their own artistic voice and vision any further than where it was at the moment they were “discovered” and became “successful”. This is still a starving artist, one that hungers for quiet, vision, a moment of peace and a recovery of a sense of self.
The undiscovered artist makes do with whatever is at hand to work with, with whatever inspires and excites. Has time to develop new work based on old, and moves forward in style and technique based on their artistic vision. They never seem stuck, or rushed, but the money is always tight. They are starving for representation, hungry for a cash flow that would allow for better or more consistent supply of materials. They are starving for elusive financial success.
Both artists need to create, that is the nature of the artist, but both artists are still starving.
When the success of the artist is narrowly defined by money, the former is successful and unhappy, and the latter poor but inspired. Hardly seems to be a winning combination in any case.
Artist is not a narrow word, there are multitudes of types and styles of artist, so too then artistic success should be defined as broadly. If the artist would no more limit themselves to one type of paper or brush or pen or stone or figure, then why should success be limited to one definition?
As an artist, who dislikes redundancy in a statement, there needs to be a better way to define artistic success, like having enough money to get by comfortably, but enough time and control over the work to remain in forward motion, which also means a willingness to try new ideas, risk rejection and occasionally fire the “too demanding client”. I know one thing for sure, that defining my success as an artist beyond the standard measure of money, makes me a much happier person, and that’s a success too.
This personal humour combined with some articles that I have read and watched lately on “successful” artists, i.e. those that aren’t starving for money, lead me to the following musings:
1) We are all starving artists, regardless of the monetary success. We are all still hungry for something.
2) To insert the word “starving” in front of the word “artist” is redundancy at its finest.
I think that the issue for so many artists is that we have come to accept the definition of success as one of monetary means. If we make money, lots of money, the works sell, has representation in galleries, and orders keep pouring in, then success has been achieved. Add to this that the perception of the public is that the artist is no longer starving and voila, an artistic genius at work, but are we missing something when this is the only measurement we use?
The genius might be hard at work, filling the orders, creating the pieces that replicate the ones that the gallery sold. The genius is staying so busy in the studio that they have neither time to recharge, visit old friends, nor work on developing their own artistic voice and vision any further than where it was at the moment they were “discovered” and became “successful”. This is still a starving artist, one that hungers for quiet, vision, a moment of peace and a recovery of a sense of self.
The undiscovered artist makes do with whatever is at hand to work with, with whatever inspires and excites. Has time to develop new work based on old, and moves forward in style and technique based on their artistic vision. They never seem stuck, or rushed, but the money is always tight. They are starving for representation, hungry for a cash flow that would allow for better or more consistent supply of materials. They are starving for elusive financial success.
Both artists need to create, that is the nature of the artist, but both artists are still starving.
When the success of the artist is narrowly defined by money, the former is successful and unhappy, and the latter poor but inspired. Hardly seems to be a winning combination in any case.
Artist is not a narrow word, there are multitudes of types and styles of artist, so too then artistic success should be defined as broadly. If the artist would no more limit themselves to one type of paper or brush or pen or stone or figure, then why should success be limited to one definition?
As an artist, who dislikes redundancy in a statement, there needs to be a better way to define artistic success, like having enough money to get by comfortably, but enough time and control over the work to remain in forward motion, which also means a willingness to try new ideas, risk rejection and occasionally fire the “too demanding client”. I know one thing for sure, that defining my success as an artist beyond the standard measure of money, makes me a much happier person, and that’s a success too.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Gatting Ready
There is always a rush of inspiration before any of the shows and the Spring Originals is coming up soon, 16-19 April at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa.
It has been a busy time in the studio in between time away in Halifax to deliver some long awaited custom work, which was well received, and booking a visit back to the gift shop at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia for May. As well as just placing work this week with Old Orchard Crafts, just outside Fredericton, we will have work at the AGNS gift shop in May.
I have been building earrings the last couple of days and will spend the next week filling in gaps in the inventory. So lots more pendants yet to go.
Unfortunately I am missing inspiration for a call for entry, but that happens sometimes, when a theme is not making a piece clear in my head. There's a still a couple of days yet before the deadline so maybe...
At least some inspiration, and perhaps a touch of panic as the realization that we'll be one the road in two weeks has hit, is making for some great work for the spring shows, including the one in Woodstock on the 9th of May.
--
It has been a busy time in the studio in between time away in Halifax to deliver some long awaited custom work, which was well received, and booking a visit back to the gift shop at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia for May. As well as just placing work this week with Old Orchard Crafts, just outside Fredericton, we will have work at the AGNS gift shop in May.
I have been building earrings the last couple of days and will spend the next week filling in gaps in the inventory. So lots more pendants yet to go.
Unfortunately I am missing inspiration for a call for entry, but that happens sometimes, when a theme is not making a piece clear in my head. There's a still a couple of days yet before the deadline so maybe...
At least some inspiration, and perhaps a touch of panic as the realization that we'll be one the road in two weeks has hit, is making for some great work for the spring shows, including the one in Woodstock on the 9th of May.
--
Monday, March 9, 2009
Analogy
You have been driving a car down a one-way dead end laneway that narrows so that there is no turning around, and then you discover that the car does not have reverse. That stuck feeling sets in. That realization that you have spent so much time driving down the road, not taking turns, making decisions that could have taken you down other lanes. You have stayed the chosen course only to discover that you have dead-ended yourself and there does not seem to be a way out of it.
Unfortunately, this is how we sometimes live our lives. This is what seems to happen to us and we reach that dead-end in a job, a relationship, indebtedness, and a combination of the normal and mundane. We suddenly realize we are trapped and feel that we have no recourse, no way out, no answers, and no rescue.
What are you going to do when you find yourself there?
Some people seem to give up and stay with the car, stuck and complaining and accepting that there is no way out. Some people get out and push the car backwards until they can turn at the last turning point. Some people listen and realize that there are lanes that run parallel to the one they are on, and scramble through the pucker brush to the other road and hitch a ride.
The worst thing that we can do is give up. Pushing backwards to the last turning point or making the effort to push through the brambles and shambles to another road is the most progressive. Either of the two latter choices will net a change in the circumstances. Neither is easy, but neither is change.
What would you do, face down the challenge and the fear of the unknown roadway or sit at the dead-end?
Unfortunately, this is how we sometimes live our lives. This is what seems to happen to us and we reach that dead-end in a job, a relationship, indebtedness, and a combination of the normal and mundane. We suddenly realize we are trapped and feel that we have no recourse, no way out, no answers, and no rescue.
What are you going to do when you find yourself there?
Some people seem to give up and stay with the car, stuck and complaining and accepting that there is no way out. Some people get out and push the car backwards until they can turn at the last turning point. Some people listen and realize that there are lanes that run parallel to the one they are on, and scramble through the pucker brush to the other road and hitch a ride.
The worst thing that we can do is give up. Pushing backwards to the last turning point or making the effort to push through the brambles and shambles to another road is the most progressive. Either of the two latter choices will net a change in the circumstances. Neither is easy, but neither is change.
What would you do, face down the challenge and the fear of the unknown roadway or sit at the dead-end?
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Resistance
Recently a friend asked me why I don’t write, as in write more, or write professionally, rather than just the occasional piece of prose, poetry or blog post. He told me that it was as important to my soul as my work as an artisan.
I didn’t disagree with him, but in a way, I blew it off by responding that I do write, for myself and my own pleasure. Then I got to wondering why I never did pursue the writing career that I once thought that I wanted. What stopped me?
It is the very same thing that has stopped me from pursuing other interests and… my own resistance to the effort.
Coincidently this same friend mentioned a book to me last December by Steven Pressfield: The War of Art. In this book, Pressfield addresses the concept of Resistance as the enemy to our creative processes. It is the enemy and it is often confused with external factors and influences, like family and other work.
The resistance is the same thing that is causing me to procrastinate in even writing these few words. It is the unspoken fear of the blank page, the “what if I can’t fill it?”
The realization is that writing is like the jewelry work that I do and it is based on discipline and interest. It is the willingness to go and sit at the bench for a designated period of time everyday, regardless of the results. Some days the work is phenomenal, it flows and pieces just seem to happen effortlessly. Other days I can walk in, sit, and stare at the tools and the silver, I will pick up stones and beads and touch them carefully, searching for a spark of inspiration. Sometimes there is not any and those are the days that I start by making simple earrings. At least by making the effort to do something, I am succeeding in overcoming resistance. I am working and I am working as a professional and I am seriously playing.
The question now becomes, what else do I want to seriously play at?
I didn’t disagree with him, but in a way, I blew it off by responding that I do write, for myself and my own pleasure. Then I got to wondering why I never did pursue the writing career that I once thought that I wanted. What stopped me?
It is the very same thing that has stopped me from pursuing other interests and… my own resistance to the effort.
Coincidently this same friend mentioned a book to me last December by Steven Pressfield: The War of Art. In this book, Pressfield addresses the concept of Resistance as the enemy to our creative processes. It is the enemy and it is often confused with external factors and influences, like family and other work.
The resistance is the same thing that is causing me to procrastinate in even writing these few words. It is the unspoken fear of the blank page, the “what if I can’t fill it?”
The realization is that writing is like the jewelry work that I do and it is based on discipline and interest. It is the willingness to go and sit at the bench for a designated period of time everyday, regardless of the results. Some days the work is phenomenal, it flows and pieces just seem to happen effortlessly. Other days I can walk in, sit, and stare at the tools and the silver, I will pick up stones and beads and touch them carefully, searching for a spark of inspiration. Sometimes there is not any and those are the days that I start by making simple earrings. At least by making the effort to do something, I am succeeding in overcoming resistance. I am working and I am working as a professional and I am seriously playing.
The question now becomes, what else do I want to seriously play at?
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