First things first. For those who have trouble tracking PNWS events, I beg you – plead with you (picture me literally on my knees, hands clasped in supplication, looking up at you with sad, puppy eyes) please please please go to the Activities tab on the website and subscribe to the online Calendar.
If you are a paper person/need a more direct visual, print out or otherwise save the monthly graphic Jessica Stroia creates. This month, that is here.
Now on to the main message: Artist Traps.
Getting swept away in the creative process is magical. Time passes, unnoticed. Your hands and mind work together beautifully. Sometimes it feels like the ideas aren’t even yours – they just come through you.
At other times, it’s not so magical.
One of the most common reasons: Trap #1 – Perfectionism. Sound familiar? Here are a few ideas to consider when perfectionism is getting in your way:
– Shoot for shit. Set out to make the worst piece you possibly can. That’s right – just slam something dreadful together. Yes, this hurts. It’s ridiculously uncomfortable. But if you fall into that overcritical place, being in motion can help disengage your inner critic. Oddly, some of these pieces end up having a charm and spontaneity that your “perfect” work may lack.
– Talk to your inner critic directly. It can be useful, but only at certain points in the process. Be explicit about when it will get to weigh in and send it off to play outside in the meantime.
– Write down these words 10 times: I am a compassionate person. No, really. Go get something to write with. You’re an artist – I know you have something to write with. Just grab a conte crayon or whatever and go for it. Perfectionism can be self-flagellation in disguise. Reminding yourself to soften is a surprisingly powerful tool.
Other coping tools for perfectionism? Please join the conversation by adding your Comments below.
Show season is heating up. As schedules fill and deadlines push us to finish work, it can feel like the deadlines and sales opportunities are what matter. While they DO matter, the trick of staying “in” your work as you make it is also critical. Which leads us to trap #2: Going through the motions, making another similar item you think will be popular.
Many of our members never face this challenge, but for those who make similar pieces, here are some ideas:
– Make a piece upside down. Or sideways. Changing orientation makes it impossible to create in “auto-pilot” mode.
– Focus on the negative space around your piece, as you make it. If you can find a way to add grace (or tension or liveliness) to the negative space, your work will be the better for it.
– Create a ritual for each piece that celebrates its individuality. What is its private name it shares with no one but you? What music does it like? The more you can feel the beating heart of each piece as it comes into being, the more personal your work will be.
What other traps are out there? How do you wrestle with them? Please share your thoughts. I promise – however weird you might find your personal challenges, you are not alone.
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