Are you doing something for Feb Fast? I’m not one for denying myself much at all so I end up having a constant battle between both the pleasure-seeking and focused- discipline sides of my personality.
This year, however, I thought February would be my month of ACTION and DOING, hence the February Quickie Project: a month long project of quick, consistent, exploratory, smaller, art works. I decided to FAST ON READING, yep, reading. I think Julia Cameron has a chapter on that in her book “The Artist’s Way” and I’m sure people who have read it will understand its theory.
So I stopped reading
ART BOOKS, and
ART MAGAZINES,
but stopped short at newsletters and blog posts and video tutorials (maybe I’ll add these next year, pfft, we’ll see)
Funnily enough, it seems to be working. My output is better, clearer, and more “me”. I’ve been thinking more about my own work, reflecting on how the pieces are an expression of my history and connection with time and place. The articulation of processes and motivation, that I think most Artist struggle with, comes more easily with each piece. I’ve become more open and confident in the presentation of my art, with pleasing results in the #febquickieproject and at the Petite Pieces Exhibition.
I’ve stepped into myself as an Artist. To be honest, I thought it would take longer than 3 months. From that defining moment in November at the end of my teaching contract, to now, with the madness of school holidays (and no Vacation Care) amongst it, with the NDIS beginning to be rolled out in the Brisbane area, and yet, it’s all been calm monkeys in my head. Alcohol consumption has gone down (coffee consumption remains steady) and I have really carved out a good physical, mental and emotional space for creating.
I even bought myself a new tripod (with my Christmas/Birthday money from the in-laws)! So no more dodgy pics of artwork and more process vids, perhaps.
So does DENYING yourself something actually work?
Yes and No.
I believe you can read and watch to the point of saturation, where you’re drowning so much in other people’s stuff that you lose sight of your own. I’m pretty sure that’s been well documented. However, there’s a place for “the others”: growing and stretching and learning new ways of doing and thinking.
Just from now on, I’ll be exercising more discernment.
Happy weekend!
xx Giovanna
Giovanna Scott artist 