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Do This! |
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| Current Issue: July 5, 2004 | ||
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IN
THIS ISSUE
What's Going On:
Announcements /Classes |
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WHAT'S GOING ON : : ONLINE
CLASSES : : See the menu in the upper left of this page to view popular topics from past issues. |
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| DO THIS: RECHARGE | ||
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It's officially summer here in the northern
hemisphere and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to focus on work.
I'd much rather be outside playing in our gorgeous Colorado weather. And
don't get me started on all of the fabulous art exhibits and art
festivals around right now. Just thinking about all of those I'd like to
see is overwhelming.
If I'm not careful, I allow myself to become too engrossed in my work. This past weekend I took two days to look at art. You might think that I go to art exhibits and festivals to find new clients, but not so. I go primarily because I love art and enjoy being introduced to new work, but also because 1) they remind me why I do what I do; and 2) they help me stay on top of what's happening out there. I return to the office with lots of ideas about display, pricing, printed materials, and so forth.
Oklahoma artist Sue Clancy wrote to remind me that everyone needs a break and I haven't recently addressed the importance of downtime. She's right. It's been quite awhile since I tackled this subject and a holiday weekend just feels like the right time. Sue wrote: "One of the very best things I have done for my business is to schedule in blocks of time to simply sit around leisurely and play with various art materials, art books, non-art related books, etc. Doing this on a regular basis helps keep me rejuvenated and energized. It helps keep my artwork spontaneous and fun! . . . Right this moment--as I am writing this--I am in one of those Rest/Play times. Here I am out on my back patio sitting by my garden fountain. (I'm not at my computer you'll no doubt notice) [Sue's long letter is handwritten!] I have a thermos of coffee with me, my sketchbook, my pens, my journal, my clipboard and plenty of paper. I also have several books that I'm reading: 'Overlay' by Lucy Lippard; 'The Education of an Illustrator' by Heller and Arisman; and 'The Comic Toolbox' by Vorhaus. I also have The New York Times and a sleeping dog. My business partner, Judy Sullens, is here sharing coffee and lazy conversation. . . We'll spend most of today out here playing and laying back in our lounge chairs by this trickling fountain staring up into the sycamore tree that towers above us. This Rest/Play day . . . will do a lot towards refilling my 'art battery.' . . . BUT this 'lazy fun' will all become reference notes, preliminary sketches, fodder for further investigation, etc., all of which I'll utilize tomorrow when I get back to regular work in my studio. Anyway, without my essential Rest/Play day I think my work would be less fresh or fun. I've discovered that my grandmother's admonition, 'If you take it out you'll have to put it back,' applies to creative thinking/inspiration as well as to toys." [ You can see Sue's work at http://telepath.com/~artist ] |
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| KNOW THIS | Recharging can reinvigorate your art and business. | |
| THINK ABOUT THIS | Recharging doesn't mean being lazy. Laziness, in my experience, just makes you more lethargic and, eventually, unhappy and unfulfilled. | |
| DO THIS | Look at your schedule and see if you have scheduled enough time to nourish your creativity. When is the last time you wandered slowly through a museum? Or a garden? Have you thumbed through that stack of magazines for inspiration and knowledge? Follow Sue's lead. Pick a nice day (and a shady spot if it's hot where you are) and let your mind wander where it may. | |
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Any artist thinking about doing art festivals should familiarize themselves with Sunshine Artist magazine, which bills itself as "the monthly magazine for art festival & craft show exhibitors, promoters, buyers." http://www.sunshineartist.com/ Note: See the menu in the upper left of this page to view popular topics from past issues. |
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Copyright © 2004 Alyson B. Stanfield, Stanfield Art Associates. All rights reserved. I encourage you to forward all or part of this
newsletter as long as you include the above copyright information and
this link: http://www.artbizcoach.com
Please forward this to your artist-friends. Click here to subscribe to, unsubscribe from or change your email address for the Do This! newsletter. |
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ALYSON
B. STANFIELD STANFIELD ART ASSOCIATES,
INC. |