I saw this post by MPR News over the weekend.
No lies were told. This has been our season. Just when all the mounds of plowed snow were disappearing around town, we had about a foot of snow drop on us. We were fortunate that we were able to stay inside and enjoy the beauty of the snow fall and drift patterns around us.
The blanket of snow outside has me squinting as I look out my window. It is so bright! We have two more days of sub-20° cold, followed by a thaw into the 40s (with a low 50° sprinkled in) I love the snow but I am ready for spring.
Last week, I posted a video asking creatives for suggestions on how to create a thematic body of work.
I tend to work and follow creative whims this way and that. The overwhelming response I received was:
I don't know what to suggest but I love seeing what you create! Keep going!
Following those exchanges, I talked with my art coach...her thoughts:
They are right. Just keep working hard and A LOT!
I'll admit—the 'just keep working' advice stung at first. It felt like being told to 'just breathe' when I'm drowning. But sitting with it, I realized: I'm fearful of starting wrong. But the advice is solid: the mini-theme approach offers some relief from that fear.
Another piece of coaching I received was not to overwhelm myself by thinking too big. Create less (at a time) to make more (without getting stopped). Sometimes taking too big a bite can leave us with an upset creative stomach.
Instead of getting overrun and overwhelmed by a project of 10-15 paintings, create 2-3 themed paintings at a time. Then feel free to start from scratch with the next 2-3, or iterate on what has been done so far. I like that. Bite-sizing my efforts.
So I shook metaphorical hands with these suggestions and am starting my week out with these goals in mind:
-- to create more consistently,
-- to trust the process even when direction feels unclear,
-- and to remember that showing up is itself the work.
For those times when I feel stopped by the overwhelm, here's a small experiment I'm inviting myself (and you) to try this week:
A doodle, a paragraph, writing a friend, creating a playlist, a meal, redecorating a corner of your living space, a walk with a camera. You decide. Then, permit yourself to stop when the timer rings.
There's no pressure to complete. Why? Because the act of beginning is where the magic happens. Finishing might happen, but it isn't the point. The point is showing up.
What do you want to show up for this week?
P.S. A quick reminder for all of us – we're not alone in the overwhelm. Life in the micro and macro levels is A LOT right now. Big virtual hugs for each of us! We are figuring this out day-by-day. Let's do that together. If you have happened upon a technique that supports you - I'd love to hear it! Leave a comment or hit reply and let me know—I read every response.
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Thanks for being here. Thanks for reading. You help make art and community possible. ✨
❤️ Janece
