When the Paintbrush Stalls: On the Art of Not Quite Making Art

A month has gone by and here I am with no more art completed or if I'm honest even touched on in an actual sense. I thought I would scoot past this self-imposed obligation of completing an Art blog post each month chronicling the ups and downs of my ‘practice’. This ‘should’ be coupled with a bright little email to my trusty and much valued supporters. Instead of avoiding this altogether for this month, I have decided to come clean. Explain. Not by way of an excuse but to show how it can sometimes be,  in a creative life, at least in mine. Pondering, circling, musing and then more of that.

On an off day, I sometimes wonder if I lack the drive I once had, but I know that's not true. Sometimes it feels like I have, ‘spread myself too thin’, as the saying goes. Perhaps, it's a time of adjustment after so long. I have felt this month like I'm constantly sweeping the decks between other neccessary day to day tasks and committments in anticipation of a time of indulgence - art indulgence. I constantly turn ideas around in my mind without a conclusion on paper at least and less on canvas. It drives me completely nuts to tell the truth. I realise of course, I'm not unusual in this. Nonetheless, it's tricky to navigate.

Does One Side of Your Brain Dominiate? Left Side or Right Side?

I find juggling the left and right sides of my brain all at once, to be difficult too. I used to reside in the right side of my brain for much of the time. Walking the beach, singing and dancing. I'd even found creative outlets in work like window dressing or displaying stock.

That all lends itself to delving deep into thoughts, emotions and observation. It also lends itself to daydreaming, to being happily led, by the countryside, music and other inspirational things into the realms of reverie where sensorial, emotional and imaginary worlds collide and there's nothing to do but express the result in colour and line, form, shapes and shadows. It's easy to slip into painting and drawing then. Don't worry, I realise I'm ‘off on one’ here. Either way, there seemed to be plenty of time and space to revel and indulge in self expression. I feel that recently, the opportunity for much of this evades me. I realise of course it's up to me to create the opportunity and the environment conducive to creativity. Art in particular. 

Going Against Type Can Be Difficult

As it is and as life dictates, I spend lots of time on the left side of my brain, which doesn't, when it comes down to it, come naturally. have trained myself to do it as it seemed the sensible thing to do. If I had to choose, I'd stay on the right side. Left side brain offers all sorts of advantages, don't get me wrong, but I feel I get stuck there to my detriment and to the detriment of my art life. It tires me out.very quickly. Somehow, living with right side thinking prodominantly, is a holiday and a luxury to me and as such doesn't take precedence, so what should I do?... Do you negotiate this issue in your creative endeavours? Are you at ease with it? Does it effect your creativity?

Is Leaning into Delayed Gratification Part of It?

of late, I have in many ways been and continue to be creative but it's different. Content creation for Parade Handmade requires a certain kind of creativity as does wielding a sewing machine to complete tote bag collections or indeed crafting leather accessories for another gift collection. You see, I realise my brain is better suited to designing, imagining directly and immediately expressing ideas. Once the concept is worked out and the designs, colours and materials have been chosen, next comes the factory style completion. This is the point where I would like to abandon the project and start on the 20 other ideas that have spawned since the inception of the project in hand.. I jokingly imagine it's like wanting to eat the chocolate off all the biscuits before buying another packet without eating the actual biscuits..hmm..obviously that's not good..I believe we begin to develop delayed gratification as toddlers...hmm..

Painting is more immediate. There is no requirement to experience too much tedium. Except the ‘murky middle’ of course which I've touched on before. There seems to be more chocolate.. (more 'hmm-ing')..

The main thing is, I promise there will be art. That can't be stopped. It always continues one way or the other. It remains to be seen however, how much, when and I suppose, what, besides those pieces I have already started. Who knows, perhaps some of the things I've been musing about could find their way onto the canvas next or something quite unexpected. I look forward to my next ta-daa moment when I have some movement to share with you. 

Stay true to you, until next time, Amanda