Art at the Speed of Life: Motivation and Inspiration for Making Mixed-Media Art Every Day by Pam Carriker

Author:Pam Carriker [Carriker, Pam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781620333778
Publisher: Interweave
Published: 2013-06-14T22:00:00+00:00

Nancy Lefko, Living the Artful Life, 8" × 10" (20.5 × 25.5 cm). Dressmaker’s tissue, ink, acrylic paint, and paper collage.

INSPIRATION

Deadline Dilemma: What Gives?

by Nancy Lefko

There is joy in sharing artwork and the creative process through workshops, art blogs, online tutorials, and writing articles for magazines and books. When I was asked to write my first article I was thrilled! But the euphoria began to fade when I focused on a very prominent word in the e-mail I had received from the editor: DEADLINE. Now it was time to come back down to Earth and get serious; I had a deadline to meet! Over the years, I’ve learned not to fear deadlines, but to meet them head on.

If you’ve got deadlines, first rid yourself of guilt. The first step in meeting a deadline is giving yourself permission to focus on something that’s just for you. Having your own interests and goals makes you a happier person and, in turn, a better mother, daughter, sister, or friend. I often make a deal with myself; if I can complete a household chore or two, then I am free to spend some time in my studio. Once there, I approach my mixed-media and collage work in stages. I create each piece a step at a time; often the drying time between each stage equates to time for chores, phone calls, e-mails, blog and website updates, or errands. I change hats frequently during the day, from mother to artist to homemaker and back again, and I even delegate some of the household tasks that I would ordinarily handle myself.

The second key is to stay organized! Prioritize everything that needs to be done each day, and make that to-do list your new best friend. There is no shame in carrying over to tomorrow something from today’s list. Post your list in a prominent place to help you stay on task. If the project you’ve committed to is an article or essay, keep your journal out so the moment an idea strikes you can jot down a sentence or two. When the time comes to write, you’ll have a loose outline of ideas. The portability of using a journal allows you to take it with you, and you may also find your words flow more easily from pen to paper rather than at the computer.

Never turn down an opportunity that comes your way, whether it’s for a commission or an article. Just manage your time and tasks, stay organized, and eliminate guilt from your emotional repertoire. You’ll meet every deadline and be glad you did!

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