Can anyone else relate to this?

Comment

Comment by Lea on October 15, 2012 at 3:26pm

Oh yeah so true...hey, maybe I am an artist!! I am exactly what Nikko explained! (Nicely explained Nikko) Nice to know we are all very similar and now I at least feel "arty normal" lol! Is it too early for wine? :)

Comment by cheryl maddern on October 18, 2011 at 12:03pm

good luck with your move Bron.... beginnings bring new adventures ...exciting I think:)

Comment by Bronwyn Palmer on October 12, 2011 at 8:57am

Removalists come on the 31st October, and we fly out on the 6th November. Very scary, but hopefully a positive, fresh beginning.

Comment by Nikko Miladinovich on October 12, 2011 at 5:22am

Yes, wine breaks are always nice (in moderation). @Bron, when does the actual move happen?

Comment by Lorraine Rigby on October 11, 2011 at 8:12pm

totally relate to this so perhaps I am artist after all..I am always full of self doubt even though I try and tell myself not to be.  I can relate to Nikkos comment about being in the moment when everything seems to be going well and you wonder where an idea came from then the next day you cant do anything as its all black

Comment by Ellinor Liljedal on October 11, 2011 at 7:10pm

I have to go with Nikko, thats just the way i have it.... its my life, you are writing, Nikko, but you have the words that i am struggling with in english. Thats may bee the way of almost every artist, i think....

And... i am going with the wine as well

Comment by Bronwyn Palmer on October 11, 2011 at 4:53pm

They really good tactics Nikko. I will have to remember them when I pull out my paints once again. So missing being able to dabble -- too busy packing up the house for our big move.

Comment by Nikko Miladinovich on October 11, 2011 at 4:06pm

Oh hell yes. I sometimes liken it to the behavior of an addict. I spend a ridiculous amount of time chasing after that moment where everything is flowing, and you feel the high of being in that space where it's wonderful to be an artist. Then, not soon after, it all begins to fall apart, and I can't paint my way out of a paper bag. I'm frustrated, angry and on the verge of pulling a Reef (tossing everything in the fire) lol. Then the whole cycle starts again. All I can do is try to remember that this is how my creative cycle works.

One thing I've noticed is that when things are going well I sometimes fool myself into believing I have crossed some magical threshold where I now finally know what I'm doing, and all my art will now be great, and the process will be fun and invigorating. Of course this is not the case, and I've really been working to stay aware of that fact, and to not be seduced. The other trick I have learned that works for me is that when things are going horribly wrong, I take a short break, but don't stop. I really try and push through, so that I end my session with something possitive. I have painted for hours, only to end up covering everything by violently smearing white paint over the surface with my hand, so that there is no chance of trying to "fix" what I had done. After that, even if I just put down 4 or 5 marks that I think are interesting, that's enough for me to declare victory, and I will pack it in for the evening, victorious. 

 

Okay, I'll stop now. Time for a glass of wine :-)

 

Cheers.

Comment by marsha carlton on October 11, 2011 at 1:54pm

do i struggle with this? eternally.  actually lately, feeling compelled to pack everything in a box.