Sometimes I’ll say something to an artist that I’m coaching that strikes a cord of truth in them that brings their thoughts, and therefore their actions, into clear focus.
That’s what happened after I responded to Nicolette, “Fear creeps in when you’re not present. Stick to your plan, stop trailing off into the future.”
Nicolette is an artist client, turned graphic designer, who wants to return to fine art.
She hasn’t worked on her fine art in several years so she needs to get back into her creative flow to build a representative body of new work.
Frankly, she’s been dragging her feet a bit on getting this work done. Her mind has been winding around her unique value proposition, target market, and distribution channels.
She is thinking about selling her work before she’s actually made it.
Is it any wonder that the work isn’t yet done and she’s beginning to freeze up in fear?
Look. I’m not a life coach, but I do know from my own experience as a fine artist and entrepreneur that fear and frustration, creep in when you are not present.
Why is she not present? She’s not focused on the task at hand, which is simply to produce a dozen pieces that are strong representations of her new artistic concept.
That means she may need to produce 30 pieces and scrap 18. Her perfectionism had better make a quick exit.
Once this “product development” is done we can examine potential markets and value propositions.
Until a cohesive body of work is complete, focusing on marketing would make a case of the tail wagging the dog.
Or another way of saying it is, focusing on marketing before finding your artistic voice, is placing the cart is before the horse.
Take it one step at a time. Focus on completing each step in your Action Plan within a reasonable amount of time and then get on to the next step.
I’m not sure why so many creatives are tortured by planning but once they learn this skill they soar.
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Hi Juurri,
Actually, “everything else will fall (not) into place after that.” Creating excellent art is where one must start, at a minimum. Then that the games begin! ,)
Sincerely,
Ann
Exactly right! I was also a graphic designer wanting to move back to my first love, fine art. The fears you described are 100% right. Thanks for the reminder that excellent art is #1, and everything else will fall into place after that.
PERFECT! Thank you…just where I am. It is so easy to put aside the pleasure of doing the art and instead begin to see all the hurdles – then the hurdles take over – and I do freeze up – the creativity is gone – which frustrates me which causes more frost on my creative spirit.
I have been working on my body of work – and you will be my first call very shortly when it is closer to ready.