Work Your Grief Up Art and It Is Gone
11 Ways to Piece of work Through Your Grief and Render to the Studio
Guest blogger: Barbara Muir
For artists making art is life'southward main goal, and so what happens when nosotros quit producing?
When my 13-yr-old dog died in September, I thought I'd hit the depths of sadness. Then my female parent died in October, and I was suddenly sidelined past my own grief.
The straight issue of losing someone or something you love is profound grief. And that hollow, meaningless feeling that accompanies loss does not lead to art. Yet we know art is the answer.
Hither are eleven ideas that helped me work through my grief. Perhaps they might assist y'all feel your way back to your studio.
1. Don't practice anything – push the pause button.
When yous've suffered a serious loss, take a break. Take care of yourself and trust that the urge to go back at it will resurface.
ii. Open your optics.
Loss hurts. But allow in some beauty. Make full your senses with music and the sights and sounds of nature. Visit museums and fine art galleries to get focused on the type of art you'll make when yous're ready.
Whatever touches your centre will help you lot heal. Beingness moved by what we see, hear, and feel leads to inspiration, and that gets us back to creating again – even when the darkness is so profound that we can't imagine it'southward possible.
3. Forget the rules.
Lose the rules about how to be a real artist. Don't worry nigh comparing yourself to Michelangelo, Marina Abramovic, Georgia O'Keeffe, or David Hockney. Making art of any kind makes you real. Your creative process and your ain way are what matters.
four. Tempt your inner artist.
Purchase new supplies. Treat yourself to all the colors yous honey. Stopped past the cost of supplies? Store online for bargains or trade with other artists.
5. Observe an artistic space that's condom for you.
To get back to work we need physical space that also feels correct emotionally. Requite yourself permission to start small. If working at home doesn't work anymore, join an art club where you can make art every day or share a studio.
six. Dedicate time to making fine art.
Block out chunks of time. Make an appointment with yourself and then show up. Stop telling yourself y'all have no time for art. You can cease your large ideas by grabbing ten-minute time slots.
7. Rely on your lists.
Lists are your lifesaver. Start lists of fine art y'all'd like to brand. When a piece is giving yous trouble, make a pace-past-step list of what you want to do next.
To help y'all motion beyond the current moment and beginning thinking about the hereafter, make lists of places you'd like to show and artists y'all'd similar to show with.
8. Lose the guilt.
Don't waste time feeling guilty for not making art – make some. As Neil Gaiman said:
Life is sometimes hard. Things go incorrect, in life and in love and in concern and in friendship and in wellness and in all the other ways that life can become wrong. And when things get tough, this is what y'all should do.
Make good art.
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9. Be your own B.A.F.F. (Best Artist Friend Forever)
Praise yourself for each minor accomplishment. When you're using a list, cross each completed task off and feel some pride equally you do. Being kind to yourself helps yous let go, relax, and get creative.
10. Recognize that you lot've inverse.
Whether it'due south a month, a year, or 10 years since you lot produced your concluding piece of art, you're not the same person. You don't accept to brand the kind of art you used to make.
Moving in a new direction may be the inspiration to become going again.
11. Remember the bigger vision.
When y'all are ready, remember the earth needs art and the world needs yous. Gently – at your ain footstep, and always paying attending to what'south most important to you – realize that people want to see your work. Your loss isn't any less, merely fine art can be the path out of the darkness.
How have you dealt with grief?
About Our Guest Blogger
Barbara Muir is known for her portraits and positive life view, which she enjoys sharing through exhibiting her piece of work, public speaking, and teaching English language and psychology.
She gained recognition on the international phase through the images and stories on her upbeat web log, Barbara Muir Paints. This earned her a spot on the Oprah Winfrey prove drawing Oprah via Skype.
- by Guest Blogger
- January 24, 2014
This plan emphasizes your limited capacity. It's not most balance.
Information technology's about existence fulfilled—about enjoying the life of an artist. To practise that, you lot seek to optimize how you spend your precious time.
It's not a social media grade and it's non virtually posting more than!
Be intentional with your artist life.
In 2 hours a solar day I walk yous through steps that will outcome in a program that only you could make considering it's based on your goals, your current commitments, and how you want to run your art business organisation and alive your life.
Get real with your fourth dimension.
52 thoughts on "xi Means to Piece of work Through Your Grief and Return to the Studio"
Source: https://artbizsuccess.com/work-through-your-grief/
Barbara, you are a solid artist also as a ray of sunshine. I know that you followed all that y'all said and came out stronger and more positive if possible. Great post and happy creating!
Hi Kim,
Give thanks you. I call up I am lucky to accept a 99% positive attitude. Simply there is no doubt that that is bolstered, encouraged and even partially driven by the wonderful friendships I've made through the art/blog earth. Thank you.
Barbara
I detect this a topic more suited to self-help blogs than an art "Art Biz" presentation. Yet, I, like every other person on the face of the earth have experienced (or volition feel) the repetitive "normal fact of life" chosen death. It is not a horror to be "downward and disturbed" by the decease of a loved one. It is a normal reaction to be upset. Therefore, the happening should non be treated as if it is a disease for which nosotros must re-calibrate our self-esteemed mandated lives in society to survive its pain. This destructive line of thinking is more in keeping with the new pharmaceutically encouraged Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders which came out in March 2013 – where sadness and grieving have of a sudden go mental illnesses (to be treated with drugs, naturally).
For those of us who are lucky to take creativity and the possibility of expressing our emotions through artwork, immediately grabbing a brush and letting go in an 'art-therapy" manner would be more healthy than to re-mold our lives into a gear up of self-gazing moments mandated by an over-protective funk.
Death is simply a role of life. It naturally is inconvenient and upsetting because it involves loss. We are saddened by a loss of the person (or animal) who or which is gone. We are saddened for ourselves – and rightly so as we have lost a part of what helped make us who we are.
Suffice to say, I find many of these 11 points to exist humanly and "artistically" degrading. They encourage the creation of "rubber" harmonious" niceties which have nada to do with the truth of artwork. They in fact deny us the possibility of angrily expressing our loss past corralling united states of america into a (safe haven) of non-functional depression – until nosotros are set up to be "alive again".
Sadness is non depression; (low beingness the disability to do what nosotros once freely and lovingly did). Sadness is not a mental affliction. Despite it, near of us have to move on. Most of us are not office of the middle and upper-classes where it becomes the (advertised) norm to drop everything and go into ourselves when life happens to hurt us. Most of u.s.a. get up in the morning, go to work and office despite the bad things that occur. Sadness is a normal feeling through which we must laissez passer to eventually get to memories and remembrances and smile again.
As far as being painters and sculptors and being subjected to grief. We are non the type who wrap ourselves up into a brawl and run away from life – no matter how much self-anointed gurus attempt to make us believe we are such lost souls.
Visual artists are daring, creative, rebellious, powerful and straight-forrad. We face life (and decease) directly on in order that we and others tin get on – in honour of those who have loved u.s.a. and left.
Thus sayeth the onetime curmudgeon.
Bernard: Since this is my blog, I'll answer to your beginning sentence and let Barbara respond to the remainder if she chooses.
You are probably new here because I talk nearly mindset, motivation, and inspiration a lot. And will go along doing and so considering I think they are important for successful businesses.
Please just ignore the posts that you don't think will aid your art business.
Wow Bernard I could accept done without your annotate. I had to come dorsum and tell you that your comment was very inappropriate, insensitive and manner also long, particularly since you had nil positive to say.
Dear Janet, I think re-reading my as well long annotate will reveal several positive statements regarding people both in crisis and out. I as well defined artwork creation as a positive rather than a guilt-ridden self-centered practise as ane of the xi points implied. I am non immune to the horrible situation that decease puts us in. I too take faced and continue to face death on a regular basis – non only because of my age subclass only considering of life circumstances which have introduced wondrous people to me who only happen to fall sick and die prematurely. I am insensitive because I see artwork creation as a a salve for the pain encountered? My apologies for being dissimilar and preferring to see nigh individuals as capable of dealing with life and death events as normal happenings and non as horrible impositions making victims of usa all. Do I get angry when people devise terms which make united states all await weak and incapable of dealing with life? Yes.
I'thou sorry to hear that you're angry, Bernard, but I establish Barbara'due south mail service generous and empowering. We all process grief differently. She's present with her feelings, dealing by making good art and boldly sharing those experiences with us. I'thousand non that brave with my grief, but I practise keep creating and moving forward.
Speaking of good fine art, I took a await at your site and especially enjoyed your waterscapes.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Honey Marilyn,
Thanks for visiting my site.
Simply, please practice non feel saddened past my anger. Information technology helps keep me balanced. The world is filled with difficulties, horrors and difficulties. And yet there are besides happy times, blessed moments and wondrous occurrences. Nothing is blandly the same all of the time. I therefore try to accept full advantage of all of the Creator's gifts of emotion, all the while trying hard to keep anger as righteous as I tin (vs cocky-righteous).
Every bit F. Scott Fitzgerald once said : We should be able to agree 2 opposing thoughts in our mind – feel hopeless, withal feel positive that we can do something near that hopelessness. To this I add : as long as we don't sit dorsum "hoping" all will be well if nosotros just ignore it.
Being the son of a great adult female – who survived more than than anyone of us could ever fathom (and still movement on), the hubby of another wondrous lady who does and did the aforementioned, the father of 2 incredible daughters who's individual strengths never cease to astonish (and that : despite. . . ) and 2 1000-daughters who have decided that the globe is theirs to mould. . .
What can I say? My anger is born of a staunch feminism which is more than intense in me than than in whatsoever of the women in my life. It's the family joke. The feminist mailings in the post box are always passed on to me – whether the envelopes have my proper name on them or not! 🙂
The smiling curmudgeon
Still working thru it later on the loss of a good friend.Simply this week was the start time that I actually wanted to create once again. Just a few hours just still…..
I started by just cleaning and organizing my Studio, surprising how that got me moving in the right direction. And I was able to allow my mind wander. Creativity will return,for now it is plenty to prepare for that.
Hi Luise,
I am so sorry nigh the loss of your friend. I am glad you are preparing a way for creativity to return. I hope you will share your work with the web log creative person community when you practise begin again. My thoughts are with you lot.
Barbara
Barbara, give thanks you lot for the clear helpful tips to get back to the palette!
You are then right when you say "art is the respond". There was a period in my life when I was securely depressed. I read at the fourth dimension that you should endeavor doing something once more that once gave yous pleasure. I took my pastels exterior and began to depict. At showtime it didn't seem to make a difference, but gradually I'd loose myself in the work and exist transported to a place of calm. With time the periods of calmness lengthened and I began to experience flashes of joy. It was then that I BELIEVED that joy was attainable.
I think your good communication could also assistance anyone who is stuck.
AND your paintings are GORGEOUS! Your internal joy totally emanates from them.
Thanks Barbara.
Hello Flora,
I love your description of the process. I started a painting before my mother died that I really loved. But after she died I could non work on it. I mean solar day I got out the paints, and maybe worked on information technology for x minutes, and felt a flicker of happiness returning. In that location is no question in my mind that fine art is almost second nature to artists, just as well the center has to exist in it. And grief definitely broke my heart for a while. Cheers for your kindness. Your work certainly proves that joy is attainable.
Barbara
Grief is not a place, it's a process. Working through information technology by doing what comes naturally to artists is healthy and healing.
Hi Pat,
I spent the mean solar day today in the hospital with my married man who had a setback after surgery. The temptation to fall downwards into grief tin can be strong in hard times. But knowing that when we got home, and my husband was safely tucked into his own bed, I could go back to my paints, really did give me backbone, and promise which is part of the process besides. Give thanks you.
Barbara
All through my life during times of difficulty, sorrow and problem I turned to inventiveness and making art. I couldn't take gotten past otherwise, and I'yard certain I'd be out of my mind completely or worse.
I have been in the frame of listen, when I didn't feel similar doing anything because of overwhelming grief.
At 27 years of age, my new hubby of four months tragically died in 1981. I lost my mum in 1995, my father and brother xi years agone within two months of one another. What helped and continues to help? If I can't paint, I write everyday, as much as possible. After reading The Artist Mode past Julia Cameron this made all the departure to my creative process and committed to the daily subject and exercise of writing Morning Pages. This exercise gets my creative juices flowing. I tin can't afford to sit around waiting for motivation. Once I get at my pages and button through the feeling of beingness creatively dry, before long, I'yard set to paint. Journaling changed my life.
Hullo Catherine,
Your post took my breath abroad. I am then distressing for all of your losses. I take read Julia Cameron's book, and similar you I write morn pages every morning. I agree that does get me going. I teach writing, and Cameron's thought of iii pages a day is the foundation of the creative process in writing too. So many wonderful happenings take occurred in my life due to the journal writing process fostered past Julia Cameron and Natalie Goldberg who wrote Wild Mind. Thanks for sharing this. I did write every day when I couldn't paint also and information technology did help a groovy deal. I have met and then many stopped artists — people so talented that it is a great pity they can't produce. Your suggestion would help.
Barbara
Thank you Barbara for your kind comments.
I volition be reading Natalie Goldberg'southward book. Thanks for the proffer!
Expiry is a life changer and yep all part of life.
Near of us don't want to talk about it, our even face it. My experience has been through death nosotros learn about life if we allow ourselves to exercise and then. MedicoClarissa Pinkola's book, Women Who Run With The Wolves Skeleton Woman is a important story for me that conveys the importance of embracing decease instead of running away or keeping death at arms length.
http://catherinemeyersartist.blogspot.ca/2012/12/life-death-life-wheel.html
Barbara, I'1000 and so glad I know y'all. What a wonderful blog! I accept been thinking of y'all often wondering how you are dealing with the grief y'all have had in the last months. I love these suggestions and know that it will help others also. It seems that some of these suggestions could be used when people are going through whatever difficult time or even blocks. Cheers and then much for sharing and being and inspiration. xo
Hi Janet,
Thanks and then much. Your "blessings" and paintings have been an inspiration to me. I have taught a course for blocked artists called Jump Starting Your Art, but after my mother died I couldn't handle the topic in a humorous way.
Concluding year my own illness in the spring (pneumonia) coupled with the losses concluding autumn really hacked abroad at my artistic spirit. That's when I idea that my post should be near how to become back into the studio.
XO Barbara
I think this is certainly an appropriate topic for artists. Thank yous, Barbara and Alyson. I have gone through the difficult deaths of both parents in the last few years, and continuing with my art was helpful in many ways. Shortly after my mom died, I attended a Ted Nuttall workshop in Arizona, and information technology was a perfect time and place for healing. More recently, during the time my Dad was in hospice, a hospice worker recommended that I keep to attend the oil painting class I had signed up for. If it were not for her encouragement, I might have skipped out, or felt guilty leaving the hospital. The painting process in that case also felt healing. Art can be a style of supporting yourself and making you a better person for the ones you love.
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for this. I am lamentable for the loss of your parents. How wonderful that the Ted Nuttall workshop, and the hospice worker's recommendation that you keep taking your oil painting class helped. I exercise believe that being able to limited yourself through your art benefits both you and the people in your life. I promise y'all keep painting! The world needs your fine art.
Barbara
I so totally sympathise and Become what y'all're talking about. Information technology's exactly in tune with lessons I learned years ago. My very wise mother was terminally ill and bought each one in the family unit a book she'd seen talked about on a Tv set interview: Ann Kaiser Stearns' Living Through Personal Crunch. Reading it was a turning point for me later she passed. I've bought numerous copies to give to friends facing loss. Information technology's been as large a help for that part of my life as I'd Rather Be In The Studio… has been for my marketing of fine art. (I've given a copy of that one away besides.) And Yes, the two books mesh together in this one identify and I agree that this topic belongs here. Thank you.
Howdy Michael,
what a wonderful and wise woman your mother must have been! I have not read the book Living Through Personal Crisis, just will look for it now. I practice retrieve that a big part of existence able to make a living equally an artist — the business of beingness an artist — is being able to produce the art. Afterwards my female parent died I continued to function. I taught my classes, and bought groceries,just art required something deeper. I delight in your recommendation of the combination of these two keen books. A what a corking friend you are — your mother'southward son.
Barbara
Barbara, thank you so much for sharing your grief procedure and your creative solutions for healing. Sometimes grief can cause paralysis and it helps to remember the power of simple choices, similar returning to the list and just tempting ourselves. You are a generous spirit… over again, thank you.
Hi Laurel,
I only read a good article in the February issue of Live Happy on getting going if you're working on a big projection and I hope to start on i at the end of this calendar month. It said to put 1 or two things on your list that you've already done, and then cross those off immediately to give yourself a sense of accomplishment. I like that idea. Yous are so kind Laurel — I experience the generosity is all with you. Thanks.
Barbara
Barbara, Thank you for writing this. I've discovered that three yr onetime clay is still good. That I can create again. I've felt everything that you accept described just didn't put it into words. Nosotros practice exhale notwithstanding. My eyes can still meet the artist's way. My hands have created recently. The canyon in my centre is not quite so deep. Your blog encouraged me that I'm on the right runway. Cheers.
Hullo Jan,
I love how y'all described this. "The canyon in my heart is non quite so deep." That sums it upwardly for me likewise. My mother didn't live in town, simply I talked to her every day. I am glad that your hands have created recently. And I am happy for anything I can possibly do to help. Thank you as well.
Barbara
Information technology will be three years March ii that I found my husband cold and blueish on our dining room flooring, dead of a centre assault at 53. I had two concurrent solo shows to finish inside three months: they got done, and were well reviewed, although I'm not exactly certain how.
Since then, I've done a few small pieces, been on a residency, and take only only started to selection upwards my career every bit an artist seriously again. I started a number of projects in the interim, only none of them seemed right until merely earlier Christmas. I'm not dorsum full-tilt nevertheless, but the piece I finished concluding weekend I got to come across installed terminal night, and I was mightily chuffed. Folks are asking me when the adjacent projects are coming, and I feel similar I can actually write applications and grants again.
It'south a good list, Barbara, but for me, the most of import item is the first one: I wasn't sure I could ever come back and practice annihilation once more.
Dear L M,
All my sympathies for your loss. But I tin can't help only think that your hubby is proud of the determination and strength you displayed in completing those two shows.
Hi L.Thou.,
I cannot imagine how difficult information technology must have been getting those shows done. The first item on my list I credit to Alyson. That's what she said to me when one hard issue after another got in the way of my posting. Being kind to yourself is as of import equally pushing yourself in my opinion. And both have their identify. I attended an opening the week my female parent was dying, but have no memory of that issue. I am glad you are starting to feel "chuffed" once more near your work. That is such a great feeling. I so know what you lot mean about not being sure you could ever come back and do anything once more. Thanks for this.
Barbara
I stopped painting when my son was in Republic of iraq, or more specifically, when I realized he'd be going dorsum over again and again. I quit my galleries, packed up the paints and moved my elderly mother into the studio. I continued my daily job as an art instructor but could not find it in myself to paint anymore. I was too consumed with worry and then later on on with caregiving. My mother lived in the studio for 7 years. I took care of her all the way until the end and when she died at the age of 96, I was empty.
Grief will exercise that to a person.
My married man and I discussed renting out the studio, we could use the income. Simply I knew if we did I would never get back into painting. Nevertheless at the same time I had no desire to always make art again. Quite the quandary. We decided to give it a few months and see what happened.
Art's what happened. OMG, A.R.T, kick-started by an online grade with Judy Wise. I constitute myself in the studio everyday making marks in a mode totally different than anything I'd ever done earlier. Forgetting every 'rule' I always knew. I made marks, primal marks from someplace deep within. I explored new mediums and techniques.
And I started waking up happy.
Earlier long I taught myself wordpress, started blogging and building websites. Showing my piece of work online and offline. Most of all, growing equally an creative person.
I don't observe anything 'degrading' nearly your listing, Barbara. I retrieve I've ticked nigh of those boxes at one fourth dimension or another. Three years after my female parent'due south death I'm not the same person I was, not at all. I'm meliorate than I've ever been. Just I had to allow the grief and procedure information technology before I could come out on the other side.
Hello Susan,
Empty is a practiced description of how I felt when my female parent died. The world seemed trivial for the first month. I remember that when my male parent died as well.
I dearest your line, "Art's what happened. OMG" I know what you mean about not being the same person, and I'm so heartened to hear that you feel you are better than yous've always been. My mother was a strong, incredibly brave person, I can feel her energy lifting me to new levels of bravery, and I am and so encouraged by everything you lot say.
Barbara
Barbara, I've just read your postal service on Art Biz Blog, not in one case just several times. Eloquent and beautifully written, these are profound insights for every day living also as doing art!
Grief forces us, reminds us to split up the genuine from the banal – encourages united states to remember about how all-time to utilize our time.
I've always known you lot as 1 to reach out – through your etraordinary art, through humour, through friendship.
As long as I've known yous, yous've been a gracious, loyal, supportive friend with an incredible humour, wicked at times for seeing the light side of things.
So aye, certainly in times of grief these 11 suggestions are eminently practical steps for reconnecting, healing and thriving by 'going back into the studio' – a phrase, I believe, coined by your host, Alyson Stanfield.
Your positive vox is ever a tonic to me – cheers!
Hi Marcia,
Cheers. Information technology is true that loss teaches us to apply our fourth dimension. I'one thousand glad you feel these ideas are helpful.
Your positive vocalism, and powerful and elegant art are always a tonic to me.
Babara
Hullo, Barbara. I am lamentable for your losses. Merely leave it to you to distill your experience into positive and helpful thoughts for others. I read your post with decision to keep going overcoming my ain grief and getting back to painting. Thank y'all.
Hi Laura,
Thank yous. I was so glad to run across you dorsum painting. I recall we sometimes
forget how powerful an effect our art can accept on the people who love it.
I am 1 of the people who loves your fine art. And I am encouraged and
inspired past your discussions of the paintings you are working on.
Thank you lot.
Barbara
I found Barbara'due south list thought provoking, but not equally much equally the comments. I love reading the differences of opinion and reaction included in response! To be artists who brand some sort of living at existence artists, it does seem that nosotros demand to consider ways of moving frontwards when nosotros might not desire to. Grief tin can go far the way, equally can business concern nigh the task that is not art but is currently paying the bills or energy sucked by my differently-abled, loftier-maintenance daughter… Thank you all for contributing of your thoughts, strategies, and life perspectives!
Dear Anne,
Thanks for offering your balanced perspective. It is always enlightening to hear from someone who daily deals with difficulties, notwithstanding forges forwards despite.
Hi Barbara and Alyson,
I too retrieve the 11 things was very appropriate and helpful for any creative person finding themselves in a quagmire of grief. My two favourite's are 'Lose the Guilt' and 'Recognize that you've changed' – so that you dont have to make the aforementioned kind of art as you did before. That is such a permission slip…I dearest it! woohoo! Neat commodity, and Cute work illustrating it!
How-do-you-do Ann.
Thank yous. I'm glad you are enjoying the comments. Yes moving frontwards and managing and enjoying the challenges of family life, and the actress piece of work we need to practise to be able to keep making art all matter. And grief tin make it the fashion of moving forward. After seeing many of my friends cease making art altogether I realized that this was an important subject.
I wish yous the all-time with all you lot do.
Barbara
Hi Sally,
Thank you. Woo Hoo to you. Yes if we tin can really lose the guilt that helps– guilt for not making art, guilt for not being as strong as you recall you should exist, guilt for not saving the person you lot lost, when there is no way y'all could have saved them. I have heard this guilt expressed by so many people. After my female parent died I knew I would never be the same. I am withal learning what that ways. Function of it is continuing her legacy of existence a strong woman, and function of information technology is still unknown. I'm glad you like my piece of work, you are a major supporter. I can't tell you how much that ways to me.
Barbara
Hi Bernard,
Thanks for your perspective. Your work is cute.
Barbara
Beloved Barbara,
You're a gracious lady and you are most welcome.
As is "apparently evident" I am non shy about presenting a perspective which at times tin be jarring. And though information technology may not appear at showtime glance that I am amenable to rebuttals, I am definitely open to discussing the viewpoints I concord.
Thank y'all for taking the time to visit my work. I am a very lucky man. I've painted and sketched more wondrous people (of all ages) than anyone has a right to come across in one lifetime. My subjects are the ones who keep me mellow. . . . (really!) 🙂
Dearest Barbara,
Your positive energy and want to share your hard experiences in gild to help others is more than than admirable. I am not sure I have actually come beyond anyone more blithesome and encouraging than you, and in that location is zip suggested hither that comes across as subversive to me. If I've got yous pegged right, and I think I practise, that would go against your very nature. It comes across loud and clear to me that yous want people to cut themselves some slack, practice what they demand to do to manage their grief, merely stay creatively engaged in some manner considering that tin can provide comfort and salvation. Yous offer your list, not as a prescription to an disease, merely simply and directly equally a truly caring and kind-hearted person who has had a heck of a yr, wanting to offer hope and ideas to others in a similar gunkhole. Well done!
Visual artists are people, non super heroes. And we all need help sometimes.
Hi Nicki,
Thank you so much. Of course you're right that is what I'm trying to practice — help artists to keep on making art, or get back to doing it if they've stopped. And Nicki, some artists are super heroes. You lot are i of mine.
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Thank you for this blog posting. I loved the Neil Gaiman prune, and it came at a fortuitous fourth dimension in my own creative journey. It is funny how sometimes the perfect save lands in your lap right when yous demand it. I'k not i who is comfortable waxing poetic about fate or assigning divine crusade to what is likely coincidence, but I am certainly grateful when happy accidents occur – and I accept you to thank for it!
Auralee
Hi Auralee,
Thank yous. Glad you liked it and the Neil Gaiman prune. I love that besides. I am also entirely grateful when happy accidents occur, and delighted that this mail service could be a salve to you. Your comment has made me experience a lot lighter in this function of the world.
Barbara
Barbara, you never cease to amaze. Cheers for your insightful and generous post. For years your blog has been my inspiration porthole, through which I learned of Alyson's fab Art Biz Web log, TED talks, Neil Gaiman, etc.
I am then grateful, give thanks you lot.
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn,
Thank yous and then much. You must know that your work has inspired me for years. I am glad I've shared information with you that you savor!
I couldn't me more grateful to y'all for your wonderful art.
Barbara
I feel that the person who died was me following a sar blow which left me suffering from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). I was non hurt physically but the creative person in me was all but wiped out. It happened nearly twenty years ago just although my abilities are still there I rarely pigment or produce art works despite having the nack of painting portraits that wait alive (more alive than I feel). Painting or fifty-fifty drawing fills me with dread. Please any help or suggestions volition be much appreciated.
Hi Eva,
I am so pitiful. I don't know what to tell you. The only matter I can recollect of is trying painting with a trusted friend who understands what yous've been through. And I would start with drawing in a sketchbook and writing almost your emotions about drawing and painting too. The other possibility would exist to make a fourth dimension once a calendar week, or in one case a month to draw or paint for an hr.
I think starting to do art makes many artists filled with dread that the work won't plow out, or that information technology's not possible to do it. But practice — just doing a bit, and then a flake more can overcome that feeling. My warmest wishes are with you, and if you do draw and paint again and offset to experience better nearly information technology, delight permit united states of america know how it's going.
Barbara
I was doing an BA in fine art when I lost my son. Unless you accept lost a kid nobody can imagine how utterly devastating it is and completely life and graphic symbol changing. I was unable to function in whatsoever mode for quite some time, however I had to brand a decision on whether to stop, shelve or carry on with my BA.
My son shared my love of art and was my near constructive and unbiased critique as well equally my rock. I knew that if I was to survive and live the life I had been dealt I would accept to keep busy. What better way to exercise that, than to continue my studies and become the best creative person I can be.
Without my fine art and keeping busy in the studio and my blog I would exist a complete wreck unable to function. I ready myself goals and serial to reach and to move me on, and am thankful that I have fine art to motivate and challenge me
Incidentally Bernard my son was a Bernard nevertheless he would have been there quietly encouraging me to keep going and his loving spirit sustains me withal
Thank you Barbara for this – best ashar