Making Time to Mess Around

I have been known to be pretty goal driven. That tendency can be a good thing - I've accomplished many tasks, the biggest of which was earning my doctorate. However, like most strengths, focusing on goals has a down side. I tend to expect results from everything I spend time doing. That works in many facets of life, but not in my art work.

Try as I might, I've not been able to discern what I really want from my artistic efforts. I've had work published, and that satisfaction was short-lived. I taped a segment for a tv show. I joined a cooperative gallery and have been selling my work. I had a newspaper article in the local paper, and still I have this question mark about where I'm going and how I'll get there.

So I think it's time for some messing around. I'd like to work for several months without a specific outcome. To that end, I decided to enroll in an art class at the college. It's a little scary with a big question about if I really have time for it. But I think it's time to just mess around and find the right media and my artistic voice.

I envy people like Luann Udell who has such a clear vision about her inspiration, or the Seesters, Karen and Linda, who are driven by passion to help others make art. I hope I can this kind of clarity.

Comments

[Heather T.]

That zentangle is adorable!!

I hope you can find what you're looking for, though I think that many times we only find what we're looking for when we've found it--which means mucking about till it shows up!

[Julie K in Taiwan]

Sometimes, if you stop looking, it shows up. I think it's a good plan for you to start messing around ;)