Sunday, January 3, 2010

Back to Earth - and taking stock


Image: Gabrielle Jones, Primitive 2005 ; Oil on Ply, 120 x 90cm

Well..it's all over. About to pack away the Christmas Tree decorations, clean up after the New Year's Celebration, tidy the guest room after departure, do the accounting I have left nearly all year until now...But first, I decided to do a little stock taking - and not the kind that means 40% off this week only!
I spent some time last night, counting my blessings - thinking about what I love about being an artist (and all the details); what is good in my life; what is good about me; and working out what I want to HAPPEN this year and what I want to DO this year. I refused to think of what I DIDN'T want to happen, or HOW my dreams were going to happen, just the WHAT. So I spent a happy hour contemplating how good everything was JUST as it IS, as well as the Dreams of what else could be. I recommend it!
Anyway,here's a few of the things I came up with, regarding being an artist:
Flexibility of hours and days work;
Creativity -it feeds my soul;
Engagement (and feeling energised by my work);
Kudos-being individual/unusual, taking the hard road and making it work;
It's different and and people find that interesting - the "path less travelled";
The people/artists I meet in the course of my work-interesting, soulful, positive people who are inspiring;
Having an effect on other people - if they enjoy my work, it can enrich their lives;
Inspiring others (especially to take a risk some time) and opening other worlds to them in teaching;
Exploring "otherness" or spirituality-the magic, the surprise, the "wow" factor.
Have you got any more things about being an artist that make you happy? Why are you an artist? Share your thoughts here

2 comments:

  1. Nice to see you back, G. I think you covered it all very well...it's so good to be positive and all too often I get a bit bogged down in the opposites so thanks for posting that refreshing list - always wise words from you. I hope you carve it up this year, friend! Oh, and, I love the painting you posted. Beautiful tonal work with a kick arse abstract form. Yummy!

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  2. Well...hello to you, too and likewise with the carving!
    Do you really like the painting? It was done over four years ago, and lately I find myself returning to the theme. This one is remarkably like a new painting, using found ram's skeleton, tho the pictured one was taken from a ceremonial knife I drew in Aust Museum. The circle gets smaller on that roundabout...Maybe I'll find that "thing" -the subject for the rest of my life -and be off with that knife figuratively carving up, after all. In the meantime, I'll try to make sure I show up at the studio one day at a time

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