This inspiring story shows how using what we have – or don’t have! – can lead us in positive new directions. It’s all about convergence of different kinds of capability coming together to produce a beautiful thing.
One from Seth Godin – Write down what you delivered this year. He even uses the word “shipped” to make it specific. It might be a nice surprise if you thought you hadn’t done much. But whatever it is, it describes where you are now.
The other from Robert Genn. Make bets on what is on the way out. Genn cites newspapers and paper paper books for a start – fewer trees disappearing – and he lives in BC so it takes some imagination to imagine how many trees are disappearing from there when there are still so many. He likes the fact that authors still get paid – in fact they may be paid more. Paper mail is also lessening. Notice how your holiday cards are already down this year. But the good news is that fine art is up.
So what other things will go? Video stores, obviously. I’m prepared to bet that social networking will be in for a change when one of my sons threatens to leave Facebook. What will grab him next? The good thing about a new decade is that change is in store – and open to possibilities. May yours be great ones.
Robert Genn recently talked about this and how it relates to painting – but as he so often does, he makes some good observations metaphorically about overworking in life. Here are some of them:
“Perfectionism presses atavistically on the human soul. The need for something better, something perfect is hard wired into our DNA. Unfortunately, some people think perfection can be achieved by simply continuing.”
“Guilt is that part of human nature that has us think we need to give or do something penitent to be more worthwhile within ourselves. Unnatural sacrifice and latent guilt are the wrong reasons to do anything.”
Facility is the persistence of a particular skill or technique. The mere presence of cleverness does not obligate its use. Example: A talented draftsman may become tedious with too much drawing.
“The fear of unknown outcome. This is a tricky one. While a lot of art involves exploration and discovery, another ploy is to have a pretty clear idea of how you want to end up, and stop there. When an outcome is unknown, there’s a tendency to continue to work toward an unsatisfactory one. “To be a painter,” said Picasso, “you need to know how to paint, and when to stop.”
“Too much riding on it. Artists often notice overworking when expectations or obligations are highest such as commissions or solo shows. Spontaneity fails. A casual attitude begets freshness.”
“Thinking too much. Sure, thinking is good, but your brain is perpetually thundering down the tracks with intent to derail your creativity.”
Still Life 2009
My own art class experience in recent years is just the opposite. The still life that the instructor and my classmates liked best was set up by the instructor – though the tea pot is my own. But the real point was about how and where we learn. Here’s in part was Robert’s reply:
“Fact is, walls or not, all the world’s a classroom. Fact is, life’s a classroom where curiosity reigns with both over-the-shoulder interest and the joys of struggling alone. Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson is a new book that analyzes historic waves of human brilliance. Gutenberg, Darwin, the Wright Brothers and even modern computer whiz-bangs show that innovation comes from accumulated knowledge, constructive errors and the magnificent happenstance of “information spillover” (information intended for one gets picked up, carried, and improved by another). And good stuff happens anywhere–labs, workshops, hangars, garages and, yep, classrooms.”
Sounds like the book in question is worth a read too.
Robert Genn is a highly successful visual artist who has written a twice weekly newsletter for many years. Recently when he was painting on Moraine Lake in the Rockies, some American visitors noticed him and remarked that his style was very like the celebrated artist Robert Genn. Had he ever heard of him? Yes, he thought he had and actually thought he might still be alive.
But today in response to a visual artist who complained about her addiction to internet images, he offers some advice for artists of life as well as other media:
“It’s all about procrastination. Hanging out at a cabaret or hanging on to a computer, artists will do anything to avoid going to their room and going to work. Fear of failure and fear of success are just two of the issues that lead to escapism. With the quality and variety on the Internet, today’s painters face a hazard like never before.
Net Junkies are the new alcoholics. Artists who allow the Internet to take them where it will, throw in the towel of creative individualism. Too much non-directed exposure to the work of others humbles, discourages, and sullies our own best efforts. The result, if you stay at it long enough, can be rudderless dilettantism. But there’s help. It’s called NJA.
Net Junkies Anonymous knows that artists procrastinate in the name of research. They get hooked. The solution is to make research a process-driven activity. It starts with the easel station. Attend to your easel before you go near your machine. As you think of your needs, put notes beside your easel. Let your work tell you what you need to study. When the time is appropriate, take your list to the machine. Be efficient and cagey. The Internet is a great slave but also a cunning master. You have to go there on your own terms.”
And yes, of course I allow Robert’s regular communications to enter my world. But it is very rare when they are not worthwhile. You can catch him at the Painters Keys or on Facebook.
