It’s a new year and for many, including myself, a time for reflection and planning for the future.
At the risk of sounding corny I want to say that I’m starting off 2017 on a pretty optimistic note.
I’ve set a few goals–mostly related to making the best art possible and as much of it as possible–and so far seem to be on the right track.
In one instance three days ago I set my alarm for 4 am and actually got up at that time instead of just hitting the snooze button. Ok so I maybe hit snooze once but I still got up right after that. The next two days were less successful but I’m up now, writing this after waking up at 4 (and after coffee of course).
The reason I’m doing this is to be more productive. Any artist who has a 9-5 as I do has the complaint of not getting enough studio time let alone time to market one’s work and network and do all the other things a real artist needs to do. Especially if they’re also a parent.
Like I saw on a clever church sign once (thanks Gustavus Adolphus in Gramercy) “there’s no present like the time.”
In other words, the only way to get enough time for what matters is to carve it out yourself. Either cut out something that really doesn’t matter like being a shrink to a permanently drama-shrouded friend or keep the TV off to eliminate the urge to just veg out.
Or just make the time another way. This could mean getting up early or staying up late. Which one you choose all depends on you in terms of what feels more natural to your body. My husband is a night owl who writes music into the wee hours of the night whereas I’ve never been able to stay up late to do anything. I even fell asleep more than two hours before the ball dropped on New Year’s. I always end up going to sleep right along with my kid once I’m done reading to her. So in my case it has to be morning. I know this may seem impossible to some but for me getting up early to do something that I want to do and might not get a chance to do otherwise feels more like cheating time than cheating myself out of shut-eye.
I have more goals (a solo show and some more sales would be nice) but I’m trying not to bombard myself at the moment.
I’d also love to know what the goals are of those who are reading this. I’ve been finding it very inspiring to hear others’ dreams. Plus, trust me, it will help you accomplish your dreams if you write them down like you would any other to do list item.
Anyway here’s one of my latest finished pieces, a portrait of my daughter, Lilith. This month she’ll be turning three. She’s still the best thing I’ve ever created and now a muse too!