Expectations

Lets get real for a second, what expectations do you put on yourself? Are they realistic? Do you under value your potential or expect way more of yourself then any sane person would? The follow up question to that is (and this is a big one), how can you shift your expectations to something healthy? 

I definitely find myself in the latter category. So what would healthy look like to me? Healthy expectations would drive me to be better, but still allow me to recognize my acomplishments for what they are. 

I really wanted to start and finish a painting of some kind this weekend. I choose to paint a simple drawing of my dog on some wood I found at work. It was critical to me to finish something this weekend, and I did. I see so many problems when I look at it, but it's finished. I expected myself to do a better job, even though I have no training with Acrylics and have hardly any experience painting. Why? Why on earth do I have such unrealistic expectations for myself?

I don't have any answers yet believe me, but a friend recently showed me a quote from Ira Glass and it was encouraging to know that at least I wasn't the only one that struggled with these types of questions. Maybe it will encourage you too.

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

― Ira Glass

Goal #4

Practicing some faces

So where exactly did the last month go? I seem to have misplaced it. If anyone finds it would you let me know? I think that wherever it is, its probably in the same place my back up pair of running shoes is, because I cant find those either.

I didn't think you would mind if I skipped around a little on my goal list. I would think that by now you would expect me to do things out of order. Today I wanted to share goal 4 of 10 for 2013.

 #4: Draw in my art journal at least once a week and complete 3 pieces this year.

I started out the year pretty strong with this goal, but fell behind in February.  I do feel like I have made up for it in the last few weeks though. I had a light switch moment. I'm sure you have experienced those moments in life when something that you have really wanted to do, but struggled with finding time or energy just one day fit into your life. I haven't had many of them, but I have had a few and man are they great. One day that elusive "thing" is turned off and then the next, something happens and it's turned on. Just like that.

Believe it or not, the thing that helped turn on the light was Instagram. I rejoined to help improve my photography skills, but found so many wonderful artist posting pictures of their work. And not just finished work, but work in progress which I think was the most encouraging to me. I hardly ever post pictures of my work, mostly because I never finish my work, but this idea that you can show it in progress for some reason was a real eye opener. There is an opportunity to see peoples process and even get some advise along the way, not to mention accountability...."So hows that panting you stated last month?"

To top it off I was approached by a coworker and fellow artist about starting some kind of accountability network for the artist we work with. What a great idea! He put together a blog that we could all post on, to share what we are working on. I'm so excited about this idea. I cant tell you how exciting it is to talk about your work with fellow artist. 

I'll be posting more on my current art projects here and linking them to our accountability blog. Please feel free to give honest feedback on any of my work. I would really appreciate it.

My pencil is calling, gotta go.

Kristen

First stage. Trying out combining water color and pastel