Where's my carrot?
united20x10pntg-inprogress
United 20x10 Still in progress
Hi!
One of the hardest things to do for the self-employed is to treat one's
work like a real profession. I hear this from all sorts of
self-employed people, but it seems to be especially challenging for
artists.
So I started thinking about why being productive is easier for people
who punch a time clock or work on salary...and how I can make it easier
for myself.
When I worked for an airport shuttle service, most decisions were made
for me. I had to be in uniform and clocked in at a certain time and had
a list of very specific tasks to complete in the first half hour.
Then I had a particular route with a set of written-in-stone rules
complete with a script for how to communicate with the dispatcher.
I knew exactly what to expect and had to comply if I wanted to keep my
job. (great tips, by the way if you know someone who needs work).
School teaching started out more like being self-employed but became
more scripted and micro-managed over time. I never did figure out that
one. Movin' on...
When I chose to cut the cord and paint full time in 2017, suddenly I
was making ALL my own decisions;
Like when to get up, when to start work, how much to produce, what
professional development to embrace, what tools to purchase, how to
discuss projects with clients, when to take lunch, when to quit for the
day, not to mention which social media platforms to use and how to say
no to non-essential things that cried out for my attention.
I think it all boils down to having something to look forward to.
When you work for someone else, they provide the vision, which they may
or may not share with you, and you provide the 'get to it-iveness.'
So how does someone with a Type ISFP (Introversive, Sensing, Feeling,
Perceiving) cope when suddenly thrust into a role best fitted to a Type
A?
I actually think I may sorta kinda understand it.
Have another vision ready. Dangle it, like a carrot right out front.
Remember that art residency? I talked about it for almost a year. I had
something to plan for. So I put pedal to the metal and produced.
Then when it arrived, I did a Type ISFP thing and allowed myself to
adjust the plans. I didn't pen myself in with a long daily to-do list.
I just had three things to remember each day; start a new piece, work
on a piece already started, and have fun!
I produced a lot more that way so I revisited that idea this week.
Here are the results:
underpaintingchickadeewithavision6x16
Chickadee With Vision 16"x16" Underpainting
ignite5x5-pntg
Ignite 5"x5"
Still needs gold-foiled edge when dry
tinydovefeather-pntg
A Dove's Gift 1"x1.75"
underpaintingdeskset10x10
Shifting Shadows 10"x10"
Underpainting
The problem with the art residency is that I had to return home at the
end of two weeks. I lost momentum and I never quite got it back...
because I didn't have the next carrot lined up.
Now I do.
My next carrot is to acquire gallery representation. One of the things
that will help with that is to do what I did at the art residency; go
back to doing the studio work first thing in the morning before all the
other stuff. Start a new piece each day, work on one in progress, and
have fun!
But there's no specific start date on that.
I need shorter-term carrots to help me get to the big one.
One way is by participating in online challenges, my own or someone
else's. Plenty of them out there, but it has to be something that will
keep me focused on my own vision rather than distracting me from it, as
so many challenges do.
I think I found one! Check out Stefanie Stark's (Instagram) "Art Full
February" challenge HERE.
THIS gal knows how to run a challenge! No schmooze, no stress!
And, yes, there IS that running must-do list full of business-related
tasks waiting for me, but I've decided I'll be more meaningfully
productive if I put the fun stuff first.
I know that runs counter to all Type A conventional reasoning.
But hey! I'm not a Type A AND I'm a youngest child. I'm allowed to
change the 'rules.'
More on the whole birth order thing another time.
Enjoy your week and please, take a little time for birdsong!
Jan
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