Tag: inspiration

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Don’t Let A Bad Week Ruin Your Weekend

ashmeyerart

I’m sure you’ve had a terrible day, or a string of days at work. It wasn’t a single event that caused your stress and grief, not necessarily, but things going wrong just little by little. All the while, you’re getting more and more distressed without even having realized it.

It doesn’t really matter what it was, the report you put on your boss’ desk wasn’t exactly perfect even though you double and triple checked everything… again… maybe you said something stupid to a coworker that you’re sitting there dreading what they think of you, maybe for some reason, instead of having a difficult customer once every day, like you’re used it, it seems to be once per hour. Maybe you’re not sure if the customers are just terrible, but your own stress is more visible to the customers than you like which is putting them at a sense of unease, so they don’t have confidence in you.

Just like how you’ve lost confidence in yourself.

Finally, the moment comes that you’ve been waiting for. You clock out of work to go enjoy your weekend (or whenever your day off happens to be), you’ve finally escaped work. You can just relax an enjoy yourself, maybe even get stuff done that YOU want instead of whoever you’re working for!

Yaaaaay- wait… I hear a “but” coming…

Right?

Guess again, pal.

Your day off comes along, and maybe you’re just so burnt out that all you can do is sit in front of the computer watching Netflix or playing video games. Then, your day is gone before you know it, and you’re back at work again.

You don’t feel rested, your muscles ache with the weight of the events of the previous week. That day off-or even that entire weekend- might as well have been a hour lunch.

Or maybe you’re one of those crazy people that actually continue to wake up early on the weekends, you have a dream you’re working towards, and you’ve made progress. Your way of relaxing is drawing or painting a picture, you might have done some blogging, some research on how to make passive income, maybe did some chores around the house.

Yaaay… Why am I empty inside?

Only, you don’t feel accomplished. You are still carrying that weight from that awful week at work. All those little things you accomplished over the weekend didn’t restore your confidence in yourself as much as you were sure it would.

You might have had nightmares about work.

You found yourself in quiet moments-without realizing it-going through situations that went wrong at work and figure out what you would have done differently to make them better, then you would feel your heart race and get upset.

Then you would get angry. This is my time off! Why has my job treated me so badly that I’m spending my own time worrying about that?

I know it might sound like PTSD, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it that.

I’m not here to tell you that’s not all that bad, you’ve heard that already. I’m not even here to tell you how to make the most of your weekend. If you need to veg out and essentially reboot yourself after an awful week, that’s great! You deserve it!

I’m here to share with you something that helps me when I’m supposed to be enjoying my time, but the stress from work is getting to be too much.

Now, I don’t just do this, I also keep a daily journal, read philosophy, and exercise, which I’m sure helps significantly.

You ready?

When you start to feel panicky and remember your terrible time at work, stop. Stop everything you’re doing and look up. You need to remember that you can’t change the past, you can’t look to the future. You are currently living in the present moment. Look up. Look at the environment around you while taking three, slow deep breaths.

Where are you? You’re not at work. Look at a few objects in the place you’re in. If you’re at the desk, look any pictures on the wall, look at the coffee mug in front of you. Look at your sketchbook. Remember. This is not work. This is your space. You can do just about anything you want in this space. No grouchy customers (unless they’re your own if you’re that aforementioned small side business-owner), no boss breathing down your neck, no reports you have to check. Just your space.

Pictured Above: Not Your Job

If you’re outside, look at the plant life, look at the big sky above you, maybe there’s a dog, or a squirrel near by. Again. This is not work. This is the space you’re in right now. You can’t always control what happens at work. You definitely can’t control and fix all the things that went wrong this week. If you keep worrying about what’s going to happen at work, then you’re just going to be miserable and miss out on the great time you could be having right now.

Pictured Above: Not Your Job Either

If your stress is particularly brutal, I recommend doing some journaling. Write down five to seven things that you’re grateful for. I know it sounds dumb, but it’s much easier to focus and fret over what’s going wrong than on the things that are going right in you life. They don’t even have to be big things. Is it sunny out? Be thankful for that! Is no one dying right now? That’s a plus. You’re not starving? There you go.

Did someone just smile back at you as you were you thinking of your list because they thought you were starting to smile at them? Well, that’s a combination of nice with a bit of sweet humor (this actually happened to me, it was really the highlight of my day!).

It is helpful to think of a different list every day, otherwise these things will lose their magic.

Right now, you need a boost. Any boost.

Also, please, do not be alone during this time. Human beings are social animals, and now would be a good time to reconnect with a friend. If you live with your family, or partner, this would also be a good time to do something nice for them (make them a card, offer to do one of their chores, tell them they look great). Showing an act of kindness to someone instantly makes you feel good.

It’s important to remember that even though your job might make you feel like a worthless husk- a cog in a machine- instead of a human being, you matter to someone else.

It doesn’t feel like that right now.

But you do.

Also, if your job is particularly toxic, to the point where you feel this terrible most of the time, look for other jobs. Oh, “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t”? don’t be so sure. Have been looking for other jobs, but no luck? Keep looking!

You also may want to consider volunteering once a week, that will make you feel like you’re making a difference, you’ll be picking up new job skills, and your future employer will really like the fact that you’re volunteering. That’s not always fun either, but the benefits of volunteering outweigh the negatives.

Just… don’t be the guy holding the knife.

These things don’t necessarily need to be practiced purely on the weekends either, you can also do these exercises when you get home from work, or even on your lunch break (actually, ESPECIALLY on your lunch break, where there’s a pretty good chance that besides eating, all you can think about is going back to work).

Also, I want it to be clear that I’m not saying you should ignore your problems. If you have difficulties at work that you can need to improve on and overcome, you should do everything you can to do so. At work. On the weekends, or time you’re not being paid to deal with work (unless you’re a teacher or some other profession that requires you to do work related things on your time off), that time and place belongs to you.

In Conclusion:

  1. Stop. Observe Your Surroundings, Remember You’re Not at Work
  2. Take Three Deep Breaths
  3. List 5-7 Small Things You’re Grateful for
  4. Do Something Nice for Someone Else
  5. Change What’s Wrong With Your Situation if You Can (get a different job, learn additional skills, volunteer).
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7 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Become an Artist

ashmeyerart

I’m writing this more for myself. It seems like the more I pursue my art career, the more opportunities open up, and the more daunting it becomes. As I’ve said in the past, I’m personally struggling with a very odd Fear of Success (versus the fear of failure. Only instead of not trying because you’re afraid of failing, you don’t want to try because you’re afraid you’ll succeed and can’t handle it). but if you guys think this list is helpful to you too, then that makes me happy! Let’s all go through this journey together!

1. The Internet

Today is probably the best time ever in the history of art to become an artist and make money and recognition in your lifetime! Back in the olden days, you had to be lucky and make friends with a rich person who really really REALLY believed in your work enough to pay you a full salary to sponsor your work. Otherwise, in the less recent time, you had to push to get your art exhibited in galleries (I highly recommend you still go this route for reasons I will explain in a future blog post, but for now, let’s be excited about the internet) where you have to pay a fee for them to show your work and if you are lucky enough to sell any, most of that money will just go back to the gallery. Putting your art in galleries may actually LOSE you more money than you gain.

Now, you can post your art for free, and if you keep at fostering your social media presence, you will eventually gain a following which will put you in contact with people who want to buy your art. Yes, you do have to compete with other artists, but you may forget that this is not a zero-sum gain. Just because one artist gets a commission doesn’t mean you don’t get that commission. You can also make passive income by selling digital prints, eBooks, Patreon, and numerous other places. With the internet, it’s difficult to put all your eggs in one basket, and that’s a good thing!

2. Whatever You Love Doing: There’s a Niche for It

Art is one of the most frustrating things to go into as a profession because what’s “In” in the art world changes so drastically. When I brought my sketchbook to a Portland gallery, the gallery owner noted I did a lot of figure drawings, and those just weren’t “in” right now.

Read my previous point. If you build a following on the internet, it doesn’t matter. Someone will like what you’re doing.

Not only that, but there are infinite numbers of communities for what you’re doing. Even if what you’re doing is purely original, which is unlikely because humans are bad at being original, you will find a niche.

If you like painting waterscapes and fish, fishermen will probably want your art, if your faith is important to you, you automatically have an audience of people in your faith who are probably DYING for the kind of things you create, if you love painting cats and dogs, you have a lot of people out there who love their pets and would be delighted to have you paint a portrait of their beloved Sir Colonel Fluffikins III.

So Fluffy

And yes, I know I sound like a broken record when I say “Do What You Love” but I mean it. If you’re working on something because you think that’s what’s “in” right now, you’re not going to care that much about it. When you try to sell it, you’re not going to have that same enthusiasm and conviction that makes people want to buy it (if you don’t care, why should I?), and you’re just going to be frustrated.

So, do what you love. It’s not as hard to find people interested as you might think.

3. You Don’t Even Need to Be Good- At Least, Not Right Away

I believed that before I had any business pursuing a career as an artist, I thought I had to be good. I don’t even know why I thought this, because there are many teenagers out there on the internet who are already making a living making videos of their art and pride themselves on how they’re learning, and simply want to be an amazing artist when they grow up- as they should!

The truth is, a good artist should always be learning. As a general rule of thumb, I found that no artist believes they’re really “good.”

Not only that, but look back at history. The most remembered artists of the 20th century didn’t create the most beautiful, realistic artwork, their expertise lay with creating a strong message behind the artwork, shaking hands with the right people, and marketing.

So, it doesn’t matter if you’re good, as long as you keep at it, love what you’re doing, and do the necessary research along the way, you’ll be fine. You may not get rich, but that’s not the goal, the goal is to be an artist and make enough to get by.

4. There’s Parts of it That Might Suck… Just Like the Job You’re Currently Working Now!

You’re smart enough to know that once someone becomes an artist, there’s a whole lot of challenges to face along the way and after the fact: keeping a business going, deadlines, customer relations, taxes, and there even might be viscous and jealous competing artists. This may be what’s keeping you from pursuing your dream as an artist, that these may be things you don’t want to deal with.

As opposed to be the job you might be working at now, you’re working for someone else, they may be malevolent and send you home every day with this feeling like you’re not worth anything, the work you’re doing is soul-killing and not doing any good for the world, maybe even making it worse, and it may be affecting your attitude, your family may find you unpleasant every time you come home from work, and things will only continue to get worse.

As opposed to working for yourself- you may not make as much money- but you’ll at least have the chance to do something you know is meaningful. You will come to the end of your life not having regretted doing what you really love.

5. Even If You Don’t Make it As an Artist, You Will STILL Pick Up Skills that Job Seekers Like

I do not advocate dropping everything and starving yourself to be an artist. It’s good to have a fallback plan. Take comfort in knowing that not only do you have one, but by following your dream, you will be even more equipped, proficient… and desired, in said fall back plan.

I actually want to write more on this topic, but one of the things that keeps me going, even though I’m still new, is all the skills I’m learning along the way to reaching my dream of being a stay-at-home artist.

I thought of the skills I was learning that jobs seekers wanted: utilizing social media through a business perspective, waking at 5 am to work on my art career before going to my 9-5 job, customer relations, setting and keeping deadlines, sales, photo editing, marketing, website development, etc. Many of these were not skills that I learned how to do in school or at other jobs, but they were skills that I learned while pursuing my own art career.

It’s easy to think that it may not be worth it in the end to become an artist professionally, that you’ll be spending so much time and money on art, no one will want to buy it, and it will all amount to nothing.

Not so.

Even if you make art that nobody buys, you will learn many other skills and develop habits that will be attractive for future job seekers.

6. You Will Fail… A Lot

The reason why I personally don’t have a fear of failure anymore is because I I know I will fail… many many times.

You will fail to make the masterpiece you want, you will fail to make online sales, you will fail to get the number of followers/subscribers you want, you will enter that Call for Artists, and you will fail to get in. You will fail many many MANY times. And that’s okay. I know, it’s still discouraging when something doesn’t work out, but that’s part of the journey of becoming an artist.

With every failure, you will learn something, the next time you try something, you will approach it a wiser person.

It’s also satisfying to know that you are not a quitter. That the world is out to get you, and knocked you down so many times. Just to spite it, you got back up and kept going. Nothing will keep you down!

Pictured: You.

You are a warrior! You’re a lion! You’re a Viking!

You’re not afraid.

That tingling feeling in your nerves… that’s excitement. You’re going to go back out there and fight! Everyone will see how impassioned you are, and they will either cheer loudly with you and follow you to victory… or out of fear, they will get out of your way.

7. It Takes Time, but It’s So Worth It. And Fulfilling

Becoming an artist is not something that happens overnight. It takes a lot of time. You’ll find shortcuts along the way, but for now, what you have is a cute little baby snowball.

You keep packing a little snow here and there, and it’ll get bigger. You roll it down a hill, and it will start to spiral and get so big you don’t know what to do with it (which is why I’m writing this blog post right now).

I know that ever since I decided to dedicate a minimum of 30 minutes every day to my art, I go to my day job feeling happier and more fulfilled. I have a sense of purpose and understanding of who I am because of my ambitions and goals that I dedicate a little time every day too. I am more resilient, less anxious, and stronger because of the habits that I spent the last several months accumulating. Because I actively look for things in other peoples’ art that I like- and used my art to build a philosophy of focusing more on creating the world you love instead of tearing down the one you hate- I am much less introverted and enjoy being around people more.

I like the person I am. Especially since I decided that I was no longer going to be afraid to be the artist I want to be.

Now go out and be the artist you want to be!

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7 Things You Should Say to Yourself Like a Crazy Person

ashmeyerart

I’m an artist! Of course I’m crazy! (Actually, believe it or not, there might not actually be any correlation between creativity and mental illness according to this Psychology Today article. When I got myself tested, I was only diagnosed with a minor form of anxiety, but who doesn’t have it in this day and age?)

Even so, sometimes we feel like we’re actually two people. There’s the rational side that has big dreams and knows that it requires hard work to reach said dreams, then there’s the instant-gratification monkey that doesn’t want to work hard. These are also things I say to myself when I’m feeling frustrated, scared, or lazy. These are things that help me a lot of personally, and I invite you to try saying these to yourself.

1. I Will be Okay.

I wish I could say I came up with this, but this something that I hear all the time from Charlie on his YouTube Channel Charisma on Command, which I strongly recommend especially if you’re socially anxious and shy.

Every time I think things are not going well, or I’m about to apply to have my art exhibited, or try something new that could potentially help my art career, I just think to myself, “No matter what, I will be okay.” And I will. Even if things turn out so wrong for a while, I know I’ll get through it somehow.

2. This Too Shall Pass.

Oh hi, Mark!

A quote from my old buddy, Mark. Something I say when I’m really not having a good time for whatever reason like I made a mistake at work, am receiving harsh criticism that I can’t find a way it will help my art, or I’m sick and miserable (at least then I can read a book). These are the moments you really can’t stop and appreciate. All you can remember is that they will pass, and you can move on.

3. Don’t Compare yourself to others. Compare Yourself to Who You Were Yesterday.

I really really should have put the book I got this from on my list of books that shaped my philosophy, but I’m happy to give a nod to it now. This is a rule from Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life that helped me a lot as an artist (that and Treat Yourself Like Someone You’re Responsible for Caring For). This is something that keeps me from being overwhelmed, and even happy for, the artists out there with skill that I will never come to close to, but I still get to keep my competitive spirit by competing against myself. Although, sometimes I feel I’m ahead, and sometimes I’m behind. And that’s okay too.

4. I am Not a Quitter

Running on a treadmill? Having a rough time at your job that you’re not sure you can take anymore? Learning something new and you’re hitting a wall? Whenever this happens to me, I simply whisper, “I’m not a quitter.” and it gives me the boost I need to keep going, even if it’s just for a few more minutes. Now, maybe you are a quitter. Maybe you’re the kind of person who quits 100 times out of 99. Not in that moment, you’re not!

5. It Will Only Take 10 Minutes

Every time I wanted to read a book, paint, work out, or something I needed to do, suddenly, I never wanted to do it. I believe you have felt this way repeatedly. I learned, albeit later than I would’ve liked, that’s not the act of doing something that’s all that important, but starting. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked myself into spending only ten minutes on a project, ten minutes go by and I think, “Eh, I can keep going” and next thing I know, two hours went by, I have an almost completed painting, and I realize I forgot to eat breakfast.

6. Don’t Let Fear Rule Your Life

When I was about to graduate with my bachelor’s, I was in a kind of slump. I wasn’t sure where my life was going, what I was going to do next, and I was very, VERY scared. That was when I decided to go live in Italy for a year. Every step it took me getting there from the application process, to the acceptance letter, to the getting my passport and visa, it felt like something was fighting me. What if I end up destitute? What if it goes wrong?

My mother said, “Don’t let fear rule your life.”

If I listened to that fear, I would have never had that experience, met those wonderful people on my journeys, and have those wonderful stories.

7. If takes less than 5 minutes. Do it now.

Nothing art related, just a good rule of thumb. Keeps time doing chores down to a minimum.

Bonus thing:

“I will find a goddamn light, man.” Was listening to a Kevin Hart interview excerpt while I was writing this. The fact that this man is just “happy” and can take any moment and find joy in it somewhere is just a rare thing.

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My Art Philosophy and the 5 Books that Shaped It

ashmeyerart

Good morning, everyone! The sun has arrived after many long weeks of rain and clouds, and it truly is the best.

For years, I’ve been thinking of my personal philosophy about art. More so out of rebellion against the university I was attending, which only wanted to view art through a political perspective, I’m happy to say as someone who is just a few years shy of her thirties, I think I finally FINALLY came up with an art philosophy that I am happy with. I believe my time in Italy, and being surrounded by beautiful art every day, most of it not costing me a three cent penny, helped shape it, but the books below, were probably my biggest influences.

DISCLAIMER: Now, I’m going to come and say it, yes, these are affiliate links. If you purchase any of these books, I do get paid a tiny bit, and yes, my writing this post did start off as me trying to use affiliate links effectively, but as I got to writing, and reopening these books for this article, I just fell back in love with them all over again. I enjoyed writing about these books and how they helped through roughly the hardest times of my life. If you want to buy any of the books below, or know somebody that might enjoy them, you would not only be supporting me and my dream to become an independent artist, but you would benefit from their wisdom.

My dream for the future involves filling everybody with love and inspiration for art- to want to take the places they love and fill them with beauty. I want everybody to discover the artist within. I am convinced if everyone read these books, then my dream for a future where everyone, especially you, can become an artist filling everyone you love with joy through the power of art, this dream might just be just a little bit more realized.

1. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon

Don’t worry so much about making art, just do it!

I believe one of the greatest challenges artists of any medium face is creating a new idea. It doesn’t help that copywrite laws are seemingly becoming murkier and murkier.

Steal Like an Artist is the first book I read in this list. It’s a short little book with adorable illustrations. Not only does it tell you to stop worrying so much about creating an original art (after all, nothing is truly original), but how to stop overthinking and actually get started in becoming an artist.

It’s a very short with easy to follow rules. They are as such:

  1. Steal Like an Artist
  2. Don’t Wait Until you Know Who You Are to Get Started
  3. Write the Book you Want to Read
  4. Use Your Hands
  5. Side Projects and Hobbies are Important
  6. The Secret: Do Good Work and Share it With People.
  7. Geography is No Longer Our Master
  8. Be Nice (The World is a Small Town)
  9. Be Boring
  10. Creativity is Subtraction

My favorite of these rules (after the first one, obviously) is rule 3- which translates to Paint the Kind of Art You Want to Paint. It helped me imagine what kind of art would I like to see in the world? If I could make the world more beautiful with anything, what would it be? I then create that art.

I came to find out Kleon has written some other books as well, including a Steal Like an Artist Journal. Kleon has also written Keep Going (10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad), and Show Your Work! I’ve never read these books, but if they’re half as inspiring as Steal Like an Artist, then I’d say they’re worth looking into!

2. Monuments Men by Robert M. Edsel

Protect your history, and above all, don’t let yourself be the one who destroys it.

I actually came across this book in a bookstore for cheap while living in Italy studying art conservation.

The thing about it that struck me the most was one of the terrifying second chapter. It was written through a perspective of a man seeking what I wanted most, to beautify through art, his beloved place he called home:

“As a young man, he had dreamed of being an artist and an architect… He had wandered in the wilderness for a decade, almost destitute and virtually living on the streets. But his true destiny had finally revealed itself. He was not destined to create, but to remake. To purge, and then rebuild…”

Robert M. Edsel pg 15

Reading that chapter filled me great rage and discomfort. This man and I shared this vision for our respective homes, but this…monster… was also responsible for the slaughter of many of my ancestors.

If you haven’t guessed by now.

That man was Hitler.

The great adventure of seeing the Monuments Men team up and recover the art Hitler kidnapped was exciting, but it was over shadowed by that second chapter. Like a foreboding warning. Whispering, “When creating and protecting art, Beware. Do not be driven by hate. Beauty, history, and legacy will not be obtained by the blood of your enemies.”

Troubled, I brought up that chapter during a lecture from one of the Superintendents of Florence. She insisted that Hitler simply wanted to obtain the art to elevate his own power- nothing else.

I don’t accept that. It’s too… simplistic. And it doesn’t take into account that evil man was also human, and if any of us underwent the same life experiences he did, it would be likely we would have turned out just as cruel and vile.

It felt like watching Peter Pan with your child, who asks you, terrified, if there was a chance he could grow up to be like Captain Hook, you simply brush it off and say, “Of course not, Timmy. He’s bad. You’re good.”

It was an interesting choice to see the second chapter was written through Hitler’s eyes. In that moment, he wasn’t a monster, he was human. A human filled with inspiration, dreams of art, dreams to rebuild and a strong sense of vengeance for people he felt he needed to blame for everything going wrong.

I took this as a warning to watch out. There’s a monster in all of us. If we don’t pay attention to history, or ourselves and our own hate and resentment, we will become something inhuman and truly evil.

3. Glittering Images by Camille Paglia

After attending university and getting my art history degree, I discovered Camille Paglia (only to find out my mother discovered and admired her first, so in a sense I consider her almost a grandmother to me). She is a woman who has a passion for art and history at a level that I can’t even imagine- and the strength, boldness, and conviction to defend art. Her very words can tear your soul to ribbons and make you rethink everything you once believed. My passion for art as a tool of free expression and strength in the face of criticism and banality is heavily influenced by her.

The reason why I recommend Glittering Images is because it’s also a relatively short, quick, and easy book to read to get started into art history as well as Paglia’s sharp wit in general. The book was written specifically for the homeschool mother demographic to teach their children art history, the very art history they probably wouldn’t get in school.

Not only that, but because Paglia herself is such a strong woman who lives and breathes out of a hot, burning passion for art, strong sense of character and honesty, and is not afraid to speak out against the petty, spoiled, mutilated version of what is and isn’t acceptable art, she actually encouraged me to look at several forms of art of which I previously disdained (more out of rebellion than my own actual thoughts) with an open mind. Least of which, her beautiful analysis of the Mustafar fight scene from Star Wars episode III, a film that I just didn’t like, and yet,

The Mustafar duel, which took months of rehearsal, with fencing and saber drills conducted by word master Nick Gillard, was executed by Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor at lightning speed. It is virtuosic dance theater, a taut pas de duex between battling brothers, convulsed by attraction and repulsion. Their thrusts, parries, and slashes are like passages of aggressive speech. It is one of the most passionate scenes ever filmed between two men, with McGregor close to weeping.

Camille Paglia

She showed this, and even the performance art of the 1960’s and 70’s that I previously disdained in a new light that peaked my curiosity in a way other than, “If you don’t get it/like it, you’re just dumb and don’t understand” like how it was taught in university.

Glittering Images is not just an art history survey book. It’s a work of poetry.

4. Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton

Don’t take things so seriously, love your critics and enemies, or at least love the art you love more than you hate them.

For those of you who might not know, Gilbert Keith Chesterton was a former Atheist who converted to Catholicism. Historian, Philosopher, and Theologian, He has written dozens of books and poems and is beloved by both Christians and Atheists alike.

Orthodoxy is the sequel to his book, Heretics, where he critiques by playfully poking at the the popular agnostics and atheist philosophers of his time of his time such. Including, but not limited to H.G. Wells, George More, and James McNeill Whistler.

If I were to put the sum of his critiques in one sentence, it would be,

Naturally, after the book was published, his critics were not happy. They, quite understandably, demanded that Gilbert explain himself. It was probably even more frustrating that he critiqued them very much like a court jester: not hostile, just gently nudging that there might be some holes in their serious beliefs, and now everyone in the room is giggling.

It would have been better if he responded like a stern, angry preacher, sure the wrath of God would fall on the heads of these godless heathens, that way they could feel martyred and justified in their discoveries. Not Gilbert. No. Gilbert, treating them like a five year old boy would talk to his big brothers, simply asked them to stop being such sticks in the mud, to take a break from bragging to everyone about how smart they are, and just come outside and play. It’s sunny out and Mom just made lemonade.

Alright, they said, He explained their philosophies, but what about his? Gilbert, seemingly believing he was being challenged to a duel, picked up his pen and with much delight, responded:

“No one can think my case more ludicrous than I think it myself; no reader can accuse me here of trying to make a fool of him: I am the fool of this story, and no rebel shall hurl me from my throne. I freely confess all the idiotic ambitions of the end of the nineteenth century. I did, like all the other solemn little boys, try to be in advance of the age. Like them I tried to be some ten minutes in advance of the truth. And found that I was eighteen hundred years behind it.”

G.K. Chesterton: Collected Works (Orthodoxy), pg 214

As little seriously as he took his brothers, this silly man takes himself the least seriously of all.

While Chesterton specializes in theology and not so much as art, his wit, humor, and glowing sense of benevolence probably was the thing that shaped my art philosophy in the most important way. His almost jester-like response to his critics

When you’re passionate anything, In Chesterton’s case, religion, and in mine (and most likely yours too) art, you’re going to face critics or encounter people who are just… wrong.

Now, I’m not talking about legit criticisms, where people offer feedback that if taken seriously, could be used as an opportunity to improve your art. I’m talking about bitter, nasty people who insult your work because they just get a kick out of making you feel bad.

Should you get angry at them? Insult them back?

No.

You should instead treat them like they’re stick-in-the mud older sibling who thinks they’re so much better and smarter than you and need to show it. You should respond to their insults with a sense of humor.

5. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Yes, I have an affiliate link above, but since Meditations is in the public domain, here is a link to the free pdf if you would like to download it!

As an artist, it’s easy to get swept up and emotionally invested in things. It’s easy to compare yourself to others or think you’ll be great if you could achieve X level of skill, or make X amount of money or what have you. I found that many artists, myself included, tend to get very emotional especially when it comes to their art. I know for a fact there is a sense of hopelessness I feel knowing that the thing I’m most passionate about, and the most skilled at, doesn’t exactly put bread on the table as easily as getting an office job.

But, there is a strong wisdom in stopping, looking at the present situation around you, no matter how terrible, and realize that’s the only moment you truly live in. Might as well figure out how to enjoy it with dignity and meaning

Marcus Aurelius is one of the greatest philosophers known to mankind. Both he and his meditations on the philosophy of Stoicism have withstood the test of time on such an impressive level. People usually think “Stoicism” and imagine an emotionally repressed man who just does not care and is very good at suppressing his emotions. Not so.

One of the key tenants about this book is being happy. Particularly, finding happiness in your current situation. It’s very difficult, but the truth is, you can’t change the past, you can’t always predict the future, it’s just best to this one thing: Live in the moment. Bad moments will pass, and the good moments are worth stopping and being grateful for.

I downloaded the PDF to Meditations two months ago and have made a habit of writing a journal about it every day while analyzing each little section of the book and how it can be useful in my own life. Meditations helps put the insecurities and hopelessness I feel about my art in perspective. Since then, I found that I’m more willing to accept things as they are rather than getting angry about things in the world that I can’t control, I can focus better on the things I can,

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7 Day Lazy Morning Challenge: Day 2: Portrait of my husband

ashmeyerart

Welcome to the 7 Day Lazy Morning Challenge where we set up our week up ahead of time to wake up 2 hours earlier than we need to before work to spend 30 minutes minimum working on a particular project! My project being painting!

Welp! This morning was a huge success! Not only, did I get up on time, work on my daily project for 45 minutes, and feel good, but I worked on a painting that last week I was not happy with how it was turning out.

The last couple of times that I worked on it, I didn’t feel like I was painting it, just going back and re-doing areas I was unhappy with over and over.

I considered giving up and starting over- but then suddenly I got a lot of encouraging comments on Instagram from the process photos of this painting- so I decided to keep at it.

  • Before
  • After

As if by magic, everything about this painting came together for me. Everything I was having trouble with I just suddenly knew how to do!

The bird actually looks like a mechanical bird instead of an abstract mess of brushstrokes painted by someone who’s never seen a bird in their life.
I’m super happy with how the hand turned out! I was having so much trouble with it!

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7 Day Lazy Challenge: Day 2

ashmeyerart

For Day 1, click here. If you want to know exactly what this is, click here.

Today was a much rougher start in comparison to yesterday. Even though this time I got an extra hour of sleep, it was difficult to wake up, and when I did, I was very slow and groggy. I woke up in a middle of a terrifying dream, so I guess it wasn’t all bad waking up when I did.

The coffee also wasn’t ready so while I waited, I ate my hard boiled eggs, I drew up some abstract shapes and sketches in preparation for a future painting. I did not start the timer at this time, this was more of a warm-up.

Instead of getting to work on my art, my body was trying to do everything BUT that- cleaning, playing on my phone, looking at art on Instagram (which I’m supposed to do every day anyway, but not right at that moment).

Spending 30 minutes on art felt daunting to me, so I instead split my time into two 15-minute increments. This was significantly less daunting.

As a result, this morning felt very productive. I didn’t have the attention span to sit down and do a drawing for 30 minutes, so instead, I worked on some of my paintings.

A painting of the Merchantman from the game Star Citizen. It’s for my husband’s office at work!

After spending 15 minutes on my husband’s painting, I varnished the Springtime (or Young Couple on a Swing) painting:

The varnishing did not take as long as I thought it would, I still had about 9 minutes left on the timer, so I worked a little bit on the painting in my portrait series.

And since I’m using the Forest app as my timer/motivation/distraction killer, here is a screenshot of my “forest” for the past two days since I started this challenge. It’s not much, but it’s nice to see that forest as an extra tangible sense of accomplishment:

The tree represents the 30 minutes I spent focusing yesterday. Two of the bushes are for 15 minute increments today, and two of the other bushes were just me testing the app. They’re still cute though!

My Takeaway

If I didn’t have a quick and easy breakfast set up on Day 0, a set-up workspace, the Alarmy app, and the Forest app, I don’t think there’s any way I could have gotten through this morning.

Another thing was that instead of working on one big thing, I opted to work on a bunch of quick, little things-which is good- because really that’s all a big project is, just a series a little increments put together. I finished one painting, am really close to finishing another, and making progress on a third. Even though I spent the same amount of time than yesterday, I feel a bigger sense of accomplishment today.

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How to Stop Procrastinating and Focus on Your Art

ashmeyerart

You have art.

You have beautiful art.

You have art that if shared with the world, could affect the viewer on a deep and meaningful level.

Maybe, if you weren’t appreciated in this life, your art could continue to live on and inspire a generation who could take more from your art in a way this generation wouldn’t understand.

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Perhaps you are to create the next Sistine Chapel of this era!

There’s only one problem.

This art is all in your head. The art that isn’t in your head is only being exhibited in your head.

Because you can’t bring yourself to pick up the paintbrush (or the pencil, woodworking tools, gilding knife, guitar, dancing shoes, or any tool used for the creation of art). You are the worst artist of all time…

…or maybe it’s not art making that’s the problem, you will make art all the time, but what you do have a problem with is setting up your art business! Maybe you don’t apply for art galleries/fairs, get that Etsy going, or make prints of your art to sell.

…the PROCRASTINATING artist…

dun dun DUUUN!

Now that that bit of melodrama is over with, procrastination is one of the most human things I can think of. We all want to do something with our lives, but “I’ll get to it later” syndrome always seems to kick in. Of course, later becomes never. It’s funny really, but I think that besides killing yourself, it’s probably one of the most deadly things you can do to yourself.

Sadly, unlike Michelangelo, we don’t really have patrons anymore that will pay us to keep on track (maybe the extra freedom is a good thing? His patron was kind of a jerk).

It may sound like a joke, but I mean it. Time is one of the most precious resources we have. Once time passes. It’s gone forever, you can’t get that time back. Obviously, it’s more valuable than money, yet we know we wouldn’t give $100 to someone every time we ask for it, but we constantly give our time to people who demand our time even if there’s nothing to be gained from that (sometimes) repeated interaction, like that one friend who calls you up or hangs out, they just complain about how their lives, the government, or existence just sucks.

So, with that being said. If you’re an artist, what can you do to stop procrastinating? I’ve picked up a couple of strategies that work really well for me. I actually didn’t hear this advice from artists, but Med School, Entrepreneurial, and Business videos. I also came up with strategies that helped me stick to a work-out routine that I carried over into my art life.

A lot of what I’m about to talk about may seem impossible. That only a superhuman can accomplish what I’m suggesting. The truth is, humans, when they put their minds to anything, are surprisingly hyper efficient. Getting started on the road to procrastinating less is easy. You just need to start with doing easy things

Here’s what’s working for me:

1. Separate your Art Making into Microtasks

Even though you may not want to procrastinate, you may not want to do hard things even more. Humans don’t like doing hard things which ironically tend to be the things that help us learn or become better people in the long run. We’re not good at thinking of long term rewards. We’re very short-sighted, impatient people.

And this shortsightedness…

… can be used to our advantage.

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I’m talking of course into not pursuing big dreams. At least not right away, but instead, break them down into smaller and smaller dreams.

The hardest part of doing anything for most people is starting it. Once you start something, you feel good having just accomplished something, so it’s easier to move on to the next step of your big project.

So, imagine what you want in the long run. Imagine yourself becoming a completely independent artist that has shows in galleries and museums everywhere. Your art is beloved by everyone.

Now slap yourself in the face.

That’s a stupid dream.

Just kidding. It’s good to have a vision like that, and think very clearly about it, but you’ll never get there if you don’t get started, and going to art school will not be enough. That’s a terrible place filled with people who control your schedule. Once you’re out of there, there’s no guarantee you’ll keep going. That’s why so many art majors get jobs that have nothing to do with art if they’re lucky to get jobs at all.

Instead, think very small. You want to create a body of work to show to galleries. No, that’s not small enough. You need to make one art piece. Think smaller. You need to go into your space and paint for fifteen minutes. Smaller! You need to pick up your paintbrush…

Every big action starts with a tiny action.

This is actually a trick I play on myself when I try to enter art shows. One thing I do is imagine myself as two separate people, my ID and superego if you will, the first one is like my inner child: impulsive, lazy, only wants to do easy and fun things, but the second is my rational, adult brain that can think about things long term. I imagine the mature adult brain as a parent or teacher to the inner child. Wants them to achieve and do their best, but not be a cruel slave driver.

I have these little conversations that go like this:

Mature Ashley: Alright, Child Ashley! We just turned on our computer, and now it’s time to enter some art shows!

Child Ashley: No! I don’t feel like it! I just want to play video game instead!

M.A.: I know… I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you open the internet? If you still feel like playing video games, we’ll do that.

C.A.: Okay that sounds easy! (opens internet)

M.A.: Good job! Now, type http://www.callsforartists.com…

C.A.: Okay! Yay! I opened the website! I accomplished something!

M.A.: Very good! Here’s a place that wants art that we have, open the website and upload one picture and fill out the information…

See? Little steps. I have been exhibited in three shows last year because I practiced this trick. It’s easier to accomplish what you really know you ought to do if you let yourself enjoy several micro accomplishments along the way. Sometimes those microaccomplishments will seem daunting, so you can break THOSE down even more. Human beings are very creative, so you will find a way to do this.

There are many microsteps in between, but it’s super helpful. In the long term, I want to want to run on the treadmill for 20 minutes, but I feel good if I can get through five minutes, then then the next five aren’t so bad, and so on.

2. The Pomodoro Technique.

6969282632_bc5249a9a6_bNow that you’ve mastered the art of getting started, what if you decided one of the things you really want to do is dedicated a long block of time to making art, or working on your business? Doing long blocks of time is really daunting, but there’s a strategy for that too.

The Pomodoro Technique was a strategy invented by Francesco Cirillo. It’s a time strategy named after his timer which was shaped like a tomato. He would set his tomato timer for twenty minutes, do his work (and nothing but his work), then when the tomato dinged, he would make a check mark on a piece of paper, then take a five minute break, then set the timer again. After he made four checkmarks, he would up the time. He would instead have a 45 minute work block, then fifteen minute breaks.

When I adopted this, when I decided to have these short bursts of time hyper focused on my work, I was doing three times as much work as I would normally do.

3. Write a Distraction List

The Pomodoro Technique is good for helping yourself get focused for short periods of time, but what if you find yourself wanting to Google

Now, most of us, especially the youngest of us are easily distracted (personally, I blame [insert technology here]) with increasing diagnosis of ADD. To counteract this, The Art of Manliness suggests having a “Distraction List” when something comes to mind, you write it down and say you will wait and attend to it on your break, which is coming soon anyway. Now, for the life of me, I remember finding the distraction list in the Art of Manliness’ article about building willpower, or an article related to it, but I can’t find it now.

I found hand writing a distraction list when I worked on the computer took too long. Instead, I used the Sticky Notes program on my computer and typed it. My distraction lists grew quite long, but oftentimes, whatever “distracted” me stopped being distracting simply by typing it out on the virtual sticky note.

4. Treat the Schedule as your Tool, Not Your Slave Master

There’s a pretty good chance that you hate schedules, and no wonder! Schedules are so constraining, there’s this list of things you need to do. You need to wake up, brush your teeth, take this class, and this class, go to your job, do your homework, you have a big paper to write, and finally at the end of the day, you just want to play video games, binge watch Netflix, or veg on your phone because hey, you earned it.

Artists need to be free, not be constrained by something as petty and archaic as a schedule. That’s what I used to think anyway.

I found that it’s much more helpful to rethink the role of the schedule. Instead of thinking about the schedule like it’s a slave driver, think of you as the master of it. Human beings are ritualistic creatures. As much as we like to think of ourselves as free spirits, we function better when we have normal times to eat, normal sleeping schedules, and repeats of the same thing every day.

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Instead of thinking of the schedule as something monotonous, think of it as something that will help you achieve and live the life YOU want to have, versus what your boss/teachers want you to have. Have a normal time of day to wake up, then incorporate a specific time to do art. After weeks, and especially after months of doing this, your artistic abilities, business, etc will have improved and progressed much better than if you have only created art when you felt like it.

Many of us like to sleep late if given the choice, but I changed my morning schedule so that I wake up two hours earlier than I need to leave to work.

When I was trying to find a strategy for writing better papers in the morning, I found a psychiatrist I greatly admired in his paper-writing rubric that he suggested consistently waking up in the morning, and that there was a lot of scientific evidence that suggested that people are more creative in the morning. After being desperate enough to be willing to try anything, I tried this, and it worked wonders! Not only could I write faster and more intelligently, but when I carried this over to my art practice after having graduated college, I found that I’m more sure of myself, more creative, and paint more beautifully in the mornings than any other time of day.

I like to use Instagram as an example, if you don’t post good quality art consistently, you will find yourself losing followers pretty quickly who have made it part of THEIR routine to look at your posts when they come out.

Another thing to consider. If you don’t take control of your schedule, OTHERS WILL. Your boss, your teachers, etc. You may not like the idea of schedules, but I think you might like idea of SOMEONE ELSE ruling over your schedule even less.

How familiar is this story? You wake up at the latest you can get away with waking up to get to work on your time, you go to work, then you come home tired wanting to do nothing more that sit in front of the TV or veg out on your phone or computer.

Worse yet, you willingly use your boss or job as an excuse to not do anything to pursue your dream of becoming a great artist because your job sucks everything out of you.

5. Above All… Remember That it’s Okay to Fail.

I think too many people find that once they do dedicate themselves to something, something outside their control happens that throws their goals off kilter. Maybe you’ve been painting for 20 minutes every day. A couple weeks went by, then one day, you just really can’t get out of bed, or you’re sick, or some big event happens that throws your routine off balance.

The truth is, we’re human. we’re naturally lazy and have a hard time keeping ourselves disciplined. Whenever you set off to do anything, you need to keep this in mind, and not be surprised… or discouraged… when you slip up.

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Be Kind to Yourself sounds like a cheesy motivational poster, but yeah, be kind to yourself. 

You need to remember that it’s okay. This doesn’t make you a failure. You’re still the same worthwhile human being as when you started. The greatest thing is that you’re still alive. You still have some time ahead of you. If you slip up one day, maybe you’ll feel awful, but you can always try again the next day.

If you allow this room to forgive yourself (again, thinking of yourself as a loving and encouraging care-taker that praises your inner child for little accomplishments).

Here are some links I recommend to help you be a more productive artist:

  1. Med School Insiders – This channel is geared at med students, but they have a lot of techniques that can help you be more productive. This is where I first learned about the Pomodoro Technique.
  2. The Art of Manliness – While this website may be targeted at men, they have a lot of good advice on how to focus, build Willpower, finding meaning in your life (which I think is the most important part of becoming an artist) and. I and other female artists do recommend these guys greatly.
  3. Simon Sinek – I’ve been listening to Simon Sinek a lot at work lately. I highly recommend him because he talks about how you need to know “Why” you do things. Some things he helped me realize is that art shouldn’t be about creating that one masterpiece or be in that one museum, but instead playing the long game where you’re trying to always just be a better artist than what you were yesterday, which I think helps reconciles and keeps you encouraged when things like that feeling of your art being inferior when you encounter an artist who’s better than you.
  4. Thomas Frank – or College Info Geek –  This man probably changed my life forever and is the reason I’m able to wake up at 5 am every day. He has a lot of videos mostly geared at college students and how they can better stay, stay organized, and stay motivated, but he introduced me to a lot of mindsets, tricks, and apps to better wake up, paint, and go to work with the feeling that I gained some semblance of control over my life rather than rolling out of bed with the immediate knowledge that a job I hate is coming up immediately after.