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NewsletterFocus…focus…focus…
I’m taking this weekend off, but of course when are artists ever on vacation, right? I find myself constantly milling over ideas and designs in my head, feeling like my body is constantly behind my thoughts because I can’t keep up and fulfill all my zany ideas. Sometimes my husband does a little whimper to get my attention because he knows my mind is just somewhere else! I’ve found it easy to fill up a sketchbook full of to do’s, but quickly realized how much harder it is to really focus and follow through to the end. Sometimes you have a great project that pulls you in unexpectedly, but it can all fizzle out just as quickly.
My thoughts this week circle around the topic of focus. Everyone says I’ve got to get serious, focus and find that one thing I’m supposed to do and then go do it at full force. Hmm…I’m not sure I know how to focus properly because I have a bit of ADD and jump from project to project – idea to idea. Every artist has a signature style, right? Perhaps I can’t focus because I don’t know what to focus on? I also don’t want to pay attention to only one thing so much that I’m missing out on the big picture. What techniques do you use to help yourself focus? Or is it really necessary to focus on one thing or can I just go all out and say it’s simply my way to be all over the board?
Focus…maybe I just need a new pair of glasses…
Posted on January 22, 2010 at 9:27 am | thoughts + discussion
Hello fellow explorers and creative minds! My name is Linda, aka tortagialla - a nickname my adorable husband dubbed me meaning "yellow cake" in Italian. I'm your not-so-typical Californian girl who took the plunge and moved to the Tuscan hills of Italy. Now I'm living my dream designing, illustrating and crafting full-time. You can contact me via email linda [!at] tortagialla [!dot] com
I SO know what it is like to be way ahead in IDEAS and behind in everything else. Time off is good. Renew your spirit and come back refreshed and cleared. Have a really great weekend Linda with your husband!
Hi Lori! I’m glad it’s not just my crazy notion! I agree time off is good…give me energy to come back with full force
Thanks and have a great weekend too!
Have a lovely weekend! Glad you like my post
In answer to your question I try to ask myself if I had the means i.e if money wasn’t an issue what would I dream of doing with my life- then I realise thats what I should be aiming for
If your art is coming from within then it doesn’t matter what style you use as you know it came from genuine place in you, I have many styles too and have decided that thats just what I do! Hope that all made sense!
Thank you for your advice…it totally makes sense! I guess it all boils down to authenticity…although I don’t think it’s something you can just do…it has to come out itself perhaps!
From reading what other artists are saying, I think a lot of us tend to hop around. I know I can be poking along on a project and suddenly I get this other “great idea” and off I go in another direction! And how can we help it really? There are so many wonderful art projects to be done, and so many pretty colors! Time off sounds good though:) Go for it!
I suppose it’s natural to explore new things, but I also hear the opposite…how an artist must have a signature style, otherwise they think you are flighty… You are right that perhaps it’s just best to let it happen spontaneously…hmm…
I sure would like to know the secret to focusing, too!
So if anyone comes up with it, please share….
yup, i hope folks have some suggestions. the only thing i can really do to force myself to finish something is to lock myself up and get rid of ALL distractions. it also helps to tell someone else you are doing that and they can help to enforce. self imprisonment!
I often thought that I have ADD,too! Sometimes I have laundry in my hands to sort and then I drop everything (literally)and go ahead in full force to make a card instead! Insane, huh!? I figure that it’s OK if that makes you/I happy…we live in the NOW, not past, not future! So go for whatever your heart desires, artistically!
Hi Virginia! I think it’s pretty cool you get those moments of inspiration and you can follow through with it. Maybe ADD is a good thing…hehe. Thanks for your encouragement as always!
I know somewhere you can get a renewed sense of focus starting tomorrow morning…
Hehe, I know what you mean…super excited for the color class! Woohoo!
I am one of those that likes to work on many projects all at one goal and sometimes i find this overwhelming. This year i want to work in a more system way. I am making alot of lists and setting some short and long terms goals and planning with a date range for the short team goals and executing each plan slowly. Will see how this goes but so far i am loving every step of it. Hope you are havin a wonderful weekend and love to you!
hi jacqueline! I totally know the feeling of overwhelming…I have a lot of mid-way projects lying around. Great idea on the short and long term goals, sort of balance it all out. Glad you are going down this road of experimenting a new way and hope it works out! Have a great week!