Happy Monday everyone! I know it’s not the first time I’ve talked about getting into focus and really concentrating on what I need to accomplish. However, this past week of working solely on important projects and getting through the deadlines really helped me to realize how all the effort pays off. Talk about realizing what’s normal for most people who get anything done in this world! You have to focus on your task, make a plan and go do it, duh! I suppose it’s easier said than done (another, duh!) but I think for artists it’s harder because we don’t feel that “forcing it” works. If you don’t have inspiration or your muse is asleep, how can you get your artwork done? Or can you?
Contrary to popular fantasy beliefs, professional artists do have deadlines and really work at it whether the muse shows up for work or not. Ask the professionals and they will surely admit to slower days and difficult times. However, they have to work through it – like anyone else who has a job. You just have to keep at it, otherwise nothing will get done in the end. It must be a natural human characteristic to procrastinate as well. I’ve realized that I have so many interests and plans for the future, but scrambling from one thing to the next really just chokes up the whole process. I’ll end up with a million in progress things and nothing finalized. Multi-tasking is NOT more productive! Although, I like to work on different things – there has to be a happy medium in my schedule. So I’m going to focus on project by project, giving myself deadlines. Even if I end up with a prototype version of something because of the deadline, I would have at least gotten that far. It’s better than saying, one day…I’ll get to it one day! When is that one day going to be? Focus…plan…succeed!
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14 Comments
You are so right about deadlines! i think its artist worse enemy; however it is necessary in order to accomplish things. I really like your drawing, can’t wait to see it finished. Happy Monday!
Totally agree and thank you! I’m doodling all the time…ahha!
hi linda! thanks for stopping by the etsy workshop! i love your shop
you art is beautiful!
xoxo, amy
Thanks so much, Amy! Looking forward to learning more from you and thanks for checking out my shop.
I’ve never been very good at focusing, my mind is constantly filled with ideas that pull me in different directions all the time
Over the last few weeks I’ve been working really really hard on getting some focus on my drawing practice and it’s slowly starting to work and pay off but I have a long way to go yet 
I love your art, you are one seriously creative lady 
Hi Veronika! I know what you mean by being pulled in different directions…too many ideas that it’s hard to keep it all in. No one is perfect, but we have to keep at it definitely to get better – thanks for stopping by!
Hi Linda,
Haven’t seen you on your blessing’s blog and stumbled onto this one again.
Great to see you around. I’ll be stopping back soon.
Hope this finds you well – Smiles – Denise
Hi Denise – thanks for stopping by, you are right I am soooo behind on my blessings blog. eek! distracted by so many things as you can see…hehe!
I am so happy to have found your blog! Your work is fabulous! I totally agree with you that it’s hard to focus, especially when you have so many ideas flooding your brain. Sometimes one project or idea leads to another idea, and then you’re totally off track. But the positive is that you’ve come up with new ideas to explore. It’s hard for me to force it too. Sometimes a good nights’ sleep helps clear my mind so I can focus. Making lists and prioritizing the deadlines helps but takes a lot of willpower!
Thanks so much, Terri! I’m so honored by your comments. I agree it’s great to have new ideas and be inspired so much…but focusing helps to finish things…haha… you are right – willpower! Discipline!
Dearest linda, you are soo right about dealines! It’s also hard for me to focus in just one thing ~ i get distracted at times. But i do set dealines to accomplish each goal i set…that keeps me moving! Thanks so much for sharing this! Very inspiring! Have a lovely merry happy week and love to yoU!
I think everyone gets a bit distracted – so many wonderful things in this world! Yes, but deadlines help direct me a bit, otherwise I would never “finish”!!!
Focusing on each task at hand is definitely the way and helps to keep a healthy balance of work in life. I am similar to you, have many interests and projects but find that I need to concentrate on each at a time, otherwise I’m like a 5,000 mile an hour train with carriages sprawled out and scrambled all out of place. When I sit down to make time for creation, inspiration comes in because I allow myself to focus on that moment of creation, and like you also don’t believe in procrastination as it’s really about the focus of mind and the discipline to make oneself be within the present moment. Inspiration is everywhere, and can be picked out of anything if you give yourself that change to tap into it.
Great analogy with the train! In a way, I guess focus means really indulging in that moment to the fullest. Very cool!