Recently, I read an article that I really connected with, an article too beneficial not to share!
So after contacting the author, Ms. Elena Parashko, for permission to reprint it, I have posted it below.
I hope you get as much out of it as I did.
So after contacting the author, Ms. Elena Parashko, for permission to reprint it, I have posted it below.
I hope you get as much out of it as I did.
'Blue' by Elena Parashko, oil, 60 cm x 76 cm
An Artist
Apart
BY ELENA PARASHKO
Apart
BY ELENA PARASHKO
The pursuit of creativity is largely a solitary activity. We artists tend to spend our day working in isolation. While this solitude is often required for focus, being alone too much can make our work stale and leave us craving social contact. Here are 10 tips to overcome this dilemma:
1. Play music in the studio. If your workspace is extremely quiet, playing music while you work can ease that stillness. Boost your spirits by listening to your favorite music or free Internet radio. Avoid disc jockey chitchat that may compete for your attention.
2. Share your workspace. If you are not easily distracted, sharing your workspace with other highly motivated people can be inspiring.
3. Start a collaborative project. Some large projects are best approaches as a group effort. Teamwork can meet your need for brainstorming ideas and problem solving, giving and receiving feedback, communicating goals and progress, and sharing skills in the creation of artwork. Team up with others who have a similar vision and rapport. Also, be clear about the division of labor in the project to avoid artistic rivalry and conflict.
4. Join an artists' networking group. Attend meeting where artists regularly unwind, talk and connect with one another. It can be reassuring to find we are not alone in our thoughts, fears and issues. Be careful not to allow these meetings to turn into negative sessions. For this type of group to be a true tonic for loneliness, it must have a positive focus on fellowship and mutual encouragement.
5. Interact with other artists online. If you can't get together with other artists physically, thanks to technology, there are many opportunities to connect: blogs, forums, message boards, online communities and other sites such as YouTube and Second Life. These platforms allow communication between artists anywhere in the world at any time of the day night.
6. Mingle on opening night. After you have spent months (or even years) putting together a body of artwork, opening night is your chance to share your work with the world and personally interact with your audience. Meet art lovers, explain methods to the curious and elaborate on your message. Attend other artists' opening nights and appreciate being a socially engaged member of the audience. You may see familiar faces at each event you attend. This is how personal friendships and professional associations develop.
7. Go on an excursion. If you become too insular and sheltered from other influences, your work may stagnate. Take an interest in new trends and issues. Visit galleries, arts conferences, seminars and exhibitions to see what others are doing.
8. Take a class. Attend workshops or classes to develop new skills that will enhance your professional development. Be proactive in interacting with other students.
9. Touch base with your clients. Stay in touch with clients – not just with a newsletter, but a personal email or phone call where you can engage in a meaningful exchange. This is not only good for business; it widens your social circle and may even lead to friendship.
10. Develop friendships beyond the artistic community. Don't forget the non-artists! Hanging out with a people of diverse opinions and viewpoints can help us become well-rounded human beings in touch with a multitude of issues in life. Get together for coffee and get away from the context of art for a while.
Each of us has a different need for human contact. Some people enjoy their own company, whereas others find the silence of working on their own unbearably lonely. While isolation can facilitate the creation of artwork, interaction with other people serves to reassure us that we are not alone in our experiences. The trick is to find the right balance that works for you.
"An Artist Apart" written by Elena Parashko
http://www.elenaparashko.com/
info@elenaparashko.com
Reprinted by permission from Professional Artist magazine, July/August 2011, p. 5
http://www.professionalartistmag.com/
I’d love to hear which tip is your favorite from the list above!
Or do you have any tips to add?
Have a great beginning to your week!
Mary
1. Play music in the studio. If your workspace is extremely quiet, playing music while you work can ease that stillness. Boost your spirits by listening to your favorite music or free Internet radio. Avoid disc jockey chitchat that may compete for your attention.
2. Share your workspace. If you are not easily distracted, sharing your workspace with other highly motivated people can be inspiring.
3. Start a collaborative project. Some large projects are best approaches as a group effort. Teamwork can meet your need for brainstorming ideas and problem solving, giving and receiving feedback, communicating goals and progress, and sharing skills in the creation of artwork. Team up with others who have a similar vision and rapport. Also, be clear about the division of labor in the project to avoid artistic rivalry and conflict.
4. Join an artists' networking group. Attend meeting where artists regularly unwind, talk and connect with one another. It can be reassuring to find we are not alone in our thoughts, fears and issues. Be careful not to allow these meetings to turn into negative sessions. For this type of group to be a true tonic for loneliness, it must have a positive focus on fellowship and mutual encouragement.
5. Interact with other artists online. If you can't get together with other artists physically, thanks to technology, there are many opportunities to connect: blogs, forums, message boards, online communities and other sites such as YouTube and Second Life. These platforms allow communication between artists anywhere in the world at any time of the day night.
6. Mingle on opening night. After you have spent months (or even years) putting together a body of artwork, opening night is your chance to share your work with the world and personally interact with your audience. Meet art lovers, explain methods to the curious and elaborate on your message. Attend other artists' opening nights and appreciate being a socially engaged member of the audience. You may see familiar faces at each event you attend. This is how personal friendships and professional associations develop.
7. Go on an excursion. If you become too insular and sheltered from other influences, your work may stagnate. Take an interest in new trends and issues. Visit galleries, arts conferences, seminars and exhibitions to see what others are doing.
8. Take a class. Attend workshops or classes to develop new skills that will enhance your professional development. Be proactive in interacting with other students.
9. Touch base with your clients. Stay in touch with clients – not just with a newsletter, but a personal email or phone call where you can engage in a meaningful exchange. This is not only good for business; it widens your social circle and may even lead to friendship.
10. Develop friendships beyond the artistic community. Don't forget the non-artists! Hanging out with a people of diverse opinions and viewpoints can help us become well-rounded human beings in touch with a multitude of issues in life. Get together for coffee and get away from the context of art for a while.
Each of us has a different need for human contact. Some people enjoy their own company, whereas others find the silence of working on their own unbearably lonely. While isolation can facilitate the creation of artwork, interaction with other people serves to reassure us that we are not alone in our experiences. The trick is to find the right balance that works for you.
"An Artist Apart" written by Elena Parashko
http://www.elenaparashko.com/
info@elenaparashko.com
Reprinted by permission from Professional Artist magazine, July/August 2011, p. 5
http://www.professionalartistmag.com/
I’d love to hear which tip is your favorite from the list above!
Or do you have any tips to add?
Have a great beginning to your week!
Mary
