Art is about freeing yourself up; seeing the world outside the box. Oftentimes in doing so, we must turn our heads away from things in life that will drain us from creating. Go out tonight with friends, or stay at home and work on your painting? Hang out at the river, or add another page to your website?
The one thing that determines what you will do in life, how well you will create, or how far you will make it in your art career is the one thing that is more precious to being an artist over almost any other profession. That would be responsibility. But now in the way you think.
But I thought being creative meant trying to lessen your responsibilities, not try to gain more responsibilities. “Why would I need to clean my room? I’m an artist, damnit! I am creative, free thinking, and can’t be bothered by adding more to my plate.” Well, as it turns out, being responsible is one of the best thing you can do for yourself; whether you are trying to be a free and happy artist, a teacher, or anything else you want to do in your life. Though it is not about adding responsibilities…quite the opposite. It is about admitting our responsibilities.
In the book “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck,” Manson talks about how we are essentially responsible for everything that happens to us. Got cancer? You are responsible for that. Got robbed? You are responsible for that as well. That was a hard bit of information to digest. How can you say we are responsible for something that we have no control over? I read further.
What Manson meant by this is that it may not be our fault something happened to us, but it is our responsibility on how we deal with it. It may be the idiot with the Washington plates’ fault for hitting your car with his dumpy Ford Focus, but it is your responsibility on how you choose to react; how you choose to take action. Are you going to yell and cuss at this man? Call your insurance? Play dead? Whatever you choose to do, you took responsibility and took action. Even taking no action is, in fact, taking action.
So where does this come into play with creating? As much as we don’t want to admit it, it is our responsibility to make time to create, to make a picture you are happy with, and to get yourself out of the house and find people interested in your art. It may not be easy, but it is nobody else’s responsibility but your own to make it happen.
I can’t tell you how many people I’ve known that gave up on doing the art they loved because it was someone or something else’s fault. “The economy isn’t great for art.” “It is hard to paint with kids...with a job.” “I have writers block.” I’m not belittling anyone’s problems.
These things are tough! Your kids will require a lot of time. Your job will require a lot of time. I know. I’ve worked a dead-end job where people yell at you for their TV bill being higher than usual, hour after hour in a smelly cubicle, and then expect to have enough energy to go back home and paint a beautiful picture. It fucking sucks...but it isn’t impossible.
Over these last 3 years, I have made more artwork than any other time in my life. Did I have more free time? Quite the opposite. I actually had less time to paint. I spent, and continue to spend, a lot of quality time with my girlfriend, now fiancé. I keep myself busy with work, spending time with family and friends, and making meaningful trips.
The difference between now and then is I know I am responsible for making things happen in my life. If I am tired after work, it is my responsibility to recharge (normally I go for a 30 minute walk or run). If I am still exhausted, I do something I know will help me get back on track like clean a part of my studio or scrape the paint off my pallet (totally exciting I know, but it works).
Go ahead and try acknowledging you are responsible for your actions in life. It will free you up in ways you never though were possible.