Jim Rockford was keeping me broke

Ah Rockford files, a comfortable and silly way to unwind after work. Yes, I am completely aware that I've turned into my Dad and watching Dad shows totally cements that theory. I had to start looking at the handsome James Garner in a new light though...

He was a rich and famous star in his time and every evening spent curled up watching Rockford Files was an evening a painting wasn't getting worked on. No painting, no art show material. No painting, no galleries. No painting, no money. Would James Garner be watching TV every evening in a tired drowsy ball and not getting stuff done? Probably not.

So I pulled myself away from TV land in the evenings and devoted at least a little time in the mornings as well. Even if it's just ten minutes. Even if you are just filling in all the blacks, blues or whatever... It is progress. Something is better than nothing.

I'm proud to say this little habit tweak has totally kicked my butt into gear and I'm producing at a rate I've never produced at before. In one month I've done at least 15 pieces. 😳 This is crazy to me. Absolutely nuts.

And I'm not just flinging paint and cranking out some quick jazz... I'm actually painting at a more unique level than I've experienced in awhile. It is refreshing and fun for me again and my brain is actually tired after a painting because it was such a puzzle to figure out.

Always having the next canvas ready to go was crucial for me. I would even get background layers set up on a few canvases all at once so as soon as one was completed the next one was on the easel.

I painted so much my arm physically hurts. 😑

So today I wake up and it's early in the morning and all the work for the show is done. The last pieces get hung tonight after work and I'm taking a weird and rare break to let my arm recover. Recalibrate my brain for the next new pieces and take full advantage of the momentum I've gained.

Thursday will be friends and family and people actually getting to see the work in person finally. I have worked hard and I'm proud of myself. Thanks James Garner for the kick in the pants I sorely needed.

What's taking up your precious time and is it worth the sacrifice to your career, personal satisfaction or bank account? Maybe a little habit tweak is in order to make you feel more fulfilled. 😊

Comments

How I had the best art year

This was the year I got rejection letters from every open call I applied to. Granted, it wasn't very many I applied to because I am very picky about what I sign up for AND I am also very jaded about these things of late. However, this was my best art year to date and I kinda love that it was all rejection notices this year and I STILL HAD THE BEST ART YEAR EVER. Takeaway: Today's open calls are very "agenda based" and the jurors they choose to judge have their agendas. Some want more millennials and younger artists and shun the older artists, some want you to tackle race, gender identity, politics, feminist, pro this or that.... And my art does not. I'm going to stick by my "Nature is more important than most bullshit" stance till I die because the very atom of life and Nature is more important in my eyes than most of the stuff humans do to feel more important than another group. But I digress! I did not get into the velvet rope clubs and it was gre

So what's the Scenario?

Street Artist 'My Dog Sighs' Paints Faces on Cans Found Littered on the Street I found this interesting art on Pinterest and thought it would be a good example for a proposed scenario.....indulge me if you will.... The scenario is this....this street artist paints on cans. Pretty cool right? Pretty neat! He's probably not the only one who paints on cans in the world but he most likely is the only one in his little neck of the woods and art circle. Ok, let's pretend I invite this CAN painter to be in this big group show we do annually at my gallery. (This is pretend land, I dont have a gallery but roll with me...) Ok, he is a hit, everyone thinks his can faces are awesome and he's considered pretty unique for doing this medium in our little art circle. Ok fast forward into the future....it's a year later and it's time for our big annual show...here's the scenario....we don't invite the CAN artist to come show again BUT we do hand out a can

Year of the Dragon

First off, Happy New Year to my blog readers! Not sure if I actually have blog readers but if I do- I wish you well! We are coming up on the Chinese Lunar New Year and it's Year of the Dragon! I jumped into the year at a crazy pace and really need to pace myself for ALL THE THINGS I'm trying to accomplish. First off it was very important to me to launch a couple things and explore some other platforms. Those being: Tiktok, Patreon and YouTube I'll go on to say that I actually did not want to do any of these. I repeat DID NOT WANT TO DO THESE. *Didn't think I was worthy for people to pay me on Patreon and also thought creating perks for people monthly was a lot of work. So far ...IT IS A LOT OF WORK....but I am new and growing from the ground up and that's how it is. Growing pains! I'm working to learn and streamline this so it goes hand in hand with... *YouTube channel! Who actually does not enjoy seeing my weird face and voice in a video? Hi. ME. I really di

Art Plunge

Search This Blog