R O B O T P A C I F I E R

Creativity

After a conversation with Bill Hart, it occured to me to post about pursuing creative endeavors, as much for myself (I forget this as well) as others.

First, yes, you are crazy. You actually want to pursue something besides watching t.v. and playing video games, uh-oh, buddy, who do you think you are?!! You think you're better than me, you think you're special!? Yes, people will mixed reactions when you tell them you're actually pursuing something you love. Stay focused and do not allow negativity to stop you.

Second, it's not always fun to do what you love. Sometimes, it's frustrating, it sucks, and you'll hate your work. Having bad days is part of the process. The important part is consistently working in order to learn more and become better at what you want to do. When something good happens, it makes it all the more worth it.

If everyone waited for the stars to align, for the right set of circumstances to happen, for everything to be "perfect" in order to work on something, very little would be done, the quality would suffer in the long run, and you'll eventually quit. Set time aside, even if it's thirty minutes a day, in order to keep that creative muscle exercised. If you don't "feel" like doing it, do it anyway! Write, draw, carve, play about how it feels not to want to do it if that's what it takes.

Work hard, but also work smart. Learn about your craft from other people, classes, books, etc. Warm up your mind first. I do several sketches before starting the final piece.

Take breaks. Allow some breaks for your mind to rest and you'll come back with a refreshed perspective.

Learn to take a compliment. You have no idea how other people interpret your work. Someone will love a piece you've made that you absolutely hate. You don't have to right to ruin another person's experience so just say "thank you".

Have a life. The work draws on your life experiences, so go rob a bank, sell drugs at a rave, and have sex with the Bush twins...(this is a joke, bush shock-troops, don't kick down my door)

Have fun, stay loose, and keep at it.

posted by rp @ 5:55 PM