Make Your Mark

A friend of mine recently began sharing some of my studio space with me. He was talking about how hard it is to be an artist on your own, that is, out of art school. When you are the only one directing your projects it can be challenging to get anything done, as there is no deadline on life.

I suppose that is where we unstructured artsy types struggle. We have to trick ourselves into the deadline. Having goals helps, for sure, to guide you on your path. I have heard it said that it is not really a goal without a finish line, just a dream. 

It is also hard just to get back in the groove and figure out what it is that you want to do and how to go about doing it at all! One of my professors shared with me this wisdom, making art (whatever that art may be for you) is a fine balance between not holding it so close to your chest and being too precious with it that nothing amazing is ever allowed to happen and not tickling it to death, knowing when to stop. Therein lies the struggle of art making. The minute you start in on something, a painting, a book, a new creative venture of some sort, you have just opened a can of worms. A million problems are there to be solved, balanced, fiddled with, problems to drive you nuts with irritation that you just cannot get it right. But that is the fun of the art making process. 

I was glad to see my friend so excited and happy with anticipation that his drawing table has been dusted off, some paper and paint are out, and he maybe doesn't have a clue what is going to happen, but he made his mark on that paper. Perhaps, that is all we can ask of ourselves. To position ourselves with an attitude of excitement and anticipation that something amazing will eventually happen and slowly but surely, make our daily marks. What will that be for you and I today?