Curate the life you want.
Curate the life you want.
Social media makes it easier than ever to make us think things should be a certain way. Streaming shows and magazines show us the best of the best, life flips and ideal expectations we should have for ourselves. The same goes in the art world.
I've read numerous art articles about curating your content. Presenting how you want to be. Represent your brand. While I agree with consistency, I believe more in being truly authentic. And that is hard. It means revealing a not so perfect studio, selfie, parts of my crearive process, ugly works in progress or just being silly.
Lately I've been asked about inspiration... A LOT. As in weekly, and maybe even a few times a week. I do enjoy all kinds of questions, even more when they are repetitive like this and really make me ponder and question. This is what my brain cooked down for "inspiration".
dicipline = motivation = inspiration
Inspiration is a fleeting thing and will not always be there. If you wait to be inspired to work, you will not produce as much work as you initially intended. So you need to muster up the motivation (which I feel cannot be truly met without discipline). Discipline will always be your driving force.
Maybe it should read the other way....?
Inspiration = motivation = discipline
Hmmm, nope. Too much free will to deviate from the goal.
dicipline = motivation = inspiration
What does this have to do with curating your life? Well, it's all what you make it. And if you want to put in the work and time you can; create that series of work, fill sketchbooks, grow your skills, and so on. You are only limited by your mind ("imagination" is part of the origional quote) What does this mean with curating the life you want? Well discipline is habit forming. It trains your mind and your body.
If you want to grow in your skills in any way you have to curate your life to move in that direction. It may be uncomfortable and you may not like it. But I don't know anyone who has gotten where they want to be by being comfortable. I am currently learning encaustic painting (<-- I encourage you to look that up). In a nutshell it is painting with pigmented wax. It's something I've always been intrigued by. Fate put a local class opportunity right in my path. Then out of hesitancy I watched but didn't sign up. Till I accomplished some personal studio goals and decided to treat myself to this lesson and growth opportunity. I have more than grown already in my artistic abilities. I've created a larger network and learned more about myself and my works. Should I mention the other students were not able to make it to the first session and it was me and (the amazing) teacher. So I am honored to learn as an apprentice!
Honestly, I can write on and on about how to curate your life. My point is DO IT! Start now. Make those habits, connections, and artistic growth NOW!
dicipline = motivation = inspiration
As always, thank you for reading and for your time.