Motivation

 

When I lost my studio/gallery due to COVID I returned from New Mexico to California. Outside of my initial learning period as a young man; now, in my mature period,  I have to say my time in NM was my most productive personally.  I made work that pushed boundaries. I broke new ground in my professional life as well as my personal life. 

After returning I was keyed up. COVID was raging. People were sequestering; as was my wife and I.  But I had all these ‘ left over’  ideas from NM churning in my head. So I set about to work alone in my studio and let COVID do it’s thing. I was motivated to get these ideas out and onto canvas.  My last year in NM I created two sets of works for two show I was going to  present at my gallery;  in a new technique I had never painted before.

One show was called  “Stolen Culture” and the other was called “Matriarchs.”   Both related to the history and journey of the first Native Americans.  A total of forty three new paintings. These are paintings I have never painted before. They were not more of the same work I had been making.  Idea, concept and execution were all new to me. These works can be seen on my website: Rickrotantefineart.com

I was forced to return to Ca., yet I was still motivated to produce.

Through COVID I painting still newer work. I created 85 new paintings in this new style,  unrelated to native Americans,  which I eventually called Abstract Realism. Again posted on my FASO website.

Motivation is the key to producing.  One can sit around and think of doing something, but if we are not motivated, we procrastinate. We put it off.  Without being  motivated, any endeavor we choose to do is done half heartedly. The spirit of accomplishment is missing. And interest wanes or was not present in the first place. 

As artists, there are few outside incentives pushing us create. In fact, obstacles abound to prevent us from creating. We all have lives outside of art. It becomes difficult to find motivation. One issue and another will invariably get in the way that is more important.

Many of the things we do in life we do out of necessity. Not motivation.

Motivation needs to be cultivated. Sometimes manufactured. Often manipulated from feeling  lazy or distracted or a desire to do nothing.

Art does not fall from the heavens. It takes will,ability, skill, training and motivation to produce. It takes intelligence and knowledge of the world.  Many of us are beaten down by life. Others in society don’t understand nor appreciate the creative process. I have been there.

A job is necessary, eating is necessary, sleep in necessary. An income is necessary. So many things that affect our lives are imperatives. Making art, not so much.  Oftentimes, we are not rewarded for what we make. Families don’t understand. The general public might be apathetic. Galleries show little interest.  All these outside forces stifle our motivation. Why bother?  No one seem to like it? I can’t sell it? It takes so much time to make? Materials are costly. I have few friends due to making art. My social life suffers. My kids hate when I take time from them as does my spouse.

Think of all the great art in history that would not have been made were the masters not motivated? Would cathedrals and churches all over the world have great art in them?  Would galleries and museums have art to display?  Would there be children’s books to read? What about television and movies and fashion and music? All the great classical and contemporary music we hear, would never have been produced if artists were not motivated to create it

If motivation is lacking, what do you do?

I can type a multitude of ways to get motivated. Many will not relate to you. I am not skirting the issue here?  Personal motivation comes from inside. Inside your head and your heart.  So, I will tell you one of My ways to get motivated. I see something I want to do and I learn all I can about it. But everything interests me. That’s a problem. I am bragging here a little, but I have been good at most things. Most things that interest me that is.  I can see all the eyebrows go up out there. 

If you love to paint, learn all you can to do it the best you can. It is that simple and that hard.  Because you must be motivated. Every second, every minute, every hour and every day.  It won’t be easy.  Anything worth learning fully is hard. But in the end it is worth it.  If you love what you do, motivation is never an issue.

There will be roadblocks. Your motivation will be tested to be sure. 

Problems with motivation arise when your thinking and direction gets misled. When we start listening to the naysayers. Some will ask why you do it?  Some will tell you what you do is not good.  Still others will try and pull you into their lifestyle. Some will stop coming around. From time to time you will question your own ability. There will be days when the work does not turn out well. Where you cannot get exactly what it is you think you want. Periods when you think the paint is not flowing. Brushes are bad or if I only had better lighting or easel? And your motivation wanes. 

Being an artist is not a linear path. It is never your paints or brushes, lighting or easel that are at fault. It is you. 

When all this is happening, it is time to stop and look at all you have learned and you will find blind spots. Things you overlooked or missed in your learning.  Look at your old works. Are they similar?  Are you doing the same thing over and over?  Are you comfortable and happy with your previous works?  Then, somewhere you stopped learning. To maintain motivation you need to challenge yourself. Change subject. Paint something you have never painted before. Work in limited pallets. Change color combinations. Add a new color (temporarily) to your pallet. Try a new medium. Hone a skill you already have; developing it further. Paint with others.  Change the size of your canvases. Demonstrate. Teach. 

All these things will help keep your motivation in working order. Be wary  of becoming dull or stale. Worse, repetitive. Be critical but be kind to yourself.  There will be good days and bad days. You are human. Accept you will falter. Everyone does at one time or another. 

Rickrotantefineart.com