I have been making art my whole life. I spent one summer in Hawaii when I was 18 cooking in a restaurant. Other than that I have never held a job. I have always made art. So I have gotten used to the ups and downs of working for myself. I have had to find ways to learn anything new I wanted to pursue. If I wanted to teach workshops I had to figure out how one goes about this…if I wanted to use oil paint I had to learn this too. When you start adding all the things up a creative might need to know it can feel daunting. Who knew we needed to learn about websites, photography, social media, pricing, galleries, leases on studios and time management? All I wanted to do was make art!
Every time I start something new I am reminded of how challenging it can be. There only is so much energy in the day. Often the thought of taking on any new learning can feel exhausting and inhibit us from beginning. How can I possibly do one more thing if I am already tired?
Well luckily, and this is something I often forget, the starting of something new, an infusion of new learning in your life, provides just the right amount of extra energy you need to succeed.
Here are the three primary sources of energy and where to find them so that you can accomplish that next big thing.
New gives you energy.
There is nothing like starting something new to wake you up. If you are slightly outside your comfort zone then growth is occurring and this is energizing. It might be scary but it is also energizing. This energy boost is used to get you through the beginning phase of starting something new. You merely need to begin.
Small, successful steps
Sometimes a new project or direction can be overwhelming. It can often feel this way when trying to accomplish too much, too soon. It is essential to take small steps and learn to really appreciate incremental learning. If, at the end of the day, you have accomplished one small step then congratulate yourself. Take the energy from the small wins so you may continue to achieve them every day. After so many years of taking on the next big thing, I have finally learned to feel pretty satisfied if in my day I merely “move towards” in any way, my long-term goal. If you can perceive your process of getting there as successful, then more likely than not, you will be.
Tell others what you are doing
When you share with friends or colleagues what you are attempting to do several positive, energizing things happen. Firstly, that person often will have words of encouragement or some insights that might be helpful. Their reaction is often positive because everyone wants to change aspects of their lives or their careers and by your attempt to change yours, offers them inspiration to do the same. You have, in fact, given them something quite valuable and in return they are looking for ways to help you.
The next benefit is really the most important one. By actually speaking out loud what it is that you are trying to accomplish, you are in many ways articulating to yourself the outcome that you desire. From my experience, I see how this clarification of intention has a way of bringing your desired outcome more easily.
I don’t know why this is so, but it is almost as if the universe is listening to those who are willing to speak their dreams and desires clearly. Once heard, people show up, alignments happen and life in general just seems to send help your way.
This mysterious wonderful aspect of life is often buried under the to do lists, and forgotten in the monotony of the day to day. Stepping forward with some degree of faith to try to do something new brings this somewhat elusive, beautiful truth to the forefront again.
And perhaps, for just this fact alone, it might be time to try, today, to start that next big thing.
What is your next new thing and have you begun?
In gratitude, Nicholas
19 Comments
Hi! I’m
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.
With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, I’ve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.
Join me and artists from all over the world in our Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group or learn more here about Art2Life.
I have made art for years, but have never marketed it successfully. Sales are very sporadic – few and far between. This is what I want to change. I want to find a consistent market for my work. I’ve begun the video training series, The Artist’s Profit Plan, with Alexis Fedor and hope this will bring a breakthrough.
Good luck Dale. You have set your intension. Watch it unfold
I am contemplating retirement. It would be prudent for me to wait another 5 years, which would put additional $ in my pension fund, and bring me to the age that I would have my paid medical benefits. I have juggled job and art making for 25 years.
I want to be a full time artist. The job is creating back pain and I would like to bow out before the damage is irreversable. I am asking myself….can the art support you? I already teach weekly wotkshops in my Benicia studio, and would like to combine my workshops with travel. I would also like gallery representation. I have earned an MFA and have a regular art-making practice.
So…I am just putting my intention out in the universe. I want to retire and become a full time artist.
Hi Diane,
Six and a half years ago I sold my shares in my family retail business and emigrated to Australia to be close to my daughter. My plan was to make my living through art – painting and teaching after many years following other career paths. I didn’t have a Plan ‘B’. I have been able to make a life here. Teaching provides the most of my income but I’m able to paint and sell some work. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.
My suggestion to you would be to be a full time artist NOW don’t wait until you think you have enough $$$ or you might wait forever!
Good luck
regards
Carol
Thank you Carol. I need this reinforcement
What I am doing is a kind of “visual detox” program for my readers (and anyone else who would care to join). It is based on Rilke’s “Letters on Cezanne”, his novel, Cezanne’s letters, and all the paintings — Cezanne, Van Gogh, and some others (and, occasionally, poems) Rilke mentions in these letters, delivered in small chunks by e-mail over a month or so, to create a little space of beauty and freedom for people when they open their e-mail. I thought that with all the visual noise (and, occasionally, ugliness), we all really need this sort of detox for eye/mind/soul.
I have just converted the biggest room in our house which was the lounge, into my studio. As well as using this for my own work I am keen to bring a community of artists together, so perhaps inviting tutors to lead workshops which would be an entirely new venture for me. I could do with some mentoring for myself and in clarifying my ideas as well but am puzzling out where I could get that kind of help!?
Your clearly organized points about the energizing effect of taking initiative to learn something new for the purpose of your art are very helpful and encouraging to me. Communicating my vision to friends always returns surprising waves of affirmation. Just clarifying the vision has enormous power. I think it is a little like finding the DNA in the seed of an idea, and then planting the seed and watering it.
Thanks Nicholas. You make my life richer.
Wosza…this email couldn’t have come at a better time…I start a very BIG painting …Huge…I need a step ladder to work on it…its a 5′ x 7′ ..the canvas has been stapled to the wall and
today I will start…and oh, btw its a commission….that too I never do but this sounded very interesting and challenging …so when I read this email and I was blown away that it was so perfect …Thank You Nicholas …I will let you know how it comes out…I’m feeling much more confident after reading your email and I will shout it out to the universe that it is going to be fabulous!!!!!
I am painting larger which is something I have wanted to do for years. I finally built a few 30″x 30″ and 30″ x 40″ panels and I would love to go even larger. Painting large is a whole different experience that is so much more physical than small work and I found myself painting looser and more freely. There are challenges to working large but as you mention in your post learning something new is energizing (the building the panel thing not so energizing). So I am making a mess and figuring things out 🙂
Wonderful. I agree. New things enliven and discomfort touches on growth. Thanks for your posts. I always enjoy them and learn something
In my CVP experience a little over 1-1/2 year ago, we were asked to do vision boards. I envisioned myself having a show at a gallery featuring emerging artists within the next two years. It’s been many small steps since then, and…now, I am juried into a show for emerging artists at a local gallery, JCO’s Art Haus. To my great surprise and gratification, she love, love, loved my work! Julie, the owner, has had galleries in New York, Texas and now California. So my next big thing is to produce more art. I am incorporating oil and other mediums into what was once an acrylic only approach. I am glad to be reminded to honor and enjoy the small, incremental steps of the process. That is where the joy is. Oh, and to let myself embody the bigger picture and enjoy the roller coaster ride: exhilerating!
Thank you Nicholas! Working with two colleagues we have just published a set of 90 soul-trait cards– based in the Jewish tradition–designed for practitioners of a range of spiritual practices. I believe we have created a tool that many people can use and learn with (www.lightsofmussar.com). Long-term goal is creating and leading workshops to share the joy and depth of these cards. For myself, I am also holding an intention to resume painting regularly.
Oh and another thing (see earlier comment), I took a risk and showed work that I really didn’t have a lot of confidence in…but what I thought reflected my own authentic voice. I thought, well, this will be interesting to see what happens. (I was encouraged to do this by a fellow artist and dear friend who thought these pieces were great.) Relearning to trust my own style even if my work seems weird to me in so many ways. I realized I am drawn to Symbolism and stories emerge from these images. Anyway, “thank you” Nick, for all those mini lectures and strong encouragement to take risks and to trust what comes thru us onto the canvas. We’ll see where I go with all this…
Thank you. I am finding this to be so true! I quit my job of 20 years teaching art in June, so as to have time to make art of my own. Not sure how the bills would get paid, but it is all working out. Things just keep showing up. Open doors. Getting ready for a small solo exhibit in a cafe in November, and 2 artisan sales coming up. My Instagram followers are growing, Etsy shop sales are increasing as well. It’s so fun! Can’t believe I waited this long!!!
After not painting for over 30 years, I started again after retiring and found that the hardest thing to do was put that first mark on the canvas. Well, I finally got past that and now am able to really explore and test to see if my vision is still valid. Now, I am moving to a thriving artist community and am looking forward to everything new that brings.
I am going to start a new commission in about 10 days. I can’t start any sooner. It’s going to be the largest piece I’ve ever done. 5’x5′. Your articles are so motivating and I relate to most of them so much. Thanks for all you bring to light. Deb
As several of you also wrote, I want to make a living with my artwork and stop my day job!! I have been dedicated to my art and illustration for decades but most of the time I juggle a day job and then can’t seem to get my head into my work as much as I want to. I’ve been making a lot of small watercolors for years but really want to make big paintings of whales and endangered marine life species!! I have fears that I won’t know how to sell them and then won’t have a place to put them!! I have so many painting at home but don’t know how to sell them!! Soooo, my next thing is to sell painting and make room for some bigger and better ones all about whales and endangered marine life species and other wildlife!! I also want to redo my website: http://www.renaekmanis.com
Great topic. My newest venture is trying deep rich acrylic colors. Really out of my comfort zone, because I paint with warm tones. I started a couple of canvases last week, and occasionally I look at them, stumped/froze on a direction. So today is the day to pick up that palette knife and attack the canvas with determination and get past the fear! What have I got to lose?