The amazing thing about studying getting past Resistance is how it really works.
Yes, I will raise my hand here, I have been slacking on my work. I was on a roll, and now I’m at the point where something has to happen or I am so firing myself. This is no way to run a business.
Subscribing to Steven Pressfield’s newsletters have been a great resource as well as his books. The other day I picked up Do The Work and read a passage that smacked me across the face, hard. It said to read some statements about what we want to do our art, and if we chose one of the lame statements we should just stop right then and throw his book in the garbage.
Wow. But you know what? That’s the thing that made me paint something. Anything. Just do the lousy work already! Process, something great can come of just the process.
At my desk looking at an old set of pan watercolors in a tin box my Pop gave me years ago, I thought I’d just try them out. Just a small Arches pad of paper would be enough for a sketch in paint, I figured. I never thought I’d love these old Marabu watercolor paints, but the colors were surprisingly vibrant. By the time I decided I’d done enough I ended up loving my “job.” The paint just flowed on the Arches paper, nice mixtures of colors mingled together within pleasing shapes. All in all, a nice, satisfying effort for the day’s work. Yeah, well, let’s say a half hour’s worth. Sometimes, if I’m in it, that’s all I need.
Could it be that reading the butt kicking work about dodging Resistance helped? I think so.
Now, get to work!
hi, sweet Dora, plse b vry kind 2 yourself. i’m so simple about drawing. when i want 2 do it, i happily do it. i hav nothing in my thoughts, just joy. as far as i know expectation is unnecessary. my editor is so wise. she wants me to hav fun in illo. i know, otherwise, my brushes will never dance on paper. enjoy drawing like a kid!
xxx sadami
Thank you for your comments Sadami. It’s always so nice to hear from you!