Begin Instead of Finish
By Roberta Hoffman
I regularly engage in creative thinking through client-projects and problem solving as part of earning a living. While this work refines my craft and supports my family, I’m slowly learning the value of spending creative time answering to myself. The results of client-projects and business-related creative work leave me feeling that I’ve accomplished something: I’ve solved a problem, or helped a client achieve an objective. When I create non-commissioned artwork primarily to satisfy a target audience, I sometimes find myself performing rather than exploring. Doing artwork for myself – which can include pursuing an idea that might not work, going through the process of developing a work, perhaps spending way too long on it, experimenting with palettes and different techniques – I enjoy taking the time to figure things out, and don’t feel rushed to complete a project – it’s like a long science project in the background that is bubbling along, and eventually I come to some sort of conclusion. Dabbling, experimenting, and following what feels right artistically is deeply satisfying. It feels like an ongoing dialogue with myself. With writing, it is generally about journaling and noting down intriguing thoughts – often going nowhere but my journal – but it feels like I have something going on – a running dialogue, and on occasion I’ll write something more cohesive, shaping the clay of the thoughts into a form. Maybe sharing it to see if others like it, but not concerned with what others think – it is something I can look back on, and remember more fully the experience. Making time for personal creative work can feel almost impossible when life is full of responsibilities – long work hours, family obligations, exercise, household tasks, and the constant pressure to make every minute productive. Before long, I become a human-doing rather than a human being. Everything else comes first, and eventually I notice the consequences: I become stressed, impatient, and cranky. My plan is simple, but difficult to implement: set up my environment so that the activity is easy to do, add visual cues, and remind myself to show up every day, even if it is just 30 minutes. At first, it’s hard to build the habit because I have to decide that those thirty minutes are more valuable than some other task shouting for my attention. I need to regularly remind myself of the benefits. Hopefully, like my daily walking habit, it will become a daily ritual. To establish my daily walking habit: I wake up early, just put on my tennis shoes, grab a coffee, and go for about an hour long walk. At first it was 30 minutes, but it evolved to an hour – now if I don’t go, I physically miss the activity. With art, I’m trying to find time each day that I can do that – e.g., during my lunch break, I can take 30 minutes to practice calligraphy, or watercolor, or drawing – and just work on it a little bit. After just one week of thirty minutes of daily calligraphy practice, I noticed that my watercolor brushstrokes became steadier – my patience and concentration improved. On days when I don’t have urgent obligations, I sometimes lose myself in color theory—mixing greens, testing gouache layers, and exploring how one color changes another. Hours disappear before I notice. Those experiments may never become finished paintings, but they teach me to see more carefully, and afterwards I find myself happier, calmer, and more patient with the people around me – at least for a few days. Once I get going, it’s like a trip I don’t want to come back from. Perhaps that’s the permission I’m looking for – not permission to finish a painting, but permission simply to begin. Even if it’s only thirty minutes. The work isn’t going anywhere. It waits patiently beside me, like an old friend, ready to continue the conversation whenever I return. I can begin the great adventure again tomorrow.
Advocate to Create
By Anna Schroeder
At the SICA-USA Board meeting, we were brainstorming ideas for this post. Three topics surfaced. The first was “15 minutes of Fame”. An example was given of a fan who paints himself with the colors of a sports team, say red and blue. The camera catches him and he becomes famous for those few minutes to the point that he actually distracts from the main event. The second topic was “How do you create when you are overwhelmed with the demanding to-dos of life?” And the third was “Why don’t you create when you do have time, but get distracted?” My thoughts about creating seem to involve all three of those topics. It takes a lot to create when life’s demands get insistent. It takes insight that creating actually clarifies your thoughts and gives you grace and sometimes humor to face life’s demands. It takes self-love to know that creating makes you better and is worth your valuable time. It takes faith to listen to that whispering call of an idea, despite the flashy advertising on the phone, or the text you just got, or the funny YouTube video, and actually sit down and create. It takes courage to make something despite the thoughts that it takes up space, no one will take time to look at it, or listen to it; it won’t make money and there are a billion other more practical things to do at this time. It also takes understanding that the voice of your art is worth putting out into this world. God gives us our bodies and as artists calls us to uses those bodies to create, by singing, dancing, acting, writing, painting and more. You have to advocate for that creative part of yourself tooth and nail. That brings me back to the possibly round red and blue man who steals the show. My take is that he is swept up in the moment and is creating fun, enthusiasm, enjoyment, and support for the main event. He is expressing himself. He is like an unbridled child. Wouldn’t it be great if we could approach our creating with that childlike freedom and enthusiasm?
Roberta, you are a genius.
Hi Paul,
Thank you for your encouragement 🙂
Best,
Roberta
I can’t overstate how much Roberta’s Begin Instead of Finish resonated with this writer! Thank you and Anna for your cheerful wisdom and inspiration.
Hi Susannah,
Thank you for your kind words – I hope the words are helpful. I’d love to hear more about your writing!
Warm regards,
Roberta
I can’t overstate how much Roberta’s Begin Instead of Finishing resonated with this writer! Thanks to you and Anna for your cheerful wisdom and inspiration.
Like your words and thoughts. Feelings and emotions formed by and for the struggle and joy of it all. Blessings to you both
Hi Joseph,
We appreciate your insight and support – thank you.
Warmly,
Roberta