Colorways II (detail) ©2005
My friend Lisa Call is without a doubt the most productive person I’ve ever met. Not only does she make sumptuous art quilts with an outstanding use of understated color, but she does it with a singular focus and drive that are unrivaled by anyone I know.
I’ve been in a couple of critique group situations where the talk has turned to goals. When this has happened, I’ve always kind of shrunk into the background hoping nobody will turn to me and say, “Hey, so just what exactly are your goals?” and thus in that exact moment expose me for the fraud I am. The thing is – I’m just not a goal-oriented person. Having sat through more than one presentation on marketing for artists, I am aware that I should have meaningful, quantifiable, and reasonable goals. But so far, the only thing this idea has gotten me is a large unhealthy dose of guilt because I am obviously not doing everything an artist should do.
My goals are vague: get into the studio and make some work, get the web site updated (ahem), make up a batch of portfolios and get them sent out to some as-yet undetermined destinations that will jumpstart my career, etc. These are things that I keep in the back of my mind. I would never formalize them by writing them down (except that I just did). I know that as goals, these are way too vague to be useful, but I just don’t care.
That’s why I was so excited to read Lisa’s recent posts about intent – Transitioning and Holding Intent – Part I. The idea that you can just go into your studio and simply focus on creating – without having some higher guiding purpose or end result in mind – is liberating. For me, studio time has always been a reward, not something I feel I have to do. Since it’s one of the most enjoyable aspects of life for me, I always kind of feel like I need to have a justification for it. “Oh, I have shows coming up that I need to make work for.” While often true, why do I feel like I’m making excuses for some unseemly addiction?
Perhaps deep down inside, I feel like this lack of goal-setting capability means that I’m not properly dedicated to my art, at least insofar as others might see me. (Plus, with all that needs to be done in the world, do I really deserve to be able to take this time just for me?) But I am doing what makes me happy, and with the support of my family and more than a little luck, I’ve been able to take it much further than I once would have thought possible. Some day, I’ll really buckle down and get to work on accomplishing those goals, honest! For now, though, I have to concentrate on the work itself.
The photo above is a detail of Colorways II, one of a series of four works installed at Kaiser Permanente in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. This is a reminder of another unmet goal: get over there and get a good installation shot for my web site.
Hi Deidre, hey, I just found out you have a blog! I knew you said you were going to start one, but didn’t know you had been posting all January. So I’m glad to see it up and looking so classy too, with all your great art and installations of work.
I know what you mean about goals, I’m not really a list-manager kind of person. Somehow over the years I’ve learned to let the important stuff rise to the surface to get it done, maybe the truth is that my unconscious is a better goal-setter/manager than my conscious mind.
Hope to see more interesting posts here, I’ll be subscribing so I can stay in touch!
Thank you, Pam, for the encouragement. It’s kind of funny, but I’m not sure if doing the blog is fulfilling a goal, or merely an avoidance of other goals. But it’s becoming rather addicting – and reading other people’s blogs is really starting to get me hooked in, in both positive and negative ways. The subscribing thing is new to me; it’s on my list of things to figure out.
Deidre,Somehow I found your blog. I’ve been aware of your website for a while & now I’m happy to read more about your work. I’m a fairly new blogger myself & not sure which direction to go in on my blog. All art quilt related, life in general, those funny moments I want to share? I’ll have to wait and see what comes of it. I do spend a bit more time than I should reading others. I would like to find a couple more blogs to follow & then stick to those.
I enjoy reading about how others focus on their work and goals & I REALLY enjoy discovering those out there who have questions about how to spend their time & also have “guilt” issues about studio time.
By the way, your work is absolutely stunning. I’m looking foward to seeing more of it & reading about your creation process.
Hi, Kim. I think the direction depends entirely on your personality. I’m more introverted, so I probably will only talk about my art and things that inform my art, not personal matters. I do like the idea of being able to randomly meet new people through blogging, so I’m glad you stopped by, and I will check out your site. Thanks for your kind words about my work!
Nice post Deidre. For me it is very important to keep my studio time separate from any art business goals I might set. I have a strong feeling that creating art to sell or for specific goals is not what I want to do. When I find myself in that pattern it stresses me out.
Realizing this and acting on it make me very happy!
Of course when it comes to other things in my life – yep – lists, goals, plans, I’m all over it.
Yes, Lisa, I totally agree with you. When I make things for a specific show, it feels like an uphill battle – not fun – and it never ends up being what I feel is my strongest work.
I’m so glad you’ve started this blog — I’m a big fan of your work and I know it will be very inspiring.
Hi, Lainie. Thanks so much, very kind of you to say so. Hope I can live up to that! I took a quick look at your blog too, but this looks like something I’ll really want to explore in depth – it looks very rich. Thank you again!