STARTING OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH TRUE ARTISTIC GRIT!
There has been a lot of interesting discussion lately about how "grit" can be the one essential ingredient that ultimately fosters success and even true genius; as opposed to technical skill and talent. Studies are beginning to prove, by greater specialist in the field than I, that "true grit" is the one character trait that may be key to innovation and originality, especially when boundary-breaking beyond what was once considered impossible. If talent is something that you are born with and skill is a learned practice, than grit is the commitment to continue with the one thing you love about creating art. It is the central theme, art process, and even flow of why, what, when, and where you need to create art, especially when no one is looking. In this New Year, I would like to share some resolutions that I have entertained that might jump start your creative grit.
1.Come out of hiding and create what you actually believe.
The majority of artists are experts at hearing, in fact we easily hear too much of what bombards us daily, and not all of it is encouraging or helpful. More importantly, very few of us have developed the ability of actually listen to that still voice deep inside us. In fact there are many voices that surround us in the world that can distract us from that one thing we need to do; including the internet, societal pressures and even professional gallery expectations. The voices of people we revere that we actually hear in our head advise us of what we should do. But they can also pull us from a deeper purpose of what we are actually capable of pulling off. Listening is more than hearing, because it involves acting upon the information that we receive that is deeply important to us. So reconnecting your art spiritually to your personal beliefs can actually revitalize your purpose of why you do what you do. It is not hard to recognize the true voice in your art. It is the one voice that encourages you to feel and to pursue; and nothing, no place and even no one else in your life will do for a substitution. Why? Because that voice satisfies the longing inside that may have been pent up or even ignored for years as you've tried to please others. Having the true grit to dare to actually target and carry out what your inspiration props you to do; can produce a rich and free lifestyle of originality informed by deep spiritual conviction in your art. What was thought impossible by the naysayers is always possible to the artist who has true grit. so this year, show what it is that you love in your work. Show that deeper intimacy that is the benefit of vulnerability. Because When you are vulnerable in your art, nothing can hold you back!
2. Approach your art Fearless and get on with it.
One of the characteristics that defines an artist who has true grit is one who approaches their art with a fearless resolve.
I once had a conversation with a plein air painter at a wet paint art auction who told me a story of a man late in his years who always wanted to paint in plein air but was afraid he couldn't do it. He said the man approached a very famous painter who was very successful and who sold his paintings in the thousands. He told the painter that he wished he too could paint like that, but he was too afraid he would ruin it. The painter turned to him and informed him that he shouldn't be afraid, because he couldn't actually ruin the painting. The famous painter then proceeded to take a large amount of crimson paint and with a palette knife applied a large stroke across his beautifully finished painting. The man gasped but continued to look on, as the artist worked the seemingly random mistake into an essential part of the painting. The painting was even better than before. The famous painter then turned to the man and said, "You see, You can't ruin it!" as you might imagine this had a huge impact on the man. Then the painter who told me the story then looked at me and said "I was that man, and I have been painting en plein air for ten years now!"
Artists who are very successful have a fearless grit to the way they approach their art. They are exciting to watch. They are so confident and direct in their brush strokes that you realize very quickly that they don't economize their visual ideas. In fact if you tell them that it is impossible to paint something, they will already be thinking of ways that can attack the problem. All of us can reach for that greatness; but we need to first let go of the disappointment and fear of failure. Artists who are afraid to spoil, overwork, ruin, belabor, exhaust, mishandle or even squander their art supplies may never create anything that goes beyond the ordinary or predictable. Fearlessness requires an ability to to go there and risk failure, usually at a place in the painting's development where the work is visually acceptable but not as great as it might be. I am not saying that you will not experience failure if you take the risk. I am saying the only way to reach greatness is to take the risk your vision encourages you to take and allow yourself to be completely absorbed in your work. In fact we would all be better painters if we would only get over the fear of starting over again or the loss of expensive art supplies. The artists who approach their art with fearless grit, who actually have the freedom to believe they can't ruin the painting, will be the ones who bring us wonder and surprise in the New Year.
3. Let your art Flow and Learn to put the brush down!
It is the flow in your art making that is important. Don't just keep painting. when you have arrived at what you want to say, put the brush down. Every painter who has true grit knows when to stop as opposed to adding or embellishing what has already been established. Great painters are never driven to add detail or to polish their art because of the opinions of others. Likewise, great painters do not ignore what is happening in the development of the painting. They allow the painting to speak to them rather than beating it into shape. In order to do this you must take time to look at your art at a distance before continuing. Sometimes its about leaving your options open enough for the medium to suggest something totally unexpected. Sometimes it means actually replacing the controlling influence of the brush with your fingers or the invention of a new tool or material combination that is sometimes made by the artist. This experimentational attitude often creates a mark and visual effect that is not contrived, or expected, yet adds a sense of freshness to the work. An artist with true grit does not revere traditional ways of working over revelations gained by continually experimenting with new ways of working. They explore such things as the lost and found line, organic shape and weight of form, new ways to create light through color, exploring available materials that create interesting textures, and creating space relationships from the most distant obscure to the closer well defined. The willingness to give up the control of the brush for a more open-ended outcome is a characteristic of a painter with true grit. In fact there are two attitudes that painters always want to avoid. There first is the the unwillingness to try something new because you've yet to master the brush. And the other is the attitude that they have arrived at a masterly level of the brush, therefore they don't need to try anything new that will affect their style. Both attitudes rarely create great art. It is only when the artist is in that place between control and unmanageability that the flow of the spirit can actually live in your art making. In fact the artist with true grit is always creating in that place where they are feeling a little over their head, a little out-of-control, and yet are comfortable to be in that place. It's right where they want to be; so lost but so safe at the same time because they have a confidence within the flow of their art making process. A confidence that will carry them to a new level of artistic discovery. They know greatness can not be forced by human will. It can only be wished for and aspired to; and that all takes time.
So in conclusion, let us begin and get on with it. May we all come out of hiding and be truer to ourselves as we create our art. Let us create the way we have always wanted to create and approach our art fearless; especially when finding ourselves just a little over our heads. After all, we really can't ruin anything if we are willing to take the calculated risk that has the potential to carry us higher to a new level of artistic discovery. It turns out, when you fail and refuse to quite; That vulnerability you feel when you get back up, learn from your mistakes and begin again, is the safest place to be when you consider you're co-creating with the Spirit of excellence.
Here are 18 things that mentally strong people do (this was originated by Forbes.com.) The same can be true when referring to the character traits of artists with true grit and what they will do.
1. They move on. They don't waste time feeling sorry for themselves.
2. They keep control. They don't give away their power.
3. They embrace change. They welcome challenges.
4. They stay happy. They don't waste energy on things they can't control.
5. They are kind. They are fair, and unafraid to speak up. They don't
worry about pleasing people.
6. They are willing to take calculated risks. They weigh the risks and
benefits before taking action.
7. They invest their energy in the present. They don't dwell on the
past.
8. They accept full responsibility for their past behavior. They don't
make the same mistakes over again.
9. They celebrate other people's success. They don't resent that
success.
10. They are willing to fail. They don't give up after failing. They see
every failure as a chance to improve.
11. They enjoy their time alone. They don't fear being alone.
12. They are prepared to work and succeed on their own merits.
They don't feel the world owes them anything.
13. They have staying power. They don't expect immediate results.
14. They evaluate their core beliefs - and modify as needed.
15. They expend their mental energy wisely. They don't spend time on
unproductive thoughts.
16. They think productively. They replace negative thoughts with
productive thoughts.
17. They tolerate discomfort. They accept their feelings without being
controlled by them.
18. The reflect on their progress everyday. They take time to consider
what they've achieved and where they are going.
Happy New Year to you all!
Michael E. Vermette
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