What is your biggest obstacle to making art?
I have been trying to figure out how to make my small dining area into a studio space. My sense is that this will open up the possibilities for me to create work again but for now without that I am stuck. I am interested to know what obstacles other Culturalistas face to make work, or maybe I should say to be making work as often as you would like... is it a lack of time, space, other responsibilities, cultural imperatives...? let me know! Would love to exchange with you on this subject.
Tags: obstacles to art-making
Replies to This Post
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Permalink Reply by cheryl gravitt on -
Juliet, create "Your Art," there IS a reason why you feel compelled to create, don't worry about other people's opinions, everyone has their own opinion, but not everyone can create, create my friend.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Langan on -
Amen!
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Permalink Reply by Mark Langan on
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I find my biggest obstacle(s) being the simple fact that I have to market and promote my art even more so these days then actually spending time in the studio creating it. I don't have the exact figure on this but gather it to be 60% versus 40%. The economy being what it is makes it that more difficult to find potential buyers for it or landing commissions. They are obviously still out there of course, and that takes a whole heck of time to reach them for which I'd rather spend my efforts simply creating. I do find however that supporting network forums (such as this) always a wonderful way to experience a perspective different than our own. You can't do it all alone and it helps to have the advice of others who've been there and gone before you.
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Permalink Reply by cheryl gravitt on
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You're right Mark, instead of using image sites, I use my own Art for avatars, I plaster my stuff everywhere I go on the net, and no, I'm not obnoxious about it.
Take social networking sites for instance, I love music, I make friends with musicians, musicians need cd cover artwork ...
I really think that "thinking out of the box," is very important when trying to promote your Artwork, like, build it, and they will come.
You know, they give cheese out in grocery stores, free coffee, that's marketing too you know? Just plaster your work all around where you are, tell people when they ask, "What do you do for a living?" Tell them: I'm an Artist, and that's what you will be. Attitude really does determine altitude, it's true, and it works. They have no idea you're working at whatever/wherever you work to put bread on your table, or support your family.
Oh I know about the economy, people not buying extras to feed their souls, only their bellies, and to pay their bills, but as Artist's OUR souls get feed by creating, and nothing's going to stop us, is it?
What I think is sad is an Artist like Vincent Van Gogh, lived in poverty, and now, his paintings , you can't touch them unless you have millions and millions of dollars in your pocket, but, that didn't stop him, you know it Mark?
That to me is Love, but you know what? How many of us want to wait until it's over before we enjoy material rewards and recognition, well, not me.
I remember the Pastor of my Church saying this awhile back: I have a friend who's an Artist, his wife has a good job, (or he might have said she was loaded, I can't remember.) Mostly I remember him saying: She works, he can be a full time Artist.
Would he do that without the wife? I don't know.
The Pastor said he was jealous of him, LOL! Artist's are dreamers, if they weren't, they couldn't be Artists, you never know, so why not keep going?
I'm still waiting for that rich husband, LOL ;>) but regardless, I have to create or I will indeed die.
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Permalink Reply by John Rouse on -
For me, right now, with a day job that earns income for the family it is a lack of time......Hopefully, that situation will change at the end of this year.....But, then I suspect the biggest obstacle to making art may be the pull to spend time developing this site. My hope is that the art I make will inspire a creative streak in me that manifests itself on Create Culture and visa versa - Create Culture and the Culturalistas on this site will inspire a creative streak in me that manifests itself in great art.
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Permalink Reply by charles stroh on -
I think it is distractions, both good and bad. If you live in a city among other artists and your work feeds off their energy and the energy of the galleries and streets and so on, it seems that it would be easier than living where you can be more easily distracted. Distracted by family, t-ball, soccer, school, and dozens of little things that are part of the reason I live where I live. I wouldn't want to miss these things, but they ARE distractions. At some point, I think most of us recognize that we aren't slated for the history books and we decide that interactions with other people are pretty important too. There was a time when I felt guilty if I didn't spend every free moment in the studio. Today, I am retired from my position as a university professor and I am free to work as much or as little as I want. And, guess what! I find that I work pretty much the same hours as I did while I was working full-time (maybe 15-18 hrs. a week in the studio.)
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Permalink Reply by cheryl gravitt on
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You're blessed friend. :>)
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Permalink Reply by cheryl gravitt on
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Well, my studio is a lounge chair, my bed, the kitchen table, LOL, just wherever I'm at. Really, one main thing is I live in an older house, the house is just dark, ex: dark paneling, and I do alot of my artwork sitting at my computer desk, where I have a lamp.
I love to read, write, and do other stuff too, oh, okay, I'll fess up, I have ADD and I'm bi-polar, ( no you're not, yes I am, no your not,) yes ... okay, I'll stop, but I don't want to. :>P :>)
I only recently put my artwork into portfolios, so now I'm fancey, and can tell people, " I have over 70 drawings in my portfolio. " My portfolio for a long time was a cardboard one which cost me oh ... 3 bucks.
Someday, I would love to have a studio with skylights, easels set up, the works, where I could just go in, shut the door, and cut all distractions out, and go nuts, (well nuttier than I am now anyway.) In my Art studio, I would have a sorround sound system and have music going all the time, a coffee bar with small kitchen, a nice bathroom, jacuzzi, omg, that's a house isn't it? LOL ;>) I would live there basically, right my Artisty friends?
I am a doodler, I will take periods of time, and create, create, create, then, I guess it's something like "writer's block," I have nothing for awhile, then, it's like I have no choice, I have to start again, or it drives me crazy.
That's why I love cameras, "instant gratification!" :>)
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Permalink Reply by cheryl gravitt on
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Saving ... okay, works for me 15 minutes left to edit your comment :>)
Well, I've written another novel, yeah, being an Artist is hard work, it IS a job, but it's wonderful !
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Permalink Reply by Devika on -
I am so glad to hear all your stories guys. in each of you I feel a real desire, despite the obstacles. Thank you for this inspiration. Special thanks to Cheryl! I will let you know once I have set up my studio and whether that is indeed what's missing, or if there is something else! I am going to use this space also to paint with my daughter and expose her to artmaking... Eager to continue to hear from Culturalistas about the obstacles and how you overcome them.
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Permalink Reply by cheryl gravitt on
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Hi Devika,
No thanks needed, I owe you see. If my words spur any of the talented Artists' here at CreateCulture to be more confident, have hope that one day "the right person, or group of people," will see their Art (whatever genre it is, whether visual, performing, or literary,) and say, " I/We want to know who this person is, then I feel blessed.
Please let me know about what happens when you set your studio up Devika, I could use some pointers myself, on organization, etc ... of a studio, and what works for you.
And yes, I'm Mom to 22 and 11 year old sons, just like reading, if they see you really loving being an Artist, yes, they will take to it like ... a paintbrush to an easel ;>) and you will have set them up for a lifelong love of Art, and like the ability to read, creativity can never be taken away, nor can the confidence of knowing your Art is special, no matter who or what comes along in their life to try and dissuade them, and that indeed is the gift that keeps on giving, isn't it my friend?
Thank you, and as A.S. so wonderfully put it, "I'll be back," to read what my fellow Artists have to say on this subject.
Thank you again Devika, and all the wonderful Artists, here at CC, for the wonderful discussion topics, and encouragement to me, it is appreciated.
Hey, notice how I capitalize the word Artist? It is intentional ;>)
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Permalink Reply by eunoia on -
Ah this question and all the answers it brings forth. I find that the process of creation can be such an exhilarating experience that after the first high from the first masterpiece you just want to go on making the next one to top the last high. It can be something like an addiction and at some point when you start making something that isn't quite good enough, it can leave you so traumatized to the point of atrophy. This, I feel, is when procrastination begins. I'm exaggerating but I often experience this kind of cycle and it takes great courage and discipline to be able to move out of the pattern and be able to master oneself by being more forgiving, by allowing the process to flow.
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