Even though it feels more like Winter outside this past week or so, I’m really enjoying the first signs of Spring that have arrived so far. The leaves on the tree outside the studio window have started peeking out and the birds are singing. There’s the occasional spell of sunshine pouring in. Cheerful yellow daffodils are popping up everywhere.
Sunny studio
Besides having the urge to clean every single surface and cupboard in the flat (the sun shows up every single spot of dust doesn’t it?), I’ve been eager to create some new artwork. I have had ‘make new prints’ on my to-do list for what feels like forever. So it’s nice to finally be getting on with it! I have to be in the right frame of mind to create more personal work, and Spring seems like the perfect time to do it - that sense of renewal, colour, freshness and light make me feel inspired.
Monstera in progress, before adding paint.
Despite this, so far I have been going very, very slowly. I try not to force myself into painting when I know I’ll just be annoyed with the results, if I’m not in the mood to be doing it. Creating new work carries with it a whole host of expectations. Being a perfectionist, sometimes this can be really difficult to manage! A lot of the time I try to eliminate any sort of expectation from my mind. If I get too caught up with worrying about the end result looking bad or not how I want it to, I just won’t do it at all. Then begins a whole cycle of feeling frustrated and annoyed, and then all of a sudden I’ve run out of time and ‘make new prints’ gets shifted further and further down on my to-do list, again…
Begonia, almost finished!
So, yes, I’ve been doing things slowly. I haven’t quite hit my productivity stride yet, but I am getting there. I find working at a pace that feels more natural to me just helps me to manage my expectations more effectively. Starting new work often feels daunting - doing a little at a time helps it to feel more manageable. But, at the same time, I can’t wait to get some new artwork finished and out into the world! I know that it will be better if I just take my time. - slow and steady wins the race, after all! Not that there is a race, but you know what I mean…
How do you feel about creating new work? Are there any methods that help you manage your own expectations? Do your own expectations sometimes hold you back?