Here Comes the Circus!
Today I was working on a commission piece and struggling to find inspiration. Something just did not click however long I tried to find a sense of contentment with the results. The more I pushed forward the more I seemed to lose what I was looking for. The frustration became irritation and I felt depressed and tired. It was as though I stood in front of a closed door.
Completely desperate, I spoke about my frustration to anyone in the room. Seeing my discontent, one of my gallery aides offered a suggestion – and suddenly the 'click' happened! It was not a huge change to the piece but I had become so tired from staring that I could not see what to do next.
The experience reminded me again why it is so important for artists to live and work in community. For everyone there comes a time when they paint for so long but can't push through the blockage. There is nothing wrong with asking for advice – it can come from a professional or from those who are untrained and 'innocent.' Sometimes the best comments come from a viewer who considers your work with fresh, instinctive eyes. Artists are always listening, they need to be listening, to their own intuition, to the piece itself, and also to those around them. Next time you feel short on inspiration ask someone for a fresh perspective!
