The Art of Focusing on Your Art

Keep painting! This month's gallery space at GNG

The problem is, there is not enough time on this earth to do everything. There are a thousand different directions that are interesting, and only so much time in the day. So, to get any art done at all, I have had to learn the art of focus.
I get sidetracked. Too many parties, new restaurants, shopping, trips to Savannah or Orlando . . . myriad life activities. I love exploring, and that gets me into trouble. I so go on different tangents all the time. These tangents take me far away from my art focus. But I have techniques to help me get back on track and get focused:

How to Keep Focused:

• Practice good time management skills. I have a schedule and stick to it..
• Use lists. Lists are the best way to break down a large project and allow you to focus on one thing at a time, one after the other.For instance, if I'm working toward a upcoming show, I list which paintings I have in stock, how many I'll need to create, how to get them there, when to get them there, what food/drink will be offered during the opening, etc. Detail after detail. I cross out each task as it is done, and feel a sense of accomplishment as I work my way down.
• Slow down. Meditate. I close my eyes and take a breath. Do yoga, take a walk on the beach or take a Sunday drive. It helps to take a breath and get away from the pressure of producing. Clear my head.
• Journal. I talk to myself when I write - the act of journal writing is like having a psychologist. I discuss everything with myself during my journal writing exercises. I explore what I love and what problems I'm trying to figure out. I come out of these sessions with a clean view and a focus. They help.
• Just do it. When I have nothing to paint, I grab some fruit from the fridge and just do something. Kind of like priming the pump - the act of doing gets me started. And my muse takes it from there. Even if I paint something that's trashed later, the discipline of actually doing the painting at least gets me going.