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ARTELLAGRAM 11-29-08:
"In the Studio"
An Interview with Artist Beth Pollock
(This interview is continued from the November 29 2008 Artellagram...)
Artella: What do you suggest for people who have the opposite of a creativity block, who feel like they have "too many ideas"?
Beth: I think you would be amazed to find out how many artists have this same dilemma. Creativity has no rules and many times it just bursts through the dam overrunning everything in its path. I constantly battle with this but instead of viewing it as a problem view it as a gift. You're creative muse is alive and well and speaking loud and clear to you.
Personally, I usually have at least 4 or 5 projects going at the same time, if not more! I will work on one to the point of where I am not quite sure where I want to go next and then I put it aside for some good old fashioned ruminating and move on to another project. I have learned to keep an art idea journal so when ideas about a project I am not currently giving my attention to won't be lost if I don't drop what I am doing and start working on it. This prevents me from flitting from one thing to another without ever finishing anything! I do have a PhD in flitting!
However, since deciding to become a full time artist, (meaning keeping a roof over my head, food on the table and art supplies in my studio) I have realized that projects must be finished or I don't have anything to sell! Early on I missed several opportunities to sell some of my work just because I did not have anything completed! Craft show schedules or a fluke opening in a storefront or gallery wait for no one.
I make goals for myself in the form of a craft show deadline, or something that has to be finished for my Internet business by a certain date because I have publicized it, or kits designed and put together for an upcoming class I have advertised. By the very nature of these outside deadlines things must and do (miraculously) get completed. This is not to say that there are not times that I am not up into the wee hours of the morning completing some last detail (drat that perfectionist muse)!
So, my advice is to keep notes, which will help keep you organized (think of da Vinci's notebooks). There is something about seeing your thoughts and plans on paper that takes your muse into the realm of doing rather than dreaming about doing. Or offer to teach a beginner class in whatever medium you work in, or the one you feel the most comfortable with, for fee or free this sets up a real deadline, and you would be amazed at what you learn from preparing and organizing a class and then actually teaching it! It can take your art to a completely different level, honest. As you do more of this deadline thing you become better skilled at it and you will see a lot more of your work being completed!
Artella: What advice can you give to people who are hesitant to follow their dreams?
Beth: My advice might not sound like something you want to try but it is what I did jump off the cliff and trust that all will be right. I am in my early 50's and I just did exactly that, just a few months ago actually! If you don't do it now when will you do it? Life is short and time is a wasting girlfriend! No it is not easy, it is darn scary actually and there are constantly obstacles in my way telling me I am wrong but I am not. And don't think you must have lots of money to do it I actually have none, and I mean that literally! But what is life for if not to fulfill yourself? If you truly have the desire to do something the only thing that will stop you ultimately is yourself, by giving up. I have always been an artist at heart, and I AM GOING TO DO THIS! Too many regrets in my life have taught me this if you let fear stop you then fear has won. The only way to true success is to persevere. I will leave you with a quote from who at the moment escapes me but nonetheless
"If you believe you can you are right. If you believe you can't
you are right." Your choice!
Artella: How do you organize your materials? What are your best organizational tips?
Beth:Organization is somewhat a personal style thing different ways work for different people. I am one of those out-of-sight out-of-mind types so I need to be able to see most of my supplies. Since I work in several different mediums I have my studio set up into stations, one for each medium. I have one station for my paper projects, one station for my fiber arts, one station for my jewelry work with an extension for my silver jewelry work, and my last station is for my digital photography, computer work and my writing. That is level one of organization. Next, I have my supplies in pretty baskets with hang tags as to contents as well as lots of those 3 and 5 tier see-thru plastic towers with each drawer labeled. As my studio is only 9' x 10' pretty much everything is in easy reach and I can see it all for continued inspiration (my husband calls it controlled chaos). I know however, that this does not work well for everyone many get overwhelmed by too much stimulation from being able to see everything! If you are one of these artists then I suggest you buy some of those inexpensive currently popular fabric covered storage containers that have that little metal handle on the front that also holds a label. Buy these containers in colors that appeal to you, either calming or energizing, stack them in a neat and orderly fashion with their easily legible labels and you are organized but not overwhelmed. What ever way you choose, make sure when you finish a project that you don't let yourself lapse - make sure you put everything back into its correct container you know, a place for everything and everything in its place. Happy organizing!
Artella: Do you plan ahead when you're creating, or does your art unfold more spontaneously?
Beth: This again is one of those personal style things. I am one of those go-as-my-muse-directs-me, which translates to feeling my way through my artwork rather than planning my way. For me planning would simply take away some of the energy from my project, and since I never really know where my muse is going to take me why spend precious creative time planning when I could better use it for actually creating!
Artella: How do you find the time for art, and what tips can you offer for busy people to help them find time for creativity?
Beth: My answer is going to sound cliché and a little harsh, and I apologize for that; however, the reality is that there are only so many hours in the day, week, month, year and lifetime. Everything is about choices and consequences for every choice there is the consequence of something else you have to pass up. If you really want to create you probably are going to have to make the hard choice of what you can and are willing to give up. For some chipping away at a project a few minutes here and a few minutes there works for them and they eventually will finish it. Personally, that does not work for me because my art has to flow and it can't flow in fits of stops and starts. For me, I decided to give up on being such a neat freak and I stopped scheduling my life into a frenzy of organization. Certain things have to get done, others are not so important. It is different for everyone and only you can know what you absolutely must get done and what can give a little. Honestly though, the plain truth is creativity has to be important enough to you for you to schedule time for it. And, if you find that you just can't find time to fit it in right now then read about others who do the kind of art you want to do and learn about techniques that embody the medium you want to work in eventually. This way you are at least keeping your mind involved in it until you finally do have the time!
See Beth's beautiful jewelry in The Shoppes of Artella, here.
NOTE: All of Beth's jewelry is on sale for 50% off through the month of December!
 Want more artist interviews from Artella?
Take a look at our eBooks Artist Profiles Assembled and Artist Profiles Assembled, Vol 2, and look at the "Ask the Artist" column every single day in The Artella Daily Muse, our daily online creativity newspaper.
Go back to reading this Artellagram
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