Feb 05 2009
Motivation, Staying on Track
This is what is on my easel today. Painting #2 of the current commission. The commission without a deadline, a dangerous thing for motivation.
Motivation is a key factor when being a creative person. Some motivation is easy, client deadline is the best. Then money is in there too. Having a project and getting paid for it, are both the ultimate motivators.
What happens when you get project with an open deadline (current commission has one)? What happens is, you take too freakin’ long. You start over analysing and keep raising the bar as to what constitutes “finished”. The person that really benefits is the client. He’s getting two highly refined pieces of custom artwork. I am getting short changed because every additional second I spend on the task, my hourly rate goes down. I’m not too upset with this fact. One, because I can be a perfectionist and can’t let go of something until I feel it’s “right” and two, because my client is a great guy who has the potential of becoming a true patron of mine. He likes what I do, he wants more of my work, and he will probably tell everyone how great my stuff is and they should buy, buy, buy my work.
But how do I stay motivated? I was asked this by someone who follows my other blog. How do I manage to stay motivated to paint when I am working a full-time job by day as a Designer? How do I have the time to work full-time, be a married and engaged husband, and an active parent of a 4 and 9 year old children? How is a great question.
But I do manage to stay motivated. My family is first, everything falls in behind them. Secondly, the day gig is a wonderful job. I get a good salary, great benefits, as much job security as one could hope for, a nice office and a reasonably nice group of coworkers.
Sometimes, my true motivation is ESCAPE. Where would you want to be most when the world comes crashing in on you? In bed under the covers, you say? Sure, but when you aren’t pretending to be a cowering turtle, where else? Well, I have a place that is my ultimate ESCAPE. My studio. I had a big shed installed in my backyard, I insulated it, sheet-rocked it, painted it, added heat and air conditioning, various and multiple lighting opens, installed 3 sets of full sized house windows for even more light, and a stereo completed with hookups for my mp3 player. So I have the ultimate personal working space. Actually, it’s a total personal space. I don’t have to be working to enjoy it’s sanctuary.
Then once in my studio, I get motivated to paint because for the most part (when not doing commissions), I paint what I want, how I want, whatever subject matter I want, and even whatever colors I want. My day gig is an ongoing battle of compromises. My direction comes from folks that have less or even NO design sense. But the customers are always right, even when the are breaking every design convention that exists. If someone is paying, they should get what they want.
Other motivating factors?
My wife, who reminds me we have bills.
My kids, who remind me that I am the family’s financial provider.
Me, there is the inner beast that HAS to create. It’s a blessing and a curse, creativity demands to be released.
