Showing posts with label vlog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vlog. Show all posts
September 19, 2017
June 20, 2017
MAN OF MANY HATS
I'm often asked how I always keep so many things on the go and that I'm a man of many hats. Indeed, I keep the ball rolling in many courts, but I also try to keep it fun. Maybe I'm just a crazy workaholic. Maybe its that I'm doing what I love. You see for yourself in this monumental goal reaching Episode 50!
March 31, 2017
EPISODE 45 SWEAT EQUITY
Time for another fun Vlog episode!
Humbled, sitting on the floor of my studio, bringing you episode 45 sweat equity. I want to give a glimpse behind the scenes of what it makes to make the show go. It has been my first month in operation with paying students and it is going really well. I’ve seen the growth and achievements of my students already using my teaching methods. Hard work and discipline as well as focused study are the name of the game. Having goals in mind in which you aim to achieve will help you attain them. You can’t just walk through the doors of the atelier and take an art class, thinking that you are going to walk out a Michelangelo. We are in fact our own worst critics. There is a lot of mental play going on. We need to train the eye. I don’t think so much that I am an art teacher in terms of technical skill and craft but a teacher who teachers people how to see.
You can’t know what you don’t know, its my job as teacher to guide you to help lift the veil and introduce new ways of seeing things differently. It is up to you to continue to develop, to show up and do the work. I can’t make your art for you, only you can. And through time and with diligence you will arrive to where you are going and afterward you will definitely have a whole new vision for what is possible and I assure you, you will get there more quickly than you expect if you continue to work out and once there you will not believe the doors that open up to you creatively. In regards to the future, it was bill gates who stated:
We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don't let yourself be lulled into inaction.
I often use the metaphor of a gym when explaining the curriculum at the atelier. We come to work out our eye hand and brain muscles as we continue to strengthen our skills. This is where your sweat equity pays off. Artists tend to not think like athletes but we should, thats the way to achieving that gold medal and creative success.
In terms of my efforts, Im still working every single day of the week. I feel like a one man army, teaching, making these videos, updating the website and blog. I need to plan and prep my classes. Most nights I work at ACAD or QAS. I am at the atelier at 8 am and I usually don’t get home until later than 10:30 or 11 at night. Thats a long day but Im doing what I love, building my dream and passionately creating, teaching and living all the while. Some week-ends Im at Swintons doing samplers. They say all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Im anything but dull.
You may get some inkling of the real deal by now. Im here a lot and a big part of my job is being a great host and mostly humbly mopping the floors. Its not all glamour but when it is like last Friday when I offered my space to host the Peoples portrait prize party and it was a huge hit!
My students and I showed work and my pal Cosmic Lurkn spun tunes, Danielle (another non drinker) served up the beers and at the end I cleaned up throughout the night. I was beat by the end but I’m glad I did it on behalf of all those artists who exhibited and the organizers involved in putting it on. I like big clean spaces, After another mopping session I look forward to the next event, another opportunity to have a great time in the temple of creativity I’ve built. Keep posted and next time join me won’t you?
Check out the website as new stuff and updates come down the pipe: http://Ateleirartista.com
March 3, 2017
Laying it down.....
Newest Vlog episode about whats new in the zoo that is my life and Atelier....
Interested in classes?
Visit www.Atelierartista.com and check out the offerings!
Interested in classes?
Visit www.Atelierartista.com and check out the offerings!
January 13, 2016
Starting off right...
Here is a fresh look how I go about getting my day started right.
Below is the episode that I just uploaded up to my you tube channel, and underneath is a basic transcription of the episode in case you'd rather read than watch. Enjoy!
I think it is prudent to dispel any myth of glamour or romantic ideas one may have about an artists life. At the end of the day, It is messy work pushing goop on a stick covered in hair.
Today's fast paced and busy lives, are full of immediate gratification, stained with bad news and pressured from every direction. It seems Difficult for anyone to pursue what they love in life.......therefore persistence is key.
It’s not luck that I’m an artist. It is what I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid, I have geared every choice and every decision in my life toward pursuing this dream, no matter how ridiculous it may be. The same goes for talent, i may have been talented at 7, but 30 years later its a skill i've developed through my choices.
Take art classes, go to art school, travel abroad, read books, practice daily, teach, write, apply for grants, have a show coming up, a commission etc. congrats…. You are an artist!!! Now forget any financial security, a social life, health benefits, travel, holiday bonus, vacation pay etc. you are pretty much on your own now. Good luck!
In order to do what you love as much as possible you need to treat it like an obsession. Your single minded focus must be on the job. So Show up and do the work.
2% inspiration, 98% perspiration:
Paint paint paint.
Draw draw draw,
whatever it is that you do just do it.
Make it habitual and things will fall into place far more often. If you have a routine and keep organized, you will have more room to do what you want with your life. Time is of the essence, we only have a limited amount in our lives.
In my world no 2 days are the same, so i have to be open enough to ride the wave and be spontaneous while not losing sight of my goals while keeping some semblance of a plan together.
I’m a morning person. I get up early in order to beat the sun.
I wake up with the goal to get everything done right away, I do more before noon than most do in their entire day. To get more time in the studio i make the choice to go to bed earlier if i can.
When I get up I take a sip of water then write my morning pages, I learned them from the artists way, highly recommend it if you haven’t read it or feel your creativity blocked.
It is my morning puke, the part of my daily routine when I get out all the words and blocked up feelings, and clear the air of pressures, repressions and dreams before I even get out of bed. I’ve been doing these at least since the 90’s, Turns out I had to do them in school growing up too.
I never read them, but It is a record of continuity, it may be fun down the road to look back on who I was in the past and contrast and compare. As for the obviously bad years I throw the whole book in fire at the temple at the burn.
When I’m done I hop out of bed, make it right away, because its much nicer getting into a made bed later on.
I have other parts to my early morning routine, shower, shave and shit, from feeding pets, put away dishes etc. basically I do the necessary stuff right away so I can leave it behind me.
You need to ensure you give yourself enough time in the morning so that you are not rushing out the door. This way you are collected, calm and happy.
Not until after i get everything in order do i even consider looking at my phone or touching my computer. They are great tools but also stealers my time.
A good habit to form when doing anything is to clean up after ones self. Constantly. It never seems to end, But get it done first so that afterward you can play.
The same goes on in the studio. I get in as much as I can while managing my life and often spend a huge majority of my time in the kitchen and tidying up as I go. The other days of the week are for cleaning, grocery shopping etc is Sunday chores but if I can sneak it in somewhere earlier I do to free up more time on the week-end. The more time to focus without interruption from annoying and menial tasks then etter to nuture creativity.
So start off right, in life as well as in the studio.
So now you can look at your watch, hopefully it is still early, grab a cup of something hot and let the real art lifestyle begin…..
Until next time, my thanks and gratitude……
Below is the episode that I just uploaded up to my you tube channel, and underneath is a basic transcription of the episode in case you'd rather read than watch. Enjoy!
I think it is prudent to dispel any myth of glamour or romantic ideas one may have about an artists life. At the end of the day, It is messy work pushing goop on a stick covered in hair.
Today's fast paced and busy lives, are full of immediate gratification, stained with bad news and pressured from every direction. It seems Difficult for anyone to pursue what they love in life.......therefore persistence is key.
It’s not luck that I’m an artist. It is what I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid, I have geared every choice and every decision in my life toward pursuing this dream, no matter how ridiculous it may be. The same goes for talent, i may have been talented at 7, but 30 years later its a skill i've developed through my choices.
Take art classes, go to art school, travel abroad, read books, practice daily, teach, write, apply for grants, have a show coming up, a commission etc. congrats…. You are an artist!!! Now forget any financial security, a social life, health benefits, travel, holiday bonus, vacation pay etc. you are pretty much on your own now. Good luck!
In order to do what you love as much as possible you need to treat it like an obsession. Your single minded focus must be on the job. So Show up and do the work.
2% inspiration, 98% perspiration:
Paint paint paint.
Draw draw draw,
whatever it is that you do just do it.
Make it habitual and things will fall into place far more often. If you have a routine and keep organized, you will have more room to do what you want with your life. Time is of the essence, we only have a limited amount in our lives.
In my world no 2 days are the same, so i have to be open enough to ride the wave and be spontaneous while not losing sight of my goals while keeping some semblance of a plan together.
I’m a morning person. I get up early in order to beat the sun.
I wake up with the goal to get everything done right away, I do more before noon than most do in their entire day. To get more time in the studio i make the choice to go to bed earlier if i can.
When I get up I take a sip of water then write my morning pages, I learned them from the artists way, highly recommend it if you haven’t read it or feel your creativity blocked.
It is my morning puke, the part of my daily routine when I get out all the words and blocked up feelings, and clear the air of pressures, repressions and dreams before I even get out of bed. I’ve been doing these at least since the 90’s, Turns out I had to do them in school growing up too.
I never read them, but It is a record of continuity, it may be fun down the road to look back on who I was in the past and contrast and compare. As for the obviously bad years I throw the whole book in fire at the temple at the burn.
When I’m done I hop out of bed, make it right away, because its much nicer getting into a made bed later on.
I have other parts to my early morning routine, shower, shave and shit, from feeding pets, put away dishes etc. basically I do the necessary stuff right away so I can leave it behind me.
You need to ensure you give yourself enough time in the morning so that you are not rushing out the door. This way you are collected, calm and happy.
Not until after i get everything in order do i even consider looking at my phone or touching my computer. They are great tools but also stealers my time.
A good habit to form when doing anything is to clean up after ones self. Constantly. It never seems to end, But get it done first so that afterward you can play.
The same goes on in the studio. I get in as much as I can while managing my life and often spend a huge majority of my time in the kitchen and tidying up as I go. The other days of the week are for cleaning, grocery shopping etc is Sunday chores but if I can sneak it in somewhere earlier I do to free up more time on the week-end. The more time to focus without interruption from annoying and menial tasks then etter to nuture creativity.
So start off right, in life as well as in the studio.
So now you can look at your watch, hopefully it is still early, grab a cup of something hot and let the real art lifestyle begin…..
Until next time, my thanks and gratitude……
January 6, 2016
Creativity and Destruction
I made a new video blog, It is the very beginning of the new year after all, so I decided to try something new this year and that is make a summation post of each passing week. I'm taking this time to share with you my reflections as I refine myself and my practice. I hope you stay with me and support me in the next 52 weeks. I'd love for you to follow along and see what develops.
Not long ago I was completely without a studio. Mostly, in order to make new work I’ve been making make shift spaces, like in my kitchen and arranging and re-arranging them temporarily as needed to get stuff done. Its hard to call yourself a “practicing artist” without a suitable place to practice, a temple of creativity to apply my craft.
So that has been my top priority. Which is why I went on the cleaning tirade in the first place. I got rid of tons of stuff, donated plenty and paired down the majority of my supplies. It is no secret so I can admit her to you that I have a bit of an art supply addiction. Hey, you Never know what you may need when inspiration takes over.
I am happy to report that I now have a tiny space in a dim basement in which to create. It is little and it is cold but it is mine!!
If you are anything like me, Organizing elements of ones life can be a real challenge. I remind myself its like organizing elements on a painting, it has to be done to get to the good stuff ad then it will have been totally worth it!
For me art is about creating something that is uplifting and that conveys beauty. And though I may destroy I see myself as a builder.... making new things happen.
To me this is fuel, there is a life force in it, I feel renewed and invigorated following my creative achievement or when I have the opportunity to inspire others to create and follow their dreams. I hope this has done that for you.
~my thanks and gratitude.
Not long ago I was completely without a studio. Mostly, in order to make new work I’ve been making make shift spaces, like in my kitchen and arranging and re-arranging them temporarily as needed to get stuff done. Its hard to call yourself a “practicing artist” without a suitable place to practice, a temple of creativity to apply my craft.
So that has been my top priority. Which is why I went on the cleaning tirade in the first place. I got rid of tons of stuff, donated plenty and paired down the majority of my supplies. It is no secret so I can admit her to you that I have a bit of an art supply addiction. Hey, you Never know what you may need when inspiration takes over.
I am happy to report that I now have a tiny space in a dim basement in which to create. It is little and it is cold but it is mine!!
If you are anything like me, Organizing elements of ones life can be a real challenge. I remind myself its like organizing elements on a painting, it has to be done to get to the good stuff ad then it will have been totally worth it!
For me art is about creating something that is uplifting and that conveys beauty. And though I may destroy I see myself as a builder.... making new things happen.
To me this is fuel, there is a life force in it, I feel renewed and invigorated following my creative achievement or when I have the opportunity to inspire others to create and follow their dreams. I hope this has done that for you.
~my thanks and gratitude.
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