State of mind
Shows and crowd vs Studio work
I’m always very excited to do a show to meet people and other artists ; an artist’s life is a lonely stuff even though we can be well surrounded ; but in the same time, when a show is getting closer, I’m like a grumpy dude wishing to be let alone and not disturbed so I can just paint.
… and I can be even more grumpy while I’m on serious project, like… now, today ^^!
The thing is that my focus is so intense that I have even real trouble to “come back down” (I don’t use drug and I really don’t need any to be in that state). It is a kind of self-hypnose, another state of consciousness and some friends told me it was probably a kind of autism. True or not true, this is my life.
When I reach that state, I’m like a steam machine at full speed and stopping suddenly is harmful for me. At the end of a day, I need several hours to be really “out” of the studio. Until I’m really back in my body, my eyes and brain are always searching for something to do and so I can have a funny look, like a crazy kitten with big ball eyes : I see without seeing.
When I go to a show, this is a “break” of 4 days in my creative process. Well, it is not really a break as I book-sign, meet readers and promote my work, but it does break my state of mind, the one I reached for a specific picture or for a specific text. And sometimes reaching a a specific state of mind is easy, but sometimes it is really a long journey / agony / void / run. So stopping me in that creative process is not a pleasant thing because I know that I will have to go through all those emotions and that it will take time to be at the very same momentum.
I thought after 30 years of being an artist, it would be easier but in fact, Naaaah !!
Feel free to comment below if you feel that way too #crazykitteneyes or if you live your art in a total different way. Always interesting to know each other’s way of work and maybe we can pat our each other’s back too !!
Tomorrow, I go to a show, you can already “pat my back and head and send me a “There, There it will be alright buddy”!
JBM
PS : we received the 100 art print and we just finished to numbered them all : 001/100, 002/100 etc. Feel free to order yours —> here we send worldwide :)
I definitely go into a different state when working. It is a bit trance-like I suppose. All the problems of the world melt away. It is my favorite place to be. It seems to help or completely block negative emotions and trains of thought.
#crazykitteneyes I work with my husband publishing board games. My primary role is as illustrator for our games. At least, that is the primary in my mind. I have exactly the same cycle of emotions when we have to break to go to a convention to sell our games. I take sketching materials with me in case the Muses possess me while we are on the road, but that is not progressing my serious work. I suppose the break is good and refreshing, but the flow, the focus and the deep work are not available.