What do you go all in on? are there things you refrain from doing entirely?
My mentality has me go all in. It us me wonder sometimes; are many people like this and don’t notice this personal trait, or is it simply those who have the brain chemistry that leads to such a way of life.
It’s good to go all in on something you know is worthwhile, though we can’t always know that from the start. How something will pan out further down the line remains a mystery.
Going all in feels like a leap of faith, not thinking about it everything that won’t work; simply putting one’s best foot forward in their endeavor.
“All in” can be dangerous behavior, especially when we have less information at hand. It’s like getting married to someone a month after meeting them.
For me, all in usually occurs with social media, which makes sense considering it’s design. For some, this works out, but for me… It creates issues in finding the proper balance, knowing what to post and what not to post in order to maintain a consistent, polished image that lends to growth.
Perhaps “all in” works when it’s tied to a plan, a strategy… but I don’t have either of those. I have whim and determination.
Aside from that, I am wholeheartedly going all in for n painting on canvas. I’m good at it and it’s good to me, so long as I make sure to take a break and get some rest. There are other parts of life I choose to refrain from, because moderation is not my strong suit.
What do you go all in on? are there things you refrain from doing entirely?
Each one I make has me looking forward to the next. It’s fun to have one thing that you can do over and over again, see where it leads, what you can make of it. I enjoy seeing my work progress, so I suppose creating the same thing again and again is a good way to measure that, like making a self portrait each year. There’s lots of timeless good to just living, yet it’s the feeling of progress along with steady improvement at life that excites me most. Whether it’s the evolution of my studio, myself or my creative career, it feels important to consider how my actions today may shape my tomorrow. It can be as simple improving the organization in my apartment (like installing a new shelf), starting a new artwork, or doing something I haven’t done before.
This type of thinking was in no way instilled in me from childhood, which is probably why it came on so strong late into my 20’s. Even though I got by, i essentially realized many aspects of my character were lacking. While I was able to excel in some regards, shards of an unguided childhood seeped to the surface. These are the things that define us, that we have to live with, yet we’re often too caught up in it all to do anything about, or even notice. I realized I would need to create new, healthy and exciting experiences to move forward into another paradigm of myself (I didn’t know it so concretely at the time, but am putting it into words now). It’s why I went to Japan to experience their culture and view life from a different lens. It’s why I went on a three month road trip; to get out of my clouded bubble, experience the natural world and meet others with uplifting/unique outlooks. I think when we’re starting out on a journey of self discovery, we will try anything and everything. The most tried and true method is to move far away from home and rediscover yourself one day at a time.
Essentially, it’s interesting to think of the different paths life will take, depending on what we decide/decide not to do. Who our least and most ideal selves can be. Suppose, with each minute (my-noot) action, we may lean toward one or the other. If it excites you and will improve your character, why hold back? Money shouldn’t be an object; it’s one thing you can always get back.
On my deskScanned imageShading added in photoshop Final edits in procreate iPad
The upside of entering your 30’s is that ideally you have ten+ years of trying many things, going many places, meeting many people, with the result of attaining a more tuned sense for your place in the world… That is discovering what you enjoy doing most and realizing where your energy is best put in place. Encapsulated within it all is a both a sense of urgency to create a strong, meaningful body of work and experience, intertwined with a casual nature wherein disregarding the seriousness of it, in realizing it need not amount to anything, only the slice of the moment in which it is spent.
The work we do as artists and humans is deeply personal, stemming from what has past, not even always known to us, yet if done properly, it still taps into a universal knowing that travels beyond our visual cortex into the euphoric void, awakening a sense of curiosity, wonder, and awe.
Aside from all that, I’m thankful for how life continues to unfold, the importance I put in various aspects of my life, continuing to check in with myself, gauging where I’m at in relation to where I could be; not in physical location, but my personal reality that progresses over time, which in turn branches out into the network of everybody else. That is basically to say: getting my life in order, keeping it in order, so I’m able to put more energy into performing at my best for those in my life, whether it be brief or long term. And so I can spend more time painting of course.
If something is hindering me, disrupting my daily flow; I notice. I believe it is the difference between being able to figure out a solution right away, or letting it get the best of me day in, day out for weeks on end. This could be as simple as a loose door knob, or something more involved such as a disorganized/dysfunctional workspace. It reminds me of something I heard once, something about how the best tools, gear or equipment is the that which you don’t notice. It should flow seamlessly; you should have to think about whether it’s working properly or affecting your ability to perform. It simply works. This can be carried over into most anything, whether it be a good conversation, interior design, hiking shoes, etc.
With my painting, I notice what works and what doesn’t with my setup, I’m left handed, so my palette must be on my left. I now have a comfortable chair that swivels and rolls so I can more easily play with my dog when she comes to me with a toy. I work on many paintings during one session, so I have a large glass surface to mix acrylic colors. I don’t have the greatest lighting, but I had a nice under-shelf light that I was using for another purpose weeks and months prior. Since I was doing less of that, and much more painting I relocated the light which has elevated my painting experience! I have since purchased another under-shelf light for its original purpose, on my art print work table. This is where I cut prints to size, frame them, package them etc.
To speak on my paintings themselves, I have come to create them to the degree that no brush strokes, no colors, no compositional details will disrupt my viewing experience of the painting. Sure, I may never succeed entirely at this feat, but I can inch closer in closer with each work that I create, working relentlessly to rid it of all flaws that my eye can see. Each painting is another leaping off point— with new techniques, and refined taste gained. While know nothing will be perfect, I’ve found satisfaction, and ultimately comfort in the striving to be better, to encounter less disruptions in the day to day (my dog gets a pass) by having the presence of mind to notice. Sure, there are many things to address in this way, some for a long time now, but they are prioritized, and in time will lend well to the mindful, minimal, and productive life that put emphasis on myself to embody.
art.of.a.rock 