1974

There are lots of ways to find artists work, You can look in the usual places Galleries ,studio tours, artist banks, and referral.

I think the most fun way is to happen upon work in unusual places. Sometimes artists have shows in unusual places like restaurants coffee and tea houses even hardware stores.

Artist that are just starting out are unfettered with the knowledge of what will sell and what will not.

I remember I once had a show in San Francisco at a coffee shop. They let me put these 4 by 8 foot pieces of masonite on the walls that I had put charcoal drawings on. I hardly had money to eat must less buy canvas and I think I salvaged the masonite from a dumpster.

NO matter I was an artist and I had to work so that is what I did. I put varnish on the whole thing to keep the charcoal from coming off.

And I think I put the grand price of 50 bucks on the works. Did I sell them?? Yes I did. When I did that I bought some canvas and started making big paintings.

I wonder if those charcoal drawings still exist.

It doesn't matter really, what does matter is they were the step that led to the next step.

The moral of this story is "Don't despise small beginnings"

Knowing what you are doing

There is a reason that you do not need to know what you are doing when you set forth on any creative project. The reason is you are not the sole source of creativity. You do not need to rely on what you already know. Just stepping out and walking toward the desired end is all you need. I did not know how to do a mural but I learned along the way of doing it. The people that payed me to do the mural did not know that I did not know what I was doing. I just started and figured it out.

If you realize that everything you need is right there and it will show up when you need it.

I dont know anything about painting except that I am a painter. I instinctively knew that art school would wreck me and I still believe that. I do not paint like anyone else and that is why. I was free to do what only I can do.

You only have to trust that the next step will present itself when you need it and not before. It is just like Faith in God. You cant see Him but He is there.

That is why life is so wonderful and spectacular and joyful/ You are never never never alone. You never have to rely on what you already know.

something you can use

The reason I am writing today is to give anyone who wants it something you can use. In creative group we work on thinking in new ways and developing our capacity to be aware of a good idea when we get it.

Thousands of thoughts pass through our minds all day long. Thousands upon thousands. If there is an idea that comes back again and again then that is something we need to work on or act on . There are only two things to do with every idea. Ignore it or do it. Every idea is either a door or a window.

If it is a window you can be objective and consider what else you know. It is safe to look out a window.

The door is another matter. It is terrifying to go through a door because you dont know what is on the other side and we are all scared of pain.

When dealing with creativity doors are all over the place waiting to be opened.

One trick that you can use to go through doors that you are afraid to go through, is to do one small step to opening the door. One actual gentle shove . That will strengthen you to go a little further. Like a chick pecking out of its shell. each little peck makes him stronger and stronger and develops his muscles to go on and push some more.

Momentum will be working for you if you just start a little bit.

Working through a painting

When I start painting I have no idea where it will end up. Sure I have a plan in mind, but when I going it always takes me somewhere else. It is like riding a horse that does not know you yet. The horse has not grown acclimated to your touch and does not respond. I say lets go here and the horse says no we are going somewhere else. I have to go where it tells me to,

I would even go so far to say that being an artist is always being led around by someone else.

You just have to go where they say. And I dont know what is leading me. My past experiences, my skill, my emotion, or something else

That is the joy of it all too. I don't know where we are going so it is always new and an adventure.