 In my last blog post I suggested that the arrival of a new year gave artists the opportunity to find new ways of working. This often means building structure into your art practice.
This is a challenge because most systems of organization feel alien to artists. It is difficult to fit a creative life into a spreadsheet. If linear processes tend to paralyze you, try to find another way to get organized. Instead of making a list, choose a mantra. This is a word or phrase, and sometimes an image, that guides your behavior through the ups and downs of a day or a week. My own mantra right now is: “Shape the Day, Every Day” These five words are on post-its all over my house and on my screens. Every morning my mantra asks me to think about the overall shape of my day. When I am stuck, I return to this advice. Sometimes “shape the day” means doing all the hard work first. On other days it means finding inspiration before I begin. The phrase reminds me that I am in charge of how my day unfolds, no matter what is going on in the world or in my own life. How you shape your day depends on your commitments, of course. You have responsibilities to others, as well as regular work time. But when you put yourself in charge of shaping the day, you acknowledge your own needs. You may need comfort, stimulation, or connection, or simply time for yourself. Borrow my mantra or find a phrase that inspires you. Keep it visible in your studio or other workspace. After a few weeks, look back to discover what has changed in the rhythm of your days. Welcome to the New Year! ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  Always a planner, I’m looking ahead to the New Year now and helping artists set goals for 2021. After such a chaotic year, it makes sense to build some structure and planning into your creative life.
A good goal stretches you because it helps you figure out what you really want. For example, if you have a strong resume and a coherent body of work, your goal might be to have a solo show at a museum. Articulating that goal clarifies your intentions and makes you think: “how will I do that?” By outlining the steps that will help you reach your goal, you put yourself in motion. You might start to research local and regional museums to find those whose mission and purpose align with your work. You’ll see whether they have submission guidelines on their websites. If not, you’ll go to their staff listing and find the name of an exhibitions coordinator or curator whom you could write or call with questions. But maybe you’re not far along in your career. Your primary goal for 2021 might be to develop a coherent body of work. Again the challenge is to figure out the steps you need to take in order to make that happen. You might decide to identify and remove obstacles that prevent you from spending more time on your art. You might need to say NO to less important commitments that drain your energy. You might want to get objective feedback on your work from people you trust. Try to understand what has to change in your daily life in order for your art to grow. Most important, don’t hide your goals in a folder on your desktop. Write them down and keep them visible in your creative space. Happy New Year! ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  If you haven’t visited an art fair lately, you have another opportunity this week. UNTITLED, ART Miami Beach will be held from December 2 through December 6, 2020. Since it happens both live and online, it’s called a hybrid art fair.
UNTITLED, ART includes not just galleries but also artist-run exhibition spaces and nonprofit art organizations. Their list is fully international, including galleries in Cape Town, Buenos Aires, London, and Johannesburg, plus U.S. venues in Los Angeles, New York, and Dallas. Use your visit to learn about what’s going on in the Big Art World. There are live-streamed panels where collectors, curators, museum directors and art advisors discuss trends. You can visit gallery viewing rooms and ask questions of the exhibitors. Since the primary purpose of the fair is to sell art, you will be able to see prices for a wide range of art. For an emerging artist, the fair provides an introduction to how the top tier of the art world operates. Pick several galleries and nonprofit spaces that appeal to you and get to know them. Go to their websites to see the artists they represent, and then focus on the artists they feature at the fair. For artists who inspire you, look at their resumes to see how they got where they are today. What can you learn about your own career path? Use this opportunity to expand your world. You can attend special events, such as those featuring contemporary Caribbean artists or learn about opportunities such as the Artists in Residence program in the Everglades. You don’t have to wait for the art world to “open up.” Get used to the hybrid model, where art events happen both online and in person, as this seems to be our future. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, it is time to consider our lives and ask ourselves: “what am I grateful for?”
It has been a very difficult year for everyone, but artists have been challenged in unique ways. The art world has gone virtual, many opportunities have been put on hold, and the uncertain economy has put creative organizations at risk. It may be hard to feel grateful right now. You have to find a way to let go of frustrations and acknowledge what is still positive or at least hopeful in your world. Believe it or not, there is a field of study called the Science of Gratitude. Researchers say that expressing your gratitude can make you happier. When you express gratitude you pass on positive thoughts and feelings to create what I call a circle of gratitude. You might be grateful for the people who have helped you get through difficult times. You might be grateful for groups or organizations that offered resources to keep you going. You might be grateful for your own strengths and talents. Think of what you are genuinely grateful for, and then put those feelings into words. Say it out loud or write it down. Give specific examples. First make it clear to yourself what you are grateful for, and then see what your examples have in common. For example, I’m grateful for:
After you discover what you are grateful for, find a way to tell the person or organization or even yourself. Pay it forward to inspire others to do the same. You are creating a circle of gratitude that nurtures and sustains itself. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  For most of us these last months of 2020 will be full of challenges. We struggle to stay creative as we face a difficult and uncertain election process, feel the weather becoming colder or wetter as we’re trapped inside, and wonder whether art-making really makes a difference in the world.
In my last blog post I described how the artist Constance Hockaday managed to create art that speaks directly to this political moment. She created a platform where 50 diverse artists spoke as president of the U.S. in their own voices. Hockaday’s process was just as transformative as her content. When the pandemic closed down her original site, she reimagined the project to work even better in the virtual art world. This is the core of what artists do. In your art practice you give form to an idea or a feeling. You capture an impression in clay or on canvas or in a photograph. You take a hard look at the world as it is and decide to make something new. Choosing to create art during these turbulent times is a hopeful thing to do. Even when your art is not about social issues, it takes freedom of thought and positive energy and courage to make it. Don’t shut yourself down by wondering whether your art matters, whether your voice will make a difference. Your ability to create is a powerful resource that helps all of us fight back against uncertainty and fear. Nurture your creative self. Keep it alive by making art, by teaching art, by encouraging other artists, by building community. What you do every day matters. Fill your mind and heart and spirit with your own creativity. Cherish your ability to see the world as it is while imagining something new. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  Constance Hockaday’s “Artists-in-Presidents: Fireside Chats for 2020” is a remarkable example of transformative art. While the project looks like it was designed for this moment, it was originally supposed to happen on the USS Potomac, FDR’s retired Presidential Yacht, docked in Oakland.
Hockaday envisioned an immersive site-specific performance space that would feel “both like a press conference for the working class and a raucous wedding reception.” The voices of fifty artists would be piped through loud speakers as they responded to the question: “what would it be like for you to take on the voice of a leader you’d like to hear?” When the pandemic hit, Hockaday took the fundamental ideas and values of the project and created a virtual art exhibition. The artists were invited to write and record a five-minute presidential address, along with their own presidential portrait. The title, “Artists-in-Presidents,”is Hockaday’s sly smile at the traditional notion of artists-in-residence. Her own portrait is hilarious, as she sits in the oval office morphing into various versions of herself. Hockaday’s process embodies the democratic values that inspired the project. Instead of inviting 50 artists herself, she invited a few and asked each of them to invite other artists, “sort of like a chain letter,” so that the group would represent widely divergent points of view. Their addresses to the nation are being released during the final weeks of the 2020 presidential campaign. Originally intended to be heard by visitors to the USS Potomac, their voices are now reaching a much wider audience. You can see and hear them over the radio, in weekly podcasts, through social media, and in a virtual gallery on her website. Hockaday says that “nobody knows what an equitable world looks like.” Artists-in-Presidents gives us multiple glimpses of that picture. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  In my last blog post I suggested that renewal for artists might come in many different forms. What is challenging right now, for those still sheltering in place, is that the available sources of renewal are still mostly online.
For artists whose inspiration comes from human contact with the living, breathing, touching, feeling world, how do you get what you need? Museums and galleries are slowly reopening, but many changes in the art world will be long lasting. You may have discovered the benefits of participating in the new art world. You enter virtual shows where you don’t need to pay to ship your art. You attend online art fairs and conferences that used to require expensive travel. You connect with new communities of artists, explore museum and gallery exhibitions that were too far away to visit, and even participate in events through virtual art talks and art walks. Now it is time to build these resources into your daily life. If this seems overwhelming, take it slowly and try to control what comes at you. Sign up for email newsletters of art organizations that interest you, so that you receive regular communications. Include one or two national art resources, like Hyperallergic or Artsy or Creative Capital, so that you are in touch with what is going on in the larger art world. Explore and select art publications specific to your medium, like Fiber Art Now or Lensculture or Plein Air Magazine. Schedule a regular time to review these publications so that you incorporate new information into your daily life. It isn’t the same as meeting real people or seeing art in person, but you will stay connected. When the art world opens up again, you’ll be better prepared to benefit from all the resources you’ve discovered. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  We used to look forward to September. You bought new shoes or new clothes or a new backpack, and got ready to go back to school. What we most enjoyed was the sense of renewal, as a new yet familiar cycle was beginning again.
Now many of us go to college on Zoom or struggle to create home classrooms for our kids. August fades into September without much change in our daily lives. The world around us is profoundly disturbing and confusing, and we wonder what we can look forward to. Renewal is a source of inspiration for artists. If you are struggling to find it, you may need to create your own. Here are some questions to get you started. Ask yourself:
Think of renewal as a way to breathe new life into your world. Sometimes it requires dramatic action, but more often the positive changes you seek start with tiny actions that barely register at first. You decide to reconnect with an old friend who tells you about an opportunity you would have missed. You change a habit and discover a different rhythm to your days. You add more structure to your life and find more freedom. Renewal comes in many forms. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  I spent last weekend attending UNTITLED, ART, an international art fair that used to be held in San Francisco, New York, and Miami.
This art fair happened on my laptop, of course. UNTITLED, ART Online was a “virtual reality experience” where 40 galleries showcased art and artists. During the opening weekend, you could take a tour with human experts, whose voices and faces enlivened the screen. As they introduced galleries, artists, and themes on one half of the screen, the other half showcased the art in virtual galleries. These curated tours set you up to visit on your own, an experience I call “an art fair for introverts.” Artists who hate talking to strangers at a traditional art fair could click through virtual galleries and remain anonymous. You can visit dozens of galleries in a short amount of time, and learn about the artists they represent. You have easy access to data about a wide range of art: titles, size, materials, dimensions and prices. Organized to make it easy for collectors to buy, the virtual galleries provide a great research tool for artists. Yet something was missing. The virtual galleries provided a simulated experience, a visit to a 3D digital world full of art but empty of people. The sensory overload of the traditional art fair became sensory deprivation in ghostly galleries that look like architectural drawings. The organizers of UNTITLED, ART Online understood what was needed. The images and voices of gallerists and artists brought intelligent organization and vitality to the experience. They gave thematic tours: art celebrating nature and climate change, visits to lesser known galleries, introductions of artists of color from around the world. So while technology made the art fair possible, it took people to bring it to life. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  Recently an artist told me: "I’m so worried about what I’m not doing, that I forget what I’ve already done."
This anxiety is especially prevalent now. Many artists are stuck, wondering how to justify spending their days developing their own art practice, when so many crises in the news clamor for attention. When you are feeling stressed, give structure and purpose to your creative life. Set simple goals for the week. Look back at what you managed to accomplish yesterday, and give yourself credit. You may have spent a few hours in the studio, even though you haven’t yet completed anything. Maybe you learned a new skill or experimented with a new process. Some artists are learning how to make the transition to the virtual art world, by taking or teaching classes online, or entering virtual exhibitions, or staying connected by participating in virtual art fairs. It is also OK to just focus on developing your art. When the noise of the world intrudes, remember the advice of Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way. She suggests starting the day with "morning pages," one of her tools for creative recovery. You write out three pages, in longhand, every morning, about what you are thinking and feeling. You don’t critique the pages or even reread them. This habit is especially helpful during stressful times. The morning pages drain your brain of thoughts that might get in the way of making art. Many artists find it helpful to include visual images, sketches or drawings of how you are feeling, rather than just words. Then give yourself permission to be an artist, in any way that comes naturally. Your own creativity will bring positive energy back into a world that badly needs it. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  In 2006 Daniel Pink predicted that the future would belong to creative people, especially those who were able to combine the two hemispheres of the brain into “a whole new mind.” While he did not anticipate our current crisis, he understood that artists could lead us through times of great uncertainty.
No one knows where the art world is headed right now, so it is time to create a new one. Artists are in the best position to do this because they are able to form images in the mind of what doesn’t yet exist. When you imagine a work of art, you find new relationships among familiar things. You make a collage out of antique wallpaper found in thrift shops; you photoshop images from many places into a new landscape; you sculpt the human body in the form of a vessel. These visual metaphors help you imagine and then create something new. An artist’s mind is intuitive rather than logical, synthetic rather than analytical. You experiment with materials and process just because they interest you. You don’t need to know the end result because you enjoy the process of discovery. You are not tied to what has gone before because you can visualize an alternative reality. What would happen if artists used these right brained strengths to build an art world that supported and sustained creative people? An art world that served the needs of artists and art lovers, collectors and critics, that welcomed the participation of broad and diverse audiences? What would this new reality look and feel like? Start small. Think about your own art practice and then about your local and regional art community. What could be different? What would be better? How do we begin? ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  In my last blog post I talked about an artist’s vision: what your art is all about, why it matters, how it lives out in the world.
If you intend to market and sell your art, this is your first step. You start with your personal vision, as this painter did: “I paint to celebrate daily life, to illuminate the ordinary, to shape the day.” In order to create a business, you first need to think about your customers. Entrepreneurs, who are the artists of the business world, develop what is called a “customer profile.” A profile defines the demographic characteristics of the people who might buy your art (their age, gender, income level, etc.). Your customers are the audience for your art, your fans and followers, your people. You may not have a lot of detailed information about them, but take a look at what you do know. Who has recently bought your work (or would buy it if they could)? Do they tend to be older, younger, rural, urban? What do they have in common? This information will help you figure out the next step: your marketing strategy. How will your work become visible to your audience? Where will they find it? How will they learn about you? The more you know about your potential customers, the easier it is to figure out how and where they buy art. Then you’ll need to set up some simple measurements. Your art career is like a road trip, where measurements are signposts to keep you on track. This is especially important when you are stuck. A good measurement system puts you in motion again. Follow these first steps in order to create a business plan. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards Please note: I recently published a longer version of this article, “An Artist Should Think Like an Entrepreneur,” in www.callforentries.com. This well-curated site lists open calls for artists and photographers. Take a look, you can join for free!  Artists are beginning to realize that their own unique vision can be a source of inspiration to others during difficult times. A local artist/teacher, Janet Jacobs, recently sent me a link to her online workshop, “Sketchbook as a Place of Solace.” The title says it all. Your own vision is embedded in the art you create. You may rarely talk about it, since the art itself expresses what you want to say. Yet it can be helpful to articulate what your art is all about. Perhaps you offer an alternate reality, as the sculptor Phyllis Thelen does: “Through my art, people may escape to serene places of the planet and the mind, and take peace and pleasure from time spent there.” Your intentions may be more explicit. The jewelry designer Leslie Lawton describes her vision: “I want to empower women to choose to be visible, to make an authentic personal statement.” Your unique vision may grow out of your choice of materials. The fiber artist Carol Durham works in gut (pig casings), a material she uses because it is “not easy but challenging, as it gives me the ability to make uncommon three dimensional forms.” Or perhaps your materials and process open up the world of art to a wider audience. The artist Nancy Nichols teaches others how to paint with coffee because it takes the fear out of the process of learning to paint. If you haven’t yet articulated your own vision, think about how people respond to your work. What do they notice? How does it make them feel? How does your vision expand their world? Whether you are a portrait painter or sculptor, a photographer or mixed media artist, a graphic designer or comic book artist, think about why your art matters. ~ Mary
Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  In this moment it is hard to find the inspiration to move forward with your art practice. But think of it this way: your creativity is a source of positive energy you can use to shine your light during dark times.
If you are an emerging artist, there are many ways to move forward. You can develop what is called a “coherent body of work.” You can increase your efforts to become visible online, since that’s where the art world is headed. You can learn new skills and plan for the future. Try to make progress on any of these fronts. Set simple goals that can be easily measured. Focus on process, rather than results. For example, “spend three hours a day painting in the studio” is a goal describing your effort. Some days you will feel satisfied, and at other times you’ll be staring at the canvas. Eventually you’ll see results. You can also establish goals for becoming visible online. If you already have a website, you might want to add your latest work or update your “about” page. If you’re not ready for a website, choose another way to share your work online. Instagram offers a good place to start, but if you’re allergic to social media look for something else. Join your local art center. Even if they aren’t open yet, many offer virtual exhibitions and showcase members online. Another positive goal is to learn something. There are more workshops available online than ever before, so choose one and get started. If you think you’ll want to go to an artist residency in 2021/22, start now by researching programs that appeal to you. Art careers are built out of tiny incremental steps. Hope and plan for a better future, but get ready now. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  Everything in the art world is shifting. The most obvious trend is the move toward a virtual marketplace for showing and selling art. This has been happening gradually, but now we have new evidence that collectors will pay top prices for art they purchase online. Recently Frieze, the first major art fair in New York to happen virtually, reported strong “attendance” and sales.
This is just what is happening at the top. Galleries are also moving exhibitions online, artist/ teachers are offering classes on Zoom, everyone is adapting to an online marketplace. Yet I worry about what may get lost in this process. When all of our information comes from screens our senses are limited to sight and hearing. We are cut off from the other senses: touch, taste, and smell. Together the five senses provide information that is crucial for artists. They are the source of intuition, a way of knowing that is just as powerful as logic. Intuition is often described as a feeling, a “sixth sense” or “gut reaction,” a speeded up understanding that skips over cognitive processes yet still arrives at an accurate perception. For artists, much of your knowledge comes from intuition. The flat screen flattens our experience because we miss all the sensory information that deepens our connection to the world. Think of the difference between the weather prediction on your telephone vs. the actual weather. “Partly cloudy, 58 degrees” may be true, yet when you go outside you feel the wind, see the changing shapes of the clouds, and enjoy brief rays of the sun. So, my advice? Adapt to the virtual world as best you can, but never forget that the real world is the source of your art and inspiration. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  In my last blog post I talked about what happens when you decide NOT to do a long-planned project. I suggested that something else might open up in the space it used to occupy. This can happen naturally, but sometimes artists need to tease out the new.
How do you do this? First, follow the advice of Marie Kondo, the Japanese organizational expert. She created an international business by helping people get rid of possessions that no longer “spark joy.” Her method is odd but effective: hold each item in your hands, acknowledge the need it satisfied, and then say good-bye. If you do this with the project you’re about to abandon, you’ll be clearing space for something new. As you think about the project, identify what it meant to you. Whether half realized or barely begun, at one time your project expressed your values and needs. It might have been a new art series, or a way to earn income, or a way to give back to your community, or perhaps all of the above As you say good-bye to the project, ask yourself what was missing. Why didn’t it spark joy in you? As time passes, it may seem that nothing new will appear. Remember what nature teaches us about the creative process. In a dry season, many plants that are fed by underground streams look dead. Their branches are brown, without any signs of life. Yet slowly small green leaves begin to appear, and eventually there will be flowers. I always say that artists are like perennial plants. Your deep roots of creativity are alive, even in the darkest Winter. Give your new vision the time and space and effort it requires, and then look for the first signs of growth. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  The current global crisis makes us focus on what is happening “out there.” It is important to be a good citizen, to stay informed and find ways to help others. Yet it is also a time for reflection and learning. By looking inward we allow ourselves to grow.
As you experience dramatic differences or subtle shifts in your world, notice the positive and negative effects on you. For example, is having more time making you more patient? Are you more relaxed because your days have fewer pressures? If the people around you are driving you crazy, have you found a way to carve out alone time? Are you able to tell your loved ones what you need? Whatever your circumstances, use this time to discover the real priorities in your life as an artist. Look at the commitments that used to fill your days, and no longer do. What purpose did they serve? What do you really miss? Think about the big projects that never seemed to get done, or even started, because you didn’t have time. Maybe you wanted to create a portfolio of images for submission, or learn how to build your Instagram following, or research galleries that would be right for you. If you are still avoiding that project, even though you now have time to do it, try to understand what’s going on. First, spend a day on the project you’re avoiding. Give it a fair chance to recapture your attention. Then make a decision: is it time to recommit or let this one go? If you recommit, chunk it down into manageable parts, and work on it an hour a day. Letting it go might be even more empowering. You may find your real priority in the space that opens up. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  In a recent podcast Anne Lamott was asked what writers should write about in the midst of our current crisis. I loved her answer: “write what you would like to come across.”
I think this is also good advice for visual artists. Lamott is telling us to remember our own needs as we think about our creative practice. There is only so much time you can spend in front of screens, whether you’re following the news or connecting with loved ones. At some point it is time to make art again. Why is this so important? Creativity is a natural resource like the energy of the sun--it nurtures you. When the whole world is out of kilter, your art keeps you in touch with the core of yourself. If you cannot leave the house, clear the dining room table or a space in the kitchen. Start by organizing your materials. You need to be able to see and touch your art. Perhaps you will decide to learn a new technique, or experiment with color or clay. Work on something that gives you pleasure. Make a simple plan, and then identify your first steps. You don’t need hours or days in the studio. If you think you don’t have time, or even if you have too much time, start by spending 30 minutes a day making art. Sketch out ideas you will implement later. Gradually increase the time when it feels right. You can share images with friends and followers, but you don’t have to. This art making is just for you. Build art back into your life so that it sustains you through difficult times. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  No matter where you live you’re being asked to cope with a whole new set of circumstances right now. I’m in Northern California and have been in “lockdown” for nine days, with no end in sight.
My blog post today is about how to find and use your strengths to help yourself and others. Especially when you feel stressed or uncertain, remember what you have to offer. Try to replace complaints with gratitude. Think about what is still positive in your life. Artists have special gifts, often called “right-brain” strengths. These include your imagination, the ability to see the Big Picture while others are focused on small details. Artists are also intuitive, with the kind of insight that isn’t based on logic but is still powerful. You have the flexibility and imagination to navigate difficult times, and to help others to do so. Remember that under stress we all become more like our core selves, not less. If you are an introvert, you won’t mind time alone but will still need to connect in other ways. If you’re more social, you might be feeling a sense of loss that more screen time simply doesn’t replace. Also remember that people handle stress in different ways. Be patient with others, including friends and family as well as strangers. Try to identify your personal strengths. Think about your own past. Remember the difficult times you thought would never end. You may have suffered a personal or professional crisis, the loss of a loved one, the loss of a dream. Or perhaps you faced an exciting challenge that seemed beyond your ability. When you look back, what were the strengths that got you through? Whatever worked then, do it now. Find your strengths and share them with others. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  In my coaching practice I’ve identified 8 abilities that are key to an artist’s development.
Take a moment and think about how you are doing on each one:
The first two abilities are the foundation for your art practice. When you ask, “where am I now?” you see the realities of your life as an artist. Don’t worry about where you expected to be by now, just acknowledge where you are. Begin with your art practice, rather than your resume. Are you making art every day or almost every day? Are you connected to an art community? Do you pay attention to opportunities in your field? When people ask, “what do you do?” do you answer, “I am an artist” without apology? The next area is challenging in a different way. Try to imagine what success would look and feel like for you. You may be most interested in developing a coherent body of work. Or you would like to become more visible in your community. If you’re an established artist, you might imagine your first solo museum show. By knowing where you are now and then imagining what success would look and feel like, you discover your authentic path. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  Here is one of my favorite books about how to maintain an authentic life as an artist. Sally Warner, an artist herself, writes to those who have lost their way and are trying to find a path back to a creative life.
Every artist I know feels lost at some point. You may feel overwhelmed by the noisy demands of social media. You may have recently gotten rejected by everything you’ve applied for. Or you’re lost in the confusion and stress of your own life, where too many people want a piece of you. What can you do? In a chapter called “Strengthening Your Creative Resolve” Warner describes ten qualities that will help you continue to make art. These include endurance, perseverance, and flexibility, but her most original recommendation is for artists to value their own creativity. For me, valuing your creativity means that you trust yourself and your talent. You are patient with yourself when you encounter obstacles, you celebrate your smallest successes, and you silence the inner voice who says that you’re not good enough. You strengthen your creative resolve by allowing the art-making process itself to heal you and move you forward. You go back into the studio (or wherever you make art) and spend just a little more time every day reconnecting with your art practice. Even if you don’t have a new idea yet, honor your creativity by being present in your own art space. Touch your materials, make a sketch or look at your portfolio, write a few words or read an inspiring chapter in a book like Sally Warner’s. Gradually your art will make room for itself. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  We’ve been talking about the challenges of the new year and new decade. You may have big goals in mind, or even small but difficult ones. You have gotten organized, you’re being strategic, but you still aren’t quite there yet. Maybe it is time to ask for help.
There are many kinds of art professionals who can help you with your career, including agents, curators, art consultants, and coaches. Today let’s talk about art coaches, people who help you make progress in your art practice or career. Take your time in finding a coach who is right for you. Look at their websites, read testimonials, and check out their background and expertise. Reputable coaches are certified by a professional organization and offer a free consultation so that you can get a feel for their style and personality. A good coach will help you figure out what you want to achieve. They will recommend practical strategies. They listen to you carefully so that they hear what you are saying and struggling to say. A good coach is your partner and champion, someone who believes in you. A good coach will give you a structured process to follow. Typically you’ll begin by defining your goals, identifying the obstacles that might get in your way, and planning specific action steps for you to follow. The coaching process offers what is called a “structure of accountability.” This means that you are motivated to take action steps because you have an objective partner who cares about your progress. Interview several coaches before you decide. Ask yourself, who do I trust? Who is best qualified to help me? Keep looking until you find the coach who is right for you. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  We’ve been talking about the challenges of this new year and new decade. My last blog post was about being strategic in your art practice, so that you spend more time on what matters most to you. The first step for many artists is getting organized. How do you organize your time, your studio, your paperwork—how do you organize yourself?
Most systems of organization are not “artist-friendly.” They are linear, like an Excel spreadsheet, or a checklist of to-do items. Such left brain systems do not capture your imagination or release your energy. These systems are often invisible--they get lost somewhere in your desk or on your computer. Out of sight, out of mind. Artists are visual people, so you need to organize yourself visually. Find images and objects that represent your intentions. If you’re trying to plan a career path, draw a map with signposts along the way. If you want to get on top of paperwork, find or create a beautiful container where you collect all the bits and pieces of paper that you need to keep. If you want to organize your time, use a big paper calendar and block out your days in different colors or shapes. Getting organized also means making choices and setting boundaries. You begin by putting your most important work right in front of you. You shape your days around your priorities. You might have to let go of some activities and even some people. You won’t always be flexible and available to others. Since getting organized means doing more of what matters to you, you begin to say NO to less important demands. What is your first step in getting organized? ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  Facing the New Year can be both exciting and daunting, and facing a new decade only increases the pressure. In my last blog post I suggested that you begin by creating a mantra to guide your thoughts and actions, because a simple word or phrase keeps you on track. A good mantra for artists who want to grow their practice is “be strategic.”
What does it mean to be strategic in your art career? First, think about what really matters to you. Maybe it is making time to create a new body of work, or making an effort to reach out to others who can help you advance. Perhaps this is the year when you will seek advice about gallery representation, or build your presence on social media. Pick just one thing to work on, for now, and “be strategic” about it. Being strategic means that you are conscious of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. You don’t worry that you cannot control the outcome, you just go ahead and act. For example, if this is the year when you want to reach out to others, you reach out to someone every day. If you decide to develop a new body of work, then you increase your hours in the studio, and say no to less important activities. Being strategic means that you shape your days around your priorities. Even If you’re not a morning person, you start the day with what matters most. No matter how many demands and distractions come at you, each day you do at least one strategic thing. In this way you gradually build momentum, so that your actions become natural and new ideas start to flow. Remember, as an artist you are a visual person. Try to find an image that represents your strategy, and keep it visible wherever you are working. Let me know what you discover. ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards  This is the time of year when many of us look back at what we have accomplished and think about what the new year will bring.
Most of what happened for me in 2019 grew out of commitments made before the year began. I ended up writing a lot. In addition to this blog, I made progress on my book, Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People. I also created a number of long articles for the online newsletter CallforEntries.com, including a series on How to Approach a Gallery. So what will 2020 bring for you? Sometimes New Year’s resolutions are so specific that they set you up for failure. You really cannot control the activities of others, especially people in the random and chaotic Big Art World. So you might want to take a more fluid approach, where you commit to making gradual changes in areas that matter to you. Ask yourself these two questions:
In order to make progress as an artist, you need to change subtle patterns in how you use your time, what you pay attention to, even what you think about. Your creativity is embedded in the rest of your life, so think broadly about the two questions. Always start with the positive--what you want to do MORE OF. As you shift your energy, the LESS OF will become obvious. Then turn your intentions into a simple mantra, a word or phrase that will guide your behavior. For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, your mantra might be “drink more water.” If you need to free your mind for your own creative work, a good mantra would be “take long walks.” If you’re trying to improve your presence on Instagram, try the mantra “take better pictures.” My own mantra for 2019 was “write every day.” Specific goals and measurement systems are useful, but a mantra stays with you because it’s easy to remember. It can speak to you in a whisper or a shout, but it’s always on your mind. What is your mantra for 2020? ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards |