The Art of Procrastinating Art!

"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." (Henry Ford)

I envy those of you successful artists who truly enjoy, and relax by splashing paint around on a frequent basis.

Most of the time I have to think for a long time to decide what to paint, which is why a theme challenge works so well, ie when an art group, whether that be local or online, all create artworks on the same theme, to be completed by a deadline.

Our local art group, BAVA, (Biloela Area Visual Artists) did this recently, together with the Biloela Potters, to accompany "Coffee & Tea Works" by Corrie Wright, which is a QAC travelling exhibition. I've just been in to see it, in the Biloela Library this morning. Maria has some photos of opening night on her art blog.

If you find procrastination funny, read The Procrastinator's Creed. I can identify with #12: "I know that the work cycle is not plan/start/finish, but is wait/plan/plan."

I knew I could count on WetCanvas to have some interesting forum discussions on the topic of procrastination. Here's a quote from the "What Causes You to Stall?" discussion which I can identify with: "...anticipatory dread can paralyze me for weeks..."

It's amazing, the other tasks I can complete while procrastinating on painting! In this essay by John Perry, he calls this process "Structured Procrastination" - which, in my opinion, is so much more preferable than doing nothing/wasting time. Check out the funny author photo!

I've found two books to aid in kicking the procrastination habit: "How to Avoid Making Art" by Julia Cameron, who also wrote "The Artist's Way" [excerpt: "Make your first project really big"](!);

and: "The War of Art - Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles" by Steven Pressfield [excerpt: "...any act that rejects immediate gratification in favor of long-term growth, health, or integrity...Any of these will elicit Resistance.]

I wonder when, if ever, I'll be as brave as Rich Hawk: "I tamed my personal art demon – the tendency to think about painting rather than actually painting – by throwing the stuff on the blank paper and telling myself I didn't care about the end result. I believed it and was saved."