Reading · Chris Auman · RSS Amplifier

"When the work stalls, don't wait for momentum. Restart, and let momentum find you."

I’m going to be honest. I’ve been distracted from my art practice.

The reasons are many, and I’m not going to go into all of them here. Just to mention a few: We’ve been traveling a lot. My dog has been sick. My kids are home from college for the summer. I’ve gotten involved with local boards and charities. I’ve been exploring many other projects, personal and professional. (I have a day job!) My eldest son bought a house and is getting married this year.

I’ve felt tired lately because of all this.

(My daughter took this picture recently and I kinda sums up how I’ve been feeling.)

I want to remind myself of the following:

The most important thing is to start again. (Always!)
I have actually been doing creative work. (Just different kinds.)
I have been making slow progress with my art practice. (Any progress is good progress.)
I will not manufacture pressure or stress when, in reality, none exists.
This is not the first time, or the last time that this will happen, and I’m just going to acknowledge it and move on.

Over the last couple of months, I have been working on multiple creative projects despite my busy life. The first being a 100-day project where I’m creating a painting from 100 blocks of painted collage. This is supposed to be 100 continuous days of work, but I released myself from that pressure and just embraced the goal of completing 100 days.

One of my core beliefs with creative work is that the pace doesn’t matter. Consistency matters. Completing work matters. I’m 85 days into the project, and although I’ve missed days, I’m extremely proud of myself for not quitting. I see the finish line now, and that’s rewarding.

What comes next is going to be the really fun part of assembling the blocks into a final piece. Then, working to create an e-book of each individual piece paired with the short stories that I wrote from the posts here on Substack. (Keep an eye out for updates about these projects in the near future.)

Below is an example of one of the blocks. I see each of these as a mini seascape painting, each with its own appeal and vibe. Together, they’re going to create something that, I hope, is infinitely interesting to look at and enjoy, especially up close.

Sidenote: So many times in life we’re moving too quickly to appreciate and enjoy the details of the world around us. We just don’t look close enough. I try to notice this on a daily basis and slow down. This project has been a creative way to do that every day as I explore and review my painted papers, considering the details and interesting aspects of each, and carefully cropping each block to add to the final composition.

As I mentioned, I have been working on other creative projects too. Many have nothing to do with creating paintings or drawing. I haven’t completely stopped creating art. I have actually finished paintings, and I have finished drawings recently. It’s just that the pace has slowed.

I think this is “ok”.

I’ve been cooking.

I’ve been writing.

I’ve been creating frames for my art.

I’ve created my own frame shelf for our bedroom.

I’ve been working on my own website.

I’ve been learning to use AI to code.

I’ve gotten involved in my community and charities.

I’ve been traveling.

I’ve been spending time with my family.

All of these things are creative acts. Cooking, writing, woodworking, experiencing, and contributing to the world around me. All involve learning. All are fun. All are fulfilling. I think it’s important to acknowledge this.

All of these things have allowed me to take the time necessary to simply take a break from the actual act of creating art on a regular basis. This will not be the last time that my practice slows, and honestly, I think I’ve learned that this is a good thing.

I’m ready to start again with some intensity and renewed energy and enthusiasm.

This is all that really matters.