Contrary to what the internet and social media would have us believe; art is slow, terribly slow. So slow in fact that you could argue it belongs to a bygone pre-internet era, one in which monks invested their whole life learning the fine art of calligraphy, and JR Tolkien took 12 years off to write his book. This, however, is not the world we live in today.
And yet, art has managed to stay boldly relevant, if not the art world and art scene (for many have little relationship to it), then definitely ‘art’ in the making: however much the world speeds up, we never leave our desire to slow down and create behind. In fact, we now collectively find ourselves scrolling pottery films and impressive drawing reels on social media with hungry eyes.
It seems, that as our relationship to physical presence, tactile experiences and creation wanes, our desire to see digital depictions of it grows. To this day, we are still very much captivated by the one thing that makes us uniquely human: the creation of art. Yet, here also lies the conundrum: How can one create ‘slow’ art in a visibility and result obsessed era?
1. Accept defeat
One of the beautiful things about art and creating is that it doesn’t lie. Creation is simple; you get out what you put in, with no shortcuts. This makes art and creating one of the fairest pursuits a person can engage in, and also one of the most confronting. Because if your work is the honest sum of your investments, then you might find yourself staring down at the reality of your accumulated efforts with a gulp (trust me we have all been there).
The best thing to do here is to accept defeat from the get-go: ART IS SLOW. And this is a gift in disguise. Rush as you may, art will hold you to its pace. Think of art and creating as the ever-patient parent, to the screaming and demanding toddler of our times: If you want a biscuit, you will sit down and stop screaming - If you want to be an artist, you will sit down and stop procrastinating.
Once you accept this, you can allow yourself to be guided by the slow pace of creation. A wise artist or creator makes accommodations in their expectations and plans with this truth in mind, no one needs another point of pressure. Creating follows a healthy, steady and rich pace that will support you in being present, creative and dreaming all at the same time. Follow it, and amazing things will happen (but slowly).
2. You are not in a rush
Now that we have all accepted that art is slow, we can safely refer to art as a marathon, not a sprint. Why then, does every artist and creator I know (including myself) burst into fits the moment they are asked to show their work in front of a class, on their website or in an exhibition? It seems that we all collectively want to be the artist/creator we would be two years from now, today, the moment someone else is looking.
It is precisely this urge that found me covered in paint, crying face down on the floor of my studio with a bottle of vodka in my hand at one-thirty in the morning on a random Tuesday. Why? I had been asked to be part of an exhibition at a gallery that I very much wanted to show my work at… only catch, I had two weeks. This led me to attempt to propel my artistic practice forward by a couple of years within a couple of hours (sigh).
If art is a marathon, then rushing is not a good strategy. All you can do is show an honest depiction of where you are artistically at that exact time. That this can potentially be hugely confronting is natural, just try not to let this confrontation and fear be a reason to shy away from sharing your work and musings. Here are two thoughts I have found helpful:
1. Most people are creative with their opinions, not with their deeds, make no mistake, your efforts are not common.
2. Always remember that everyone who is better than you has been exactly where you are right now at some point. They know what it takes and will respect your effort and bravery. Everyone else simply doesn’t matter. So get out there!
3. Show up and you WILL succeed
Like I mentioned before ‘creation is simple’ and the romantic idea of talent is just that, a romanticisation. Talent may be mildly handy but it will never measure up to time spent creating. If you show up for something, it will show up for you every.single.time.
So, have faith, you will succeed and grow in the ways you want (slowly) if you follow the simple laws of nature that creating follows too. Ever heard that story about the person who put a little rock in the same spot each morning and then one day woke up to find a little mountain? That story applies here too.
4. Anxiety and pressure are poor motivators
There is a reason why most successful artists are old men (other than the patriarchy), say it with me: art is slow. So, anxiety and pressure may make for an amazing cattle prod to motivate us to sprint like mad. But try these same tactics in a marathon, however, and you will not only burn yourself out, but you will also dampen your creativity and joy in the process.
A marathon is long and creating is often a lifelong passion: a lifetime is way too long to hold your breath. The fact that you want results, and that bashing, organizing, threatening and pressuring them out of yourself is second nature to you, comes as no surprise, just as it is no surprise that burnout is rampant. The times we live in are intentionally anxiety-inducing. It’s entirely to be expected that you feel this way and it’s not your fault at all.
Creation, however, asks for a different approach. One of trust and slow living, one that is interested in the process over the result. So, it’s well worth your while to see if you can find new ways of motivating yourself that do not involve coercion. Learning these skills will take time, but they will make all the difference. Just as a potter needs to learn how to grip the clay in such a way, that protects their tendons and fingers for years to come, so must you learn how to create in a way that will not eventually result in your injury.
It is better to learn these skills early, for the longer you create work under pressure, the harder it will be to change your tactics later down the line (trust me on this one). Once again, think of art and creation as an ever-patient and present parent. There is nothing to fear here, you can relax, you are safe and warm, just don’t try to boss it around.
5. Instagram is the soccer mom from hell
Somehow, visibility has become the ultimate form of success, and with it, artists have become online show ponies requested to perform new tricks daily. If creating is your favourite pastime, then Instagram is most likely the soccer mom from hell screaming at the top of her lungs from the sidelines which next moves you need to make.
Yes, it’s true, Instagram can be a powerful tool to find your audience, but if you are not careful, it can also become an unpaid and existentially stressful part-time job. As a general rule, social media is about relationships, so ask yourself if you have the desire to maintain relationships with thousands of people? If so, go for it. If not, then use social media as a place to post your creations and chat with people who enjoy your work and interests, they will find you (slowly).
6. Your passions are valid
Over the years I have had many students follow my classes after experiencing a burn-out or a personal block in their lives. Oftentimes, drawing and creating quickly become their new way to decompress and releave the stress from high-pressure jobs and lives. What happens next is interesting. The same students that are exhausted as a result of productivity thinking, quickly apply that same mode of thinking to their newly found joy and passion: they decide to make art and creativity their side hustle or new career.
Now, this can be a very valid choice, it’s never too late to make a change or to live the life you want. It is however important to give yourself space to create, develop and just be. Art is a career for those who make it their business. Contrary to popular belief, your passions do not need to be your side hustle.
Creating, and the joy it brings you is a valid purpose in itself, and nothing can dampen that feeling quicker than productivity thinking, and making something into a job with a goal, so protect your passions well. If you do decide to make art your business, then welcome, this is not an easy road, but if it is your path then definitely take it. Just always remember, art is slow and wild and beautiful, it’s better to bend to that fact than to break.