consistency poppycock
We are so often told that one of the key ingredients of an artist is consistency. I have read it so many times. It is so often espoused in leadership writing as well. I have even found myself telling people how important consistency is. Picasso famously said that the hardest thing about being an artist was showing up for work each day. Honestly I find that so true as well. Being consistent on a daily basis is so so hard. We all have so many ups and downs in life, let alone in our artistic life.
In my artistic life my art comes in waves. Huge waves that are probably closer to tidal waves than the steady ones that come every few seconds at the beach. A wave of enthusiasm comes, when the subject, the light and my inner peace all align. I joke and say the stars have all aligned for me. Things do have to align for me to have one of these creative bursts of productive work. I really have to feel it all coming together. I know as I age, and get more experience under my belt, I am better placed to judge when that is happening or even likely to happen. It honestly doesn’t happen every day, nor does it happen every week for that matter either.
So, I do have to wonder why I must do something every day? I know I personally can’t photograph every day, or every week for that matter. I do tend to do something with my art regularly. Perhaps search through some of my old work. Process some. Write about and post some. I might read about other artists or more likely look through some of their work. I glance sideways and notice my bookshelves are running out of room. If I move my magazine collection I can free up two more shelves for books on photography.
So I am consistently being involved with my art. But in terms of creating new work consistently. I am definitely not.
So perhaps the next time someone tells you that you need to consistently be out creating photographs every single day, you might like to call them on ‘consistency poppycock’. Some, well actually many, don’t create art every single day consistently. Some, like me, are creative in waves. Waves of enthusiasm, and waves of quietude. Waves of dreaming. Waves of peace. Waves of inactivity. Time to think and contemplate.
I often talk about the space between in composition, a metaphor from music that I apply to art. They say music is not the notes but is the silence between the notes. Perhaps we can try applying this metaphor to art making. That the creative space we give ourselves in between these passionate moments of art making that are the most important element in our creative lives.
I am so pleased to tell you that there is just one spot left in our Abstract Project Workshop. It starts this Thursday. https://www.lensschool.com/workshops-tours/the-abstract-project It is so wonderful when something goes so well.
Touche Trees, Photographs and text copyright © Len Metcalf 2021
