Fall took awhile to get here, but before I knew it, Halloween was here! And on this Halloween I find it weird that the World Series is on too. I guess the Sports Industry could care less about holiday traditions. I mean seriously, it couldn't be scheduled on Wednesday instead? Was it that vital? Cause once it's over, it's over. It's not like there's some vital deadline like a work schedule. It's a game. It could have waited one more night. But anyways...enough with the nightly rant...
As of late I've been getting back into the sculpting and working on a line of unique kittehs. I haven't revealed too much just yet, I'm keeping most of it hush hush until I have a good handful of kittehs to show. I've also been getting some sites ready to go online and preparing for their 'revelation' as well. I'm trying to keep it simple right now, with just one or two sizes, as well as the decorating as well. I'm still figuring this out as I go. All I know is, I want to create an elegant line of unique kittehs that are nicely decorated in various ways. What ways? That remains to be seen. ;)
I've also been doing some research on starting a line of 'dolls' or figurines to get some advice. One good piece of advice that applies well to me (as well as many artists I dare say) is the importance of staying focused! As an artist, I have ideas running through my mind all the time. I come up with a concept and during the day the ideas start to come and I'm thankful that they do! The problem is, if you're not focused, those ideas, if not properly managed, can start 'running the show' and start to pull you this way and that way and every which way. If you understand what I mean, then you know that when those exciting ideas pile up in your head, those ideas you want to implement NOW, are taking you off course and disturbing your focus. And what happens is, with so many options in front of you, you soon find yourself doing...nothing. You find yourself at a standstill. It's not unlike going to the store and buying a new product, seeing a gazillion options, and not knowing what to do and feeling defeated. You have to stay focused and keep it simple! Start with step 1, STAY on step 1, and finish step 1. In fact, don't just 'finish' step 1...master step 1. Then step 2 and so on. Get good at what you do, take it slow, think it through and understand what you're doing. I think too many people are too anxious to make it big without putting in the work to get them there. Research stories of famous people and where they started; many people in high places got there by starting small and building an empire day by day. Some of them just started at home or with a small cart or with hardly any money. They got there from hard work and determination...and focus. And let me say, they got there without distraction! Yes, something probably comes to mind. TV? Your mobile phone? Bad habits? You can't achieve a dream, by sitting there doing nothing. And the worst position to be in is having a dream, doing nothing, while seeing all the stories of people achieving their dreams. Don't do that! Become one of those stories! Be that story people read about! Inspire others!
Okay I didn't mean to get into a 'here's my advice' post. If it encouraged anyone, that's awesome. But just writing that encourages me as well. I think I needed to hear that too, cause God knows I can tend to get caught up with tv shows, with my phone and just plain procrastination. What I've been telling myself lately is, if you don't work hard now with your product, no one is going to know what you have to sell, cause you'll have nothing to sell. I see many artists with sculptures, paintings and other products who are self-motivated and create things DAILY! I want that. I want to be like that. I need to be like that if I'm going to go anywhere with this line or any line of products.
So that's what I've been doing, creating daily, even if it's only an hour because I'm just tired from my day job. Sometimes I'm just really tired from the day and I'll allow myself to rest. But I get back on it asap! I have to or I'll end up taking 2 days, 3 days and I'll look back and for a week, I've done nothing. That's the worse. If you have a great idea, a great vision, motivate yourself with that original idea. Remember how great it is, don't forget about it when you get stuck or in a rut. Work out the rut! Work through the rut and keep moving forward. Figure it out. There are no excuses nowadays. There is so much information out there today online. There were a few times I was ready to give up cause I wasn't finding any info out there. But I kept looking and pushing...and I found something! I found some great info on my subject. So don't give up so easily. Ask people. Go on places like Quora.com or ask your coworkers or even people at the store in the same aisle as you. It's worth a shot, right? The worse they can say is 'I don't know'. But keep looking, keep asking and keep stepping.
It's tough when you already have a day job and that's why it's important to stay focused and motivated. Find the time that works best for you. Sometimes I wonder if I should just get right to it after work before I start getting too tired. I might try that. Being tired is definitely a de-motivator. Don't start things too late. Do it early. Do it on lunch if you can, or at least do some simple research on the subject. Do what you can. Then implement it later. It's a great feeling when I find something new and want to go home to try it out. But again, stay focused. Don't get on the 'I want to try everything new' train cause before you know it, you'll have come to the end and lose your way and wonder where your focus went. Too many ideas, can cause too many delays. I know, believe me. I've been there too many times. And it defeats your original purpose. There's nothing wrong with experimenting, nothing wrong! In fact, if you can experiment, that's awesome, cause experimenting with new ideas can lead to new and unique things! But do it with caution. Don't let it distract you from the original vision and take you off course. Write down those ideas and save them. Don't be too anxious to implement them if it takes you away from your 'product'.
Which brings me to another great piece of advice: whatever product you have to offer, stay focused on that product and be known for that product! When people think of you, let them think of that product. If you keep jumping from idea to idea without ever establishing a solid product, what are people gonna think? I'll tell you...confused. They won't know what to think, cause you've gone on too many tangents along the way. When people ask them what you do, they'll probably have a hard time nailing it down for you. You don't want that. You want a clear, focused product to offer, at least at first. We follow other people because we love what they do and keep us coming back for more, right? Cause they have a consistent line of posts that you love seeing everyday. That's what you want to establish. Keep it consistent, keep it focused.
So that's what I'm trying to implement myself nowadays. There are many things I love delving into; painting, photography, sculpting and even writing music. And I've come across some great ideas with each one that I'm sure would succeed, if I focused solely on that idea. So this time around, I thought of a great idea from my drawings that I want to make into elegant sculptures, and I have a lot of ideas for this line. But I need to stick with it, or it will become another great idea lost in the mix because I lost my focus, my motivation and grabbed the next 'cool' idea that came my way. That needs to stop!
Although having said that, I keep some of those other ideas in mind. I haven't forgot about them cause I think they're great. I'm just staying focused on this project now and not letting go. Cause I see the potential of it, I see the influence of it and want to stay where I am. I think it's worth it.
And speaking of that, time to get some work in! Have a good night all. :)
