When to surrender a creative project

Last summer, while teaching my Capture the Wow class, I had the idea to do a series of cups… 365 of them. I figured, I draw a lot of cups, why not go ALL IN. Unfortunately for me, when I get an idea I often jump into action right away.

I went for it. Cups from travels. Cups from a madcap Fika Passport dash. Cups from home.

Doing a project for an entire year is mucho difficult. I went way beyond my desired quitting point at 100. My Facebook friends encouraged me and gave me ideas, which I tried. I was able to keep going by doing series within series. I did the cups Tarot series, a turmeric latte series, and started a whole pattern series. Playing with pattern had always In the end, I made 185 pieces.

It’s hard to quit something. I am all for commitment to the finish line.  But when I got to 170 or so and felt I was becoming disingenuous, I had to take another look at my commitment. Being miserable about my projects isn’t an option.

Then the 100 Day Project came around. I loved it in 2015 and I wanted to do it again. I find myself most engaged and excited about making art when I am working at my creative edge. That’s the place in my art or writing that I am learning and growing the most. The edge is often a technical challenge, something I am trying to learn and hopefully master.

I saw a Frida Kahlo exhibit in Mexico last week so of course I had to paint her!

So for the next series, the 100 Day Project, I am depicting people. I’ve felt insecure about this for a long time and it’s time to get over it. Here’s my chance to paint realistic or imaginative people who inspire me, including self-portraits. I’m having a blast and gaining confidence. Check out my series on my Instagram account.

It might appear flaky to shift gears like this and abandon one series for another. But I cannot worry about how it appears to others. I only need to follow my original impulse and make what’s meaningful to me. 

I might resume the cup series, but for now I am focusing on painting people.

What might you want to shift – what is wanting to shift you? If it mattered only to you, what would you do?  Share your thoughts below.

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