An artist life fluctuates in a lot of different directions. My philosophy: Make Art every day that matters to YOU. Yes we are all balancing extra jobs and commissions but even if it’s an hour, go do it!! Over the years I have taught art, sold shoes, cleaned houses and actually done art commissions with my young son along. Sometimes I would go from one job to another- that’s just the way it was. During that time my first priority was to be a mother to my son and I enjoyed all the moments and learned a heck of a lot from the pain of raising another human being. The joy of being able to love someone with all your heart blows me away. Being a mother is also constantly being a student of life. There was no time to get into the mind game of whether or not my art was any good because I was busy learning how to love. The struggles of raising someone taught me a lot. That it’s not about me. And that it doesn’t matter what others think of me or my art. Each one of us is a part of all of us. We are intertwining branches for better or When I “do ” to get something, when I “do ” to matter to someone, when I want something to work really bad, it just does not work. You really can’t force it so “do it by not doing it”. Do the art and don’t do the game of “want”.
Let go of that greener grass because their greener grass is never going to be your lawn. If you were craving with someone else’s lawn looks like you will dry out your on the lawn in the process I love nothing but weeds. Plant and water your own seeds and don’t look or steal your neighbor’s seeds. By ” not doing the action of beating yourself up, or wishing for other people’s successes to be yours, you become valuable to everyone. By not doing the self-inflicted mind game, by letting go of what other people think, you are free to create. You can’t be manipulated by anyone because the illusion of what you think you want will be gone. It has nothing to do with attending art shows if that’s what you’re thinking. The art shows when you can , (I discovered late), are part of being in our community. In the the last four years of being more social, I’ve made incredible friendships, I’ve had positive growth-filled struggles, and I’ve learned to be a little stronger than I have in the last 25 years of exhibiting my art in exhibitions. I am grateful to even be a part of this wonderful wacky and creative group. When I say ” do by not doing” let me explain. Make your marks quietly. Don’t take part in drama and work at your craft consistently. The drama of “doing what you think you should do to get ahead is drama that you cannot afford to have. Be kind to everyone at art shows and embrace their successes but please be kind to yourself and don’t get involved in your own mind game. The opinions of that gallery owner or that curator or that other artists are just an opinion, not fact. Doesn’t really matter what anybody thinks about your art or about you. Do your art! Quietly with loud music or a book on tape. Don’t let social media or Facebook consume you. Remember, “Do by not doing anything but your art”. Don’t do Facebook or social media when you are creating, unless it is to show video in your art process or is actually a part of your art medium. Then, get off line and get back to work! Of course there will always be a hierarchy and that sense of fruitlessness in a land of plenty. Do you work some of the fruit will be sweet and you won’t starve because you have chosen to plant your own tree and allow everyone to be a part of it. Let go of any expectations and just do your work and be grateful for any opportunities that enhance your journey. No one person is above or below anyone else. Keep the energy flowing to everyone. There is a brass ring here and there for each of us. Do your work and the brass ring will stay in your hand a while and then you can pass it onto the next artist. Be determined, persistent, disciplined in your craft and don’t compare yourself to anyone else and don’t give a darn about what anyone thinks. Something will happen. And I guarantee you that if you do nothing but drama and stay online you should be doing your work, nothing will happen. “Do by not doing”.
Jodi Bonassi: Art Creatures and Other Madness 