Mind Playing Tricks

Posted June 17, 2009 by Cindy

Hi all, Inspiration time again. Just a note about your mind playing tricks on you. I think it is about time now for you all to surely say to yourselves ‘What nonsense Lol!’ When your mind says negative things about your drawing ability.

The fact is that there is absolutely no doubt that you can draw anything you like. You just need good reference material and a tiny bit of guidance to help you keep growing. The subtle changes you are all being advised to make to your work help you to develop even more, but you can already draw.

Chances are that your mind will have you in that awful state of disbelief every time you try something new for many years. It is a perfectly natural state to be in and your mind is just protecting you from change. The thing is, we learn to accept that the voice will be there filling us with doubt or fear whenever we draw a new subject or new texture and we draw anyway. We draw while the voices tell us we cant…that we should give up…why bother….etc. It will get easier but in general you need to realise that the voices will sometimes be there and you have to just get and on and draw anyway, just like you have done here.

You see, the mind will always be threatenned by anything new – and that includes new drawings which contain subject matter or textures that you haven’t previously drawn.

Understanding the role the mind plays in art is crucial to your success with drawing. Two significant things hold us back from accomplishing great things as an artist; 1. Lack of self-belief and 2. Fear of Success. If you can overcome those two things you are well on your way.

I acknowledge only too well that there of course, times where we have no choice whatsoever to draw or not to draw (time wise) as other commitments arise and responsibilities require our energies elsewhere. Our bodies are only physically capable of moving and working for a certain number of hours a day so therefore sometimes we can’t physically show up at the table. The important thing is that you eventually get back there when you are able to create a pocket of time for yourself. All I say when I harp on about ‘showing up the table’ is to be aware of whether or not it is your physical limitations preventing you from getting there. I encourage you to keep an eye on procrastination. Procrastination feeds on fear and will give you plenty of other things to do rather than show up at the table:)

Art is not an add on in my life, it is a part of my life, an intrinsic aspect of my very being. Not to create is to deprive my soul of the very essence that it needs to live. After a while you may feel the same. We need to create to feel balanced, healthy and whole. Many times I work a full day on my computer as well as clean the home, feed, bathe and nurture my family before returning to draw and paint (to nurture myself) in the three hours left before sleep time. This is my pyjama time:)

Cindy

Daring to Dream Big

Posted June 10, 2009 by Stuart

This was originally posted on Drawspace by Cindy, but I thought it was worth reposting here
Cheers, Stuart

“Hi everyone, I just want to say a couple of little words about daring to dream big.

I know many of you are possibly still thinking about just understanding how to draw let alone what to draw, but an important aspect of wanting to improve your drawing skills is also setting yourselves a really big goal. I say now is the time to start daring to dream big dreams for your drawing abilities. Imagine what could happen once you are drawing at a really high standard and are pleased with your work (besides the absolute pleasure of creating the artwork)? There are so many opportunities that you can embrace which can spin off to help your whole family in the process.

There are wonderful art competitions you can enter online and in the real world which can be exciting and fun! You may have to enter many times or you may never win an award, but just to be accepted into the competition is a thrill in itself! Some competitions can be really lucrative too if you do happen to win. A good thing to understand about art competitions is it is not based on luck. A good artist will at some stage win an award somewhere if they persist. I have won an award in almost every competition I entered. Even though that was only a few as I have been otherwise distracted for the past seven years and haven’t entered any. I am getting ready to enter one of the most lucrative art prizes in Australia and will do so probably next year.

Just being accepted into some art prizes is very good for our art careers and it is a good hobby to enter them. In Australia we have some Art prizes where you can win $50,000 AUS or even more, but there are loads of competitions out there on the internet too. You can also be awarded government scholarships etc. The largest prize money I was awarded was First prize $AUS2000 which was pretty good about seven years ago when I won it. I have won many things such as art materials, vouchers etc. It really is all in good fun. You can give back to your family for the time you put into your art by also selling your work and contributing to the family income or making your art a good second income if you choose.

For many years I worked as a Freelance Illustrator for a large International Rubber Stamp Art Company where I drew the images when my children were in bed asleep at night. I use to complete about three or four at a time then the lady would come to see them with a cheque in her hand. I have also been teaching for many years as a stable income and my personal passion for sharing my love of art and respect for maintaining tradition in art teaching. I remember once buying myself a car with the sale of a large painting and I will never forget the pride I felt driving off in my wonderful new second-hand car.

I have had some tough times financially in the early years as I struggled to support myself with my art, just so that I could find/make the time to paint and draw. But all along I concentrated on always drawing to my highest possible standard. I didn’t wait for someone to tell me I could sell my art, people began to ask if they could buy it and I didn’t say no. I had fun creating it and was happy to part with it. I learned that if I wanted to have more time to create art I had to ‘pay’ my way. I had to make an income from my art so that I could do more.

Drawing for the love of just drawing is of course first and foremost the priority. We cannot possibly put a value on the happiness and fulfilment we gain through art. In the process of taking responsibility for our own happiness, this spins off to benefit not only our family but all others around you. You are helping to make a better world just because you gave yourself permission to draw:) Food for thought.

If you feel like responding please do.

Warmth to you all, Cindy”

Thoughts about Hastings Street, Noosa

Posted July 10, 2007 by Cindy

No matter how busy my life is, I still make time to paint most days. Having the choice to do so is my interpretation of freedom. I am now represented by The Cooper Gallery (formerly known as The Beachside Gallery) smack bang in the very middle of Hastings street – set right in the middle of a street full of little boutique shops, surrounded by the gorgeous vibrant colours of nature; luscious green tropical plants line the streets, soft white sand and the cool blue ocean sits directly in front. There is an abundance of wildlife fossicking and frollicking around. There are even sleepy Koalas in the national park at the end of the strip of shops. This all combines in intersting synergy along with many little boutiques sporting the latest up-to-date fashion labels all at matching glamorous prices. The best dining experience can also be had, with artistic-chefs who take great pride in the presentation and content of the foods they serve. Only the freshest ingredients are used and cooked to perfection. The whole feeling of the big city consumerism with all the glamerous shops and oppulence nestles inside a wonderful Nature Womb of greenery.

There is something for everyone in Hastings Street…..and that gives the whole experience a kind of surrealistic feel, as though you are stepping into another world. This is the mysterious world of the vacation, holiday or otherwise known as ‘the great escape’. The oppulence, the frivolity with our purse strings as we swing our bags on our fingertips and dance amidst the aloofness of ‘no worries in the world’ removes any thoughts of guilt about the excessive purchases we are making.

All of this activity provides a massive platform of intrigue to me as an artist. I have been fascinated with the mainstay industry (tourism) in Noosa ever since I arrived here four and a half years ago. I have been painting about Noosa and the Hastings street lifestyle for about the entire time, because I have many questions to ask about this behaviour many of us choose to perform (including me at times.) Do we have the right to flaunt our money or should we be donating huge sums to charity and living like paupers to help others? Are we right in buying not one but ten hats, shoes and bags – one for every occasion. Take a look at the painting I created titled “Shop Till You Drop”

It’s in The Cooper Gallery in Hastings street, or go to www.thecoopergallery.com.au. this picture sums up my curiosity. I am not commenting, I am just asking questions like why do we shop till we drop on holidays and anyway where do all these things fit in our suitcases to travel home? I love the feel of Hastings street and often become engrosed in that breath-taking experience that ‘high’ at the thought of dining in the fabulous restaurants along the beach (and often do so). But that feeling is sometimes counter-balanced by emotions filled with pain as I am reminded of the greed and pride that is also there as well.

In summary, I think it is great to enjoy the best in life, and yes we are entitled to nice things – we do have the right to feel smooth soft textures on our skin in the clothes we wear. We do deserve to enjoy soft succulent oysters slithering down our throats and swirling portions of soft juicy crabmeat in our mouths, but once again, it’s all about balance. There is a place for indulgence, just not all the time. There is time to give back too. A time to contribute (in the form of work or time) as well as tithing. To give a portion of our income is so important – even if we all gave just ten percent of everything we earn, to a good cause, we could make a difference. Thankyou Hastings street, for being an intriguing place to investigate human behaviour and well done on accomplishing such a fascinating integration of nature and man-made lifestyle. It’s fun to walk the Hastings street strip, have an icecream and admire all the beautiful objects of human design as well as the natural beauty.

Share your thoughts

Posted February 8, 2007 by Cindy

If you have just logged on for the first time, welcome to your pyjama time community. Today I am pondering what is truly important to me at the moment in my life. Besides the usual things like caring about family and friends, my main focus at the moment is a deep inner urge to help others. It’s as though nothing else matters in life unless we can help one another.