NOT MOTIVATED
One of two new pieces. I will share the second one next week. Using the contours of the figure as inspiration but trying to pay way more attention to shape, edge, texture and mark making. 12”x 9”, acrylic, gesso, collage, charcoal and graphite on wood. © 2019 David Limrite
“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves.”
Marie Curie, Scientist
Not Motivated
Have you ever said to yourself (or to someone else for that matter), “I am not motivated to go into the studio and paint today”?
I have. And when I think about it, I find it to actually be a silly thing to say. Because, I know that when I say this, I am expecting someone or something to motivate me.
With that, I have to call B.S. on myself.
It is no one’s responsibility to motivate me. Motivation comes from within.
If I have a subject matter, an idea that I am passionate about, and I remind myself of my passion for process and making stuff, then I should not need motivation. Especially from someone else.
So, if like me, you do not feel motivated sometimes, then the first thing I would suggest would be to revisit your subject matter, idea, chosen medium, your techniques and your style. Chances are that one of these things is not floating your boat. Which is keeping you out of your studio.
Enough about you, now back to me. {Smile}.
I know myself pretty well, and when I say I am not motivated, what I am really saying is that I am not ready.
I am not ready to:
- Show up and begin
- Work hard
- Face my fears and self-doubts
- Take risks
- Fail
- Be uncomfortable
- Dive deeper into my subject matter
- Be frustrated and disappointed
- Find out what I am really made of
- Succeed
Even just one of these things has the power to keep me from painting.
And, motivation has nothing to do with it. It’s not even on the list.
Having passion, purpose, intense love of process, being willing to create, and do whatever it takes in an attempt to bring your visions into reality, has everything to do with it.
Don’t wait to be motivated. Go work.
Best,
David
[WORKSHOPS: CENTRAL CALIFORNIA]
PERMISSION TO EXAGGERATE
(Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County)
For the workshops below, you may enroll in one or both days in each month.
DAY 1: Saturday, April 13
During Day 1, you will focus on creating more dynamic figure drawings by exaggerating the movement of the entire pose while capturing the movement in your drawings.
(20-minute poses from a live model)
Tuition $155, Maximum 10 Artists | 4 Spaces Remaining
Click to Enroll
DAY 2: Sunday, April 14
Day 2 focuses on exaggerating the contours (or what I call “topography”) of the figure in a pose. You will learn how to take advantage of the curves, straights, sharp angles and round corners that present themselves.
(One-hour poses from a live model)
Tuition $155, Maximum 10 Artists | 5 Spaces Remaining
Click to Enroll
PUSHING VALUE & PLAYING WITH COLOR
(Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County)
For the workshops below, you may enroll in one or both days in each month.
DAY 1: Saturday, June 29
During Day 1, you will explore achieving a range of values in your drawings and/or paintings. The focus will be on getting to black and preserving white. You will practice holding onto the large dark and light shapes and orchestrating the subtle values in each shape.
(One-hour poses from a live model)
Tuition $155, Maximum 10 Artists
Click to Enroll
DAY 2: Sunday, June 30
Day 2 will be all about playing with color. You will explore taking advantage of color, value, temperature and saturation while having fun with warm & cool, complementary, bright & dull, and arbitrary color.
(One-hour poses from a live model)
Tuition $155, Maximum 10 Artists
Click to Enroll