What 100 Paintings Will Teach You
an old photo, from when i first started taking pictures and was very new to painting
I’m on #60 of 100 new designs as I play The Portfolio Project with my friend Jen Lee. At first, it took me a whole day to do one sketch. Then I realized I could modify on the spot. Then I got faster from so much practice. Now it feels like riding a bicycle fast down a hill. I can hardly keep my feet on the pedals.
Here are a few reflections on creating art with a goal in mind, but I think the same applies to whatever you promise yourself you will do to honor your most true self:
1. Creating art will make you incredibly happy, no matter what your reason is for doing it.
2. With (what appears at first to be) a ridiculous goal in mind, you can do way more than you ever imagined.
3. Your monkey mind will go into overdrive thinking up other Really Great Things you could/should be doing instead of painting, but it’s in your best interest to set all that aside and continue your work for now.
4. 100 paintings isn’t that many after all. The trick is to show up and get started.
5. When you commit yourself to do something, you find the most efficient, creative way to do it.
6. That innovation gives way to more innovation. And then more. And then even more.
7. Trying to figure out how these paintings will make you money will pretty much make you want to stop the whole process immediately. It’s not nearly as fun to think about selling paintings as it is to actually make them. And it’s best for right now to just make them.
8. That said, by doing your work, you can quickly see that real world success is within your reach. You can be energized by this or you can be terrified. Your call.
9. It gets really noisy in your head when you actually do your work, but the noise quiets down if you keep working anyway.
10. This work will not take you away from other dreams. In fact, your progress here feeds your progress in other arenas and everything starts to integrate into One Big Thing. I know that sounds crazy, but trust me, it’s true.
11. It’s really, really hard to do anything else when you are working on a project like this. (Exhibit A: my kitchen. Exhibit B: my floundering Etsy store. Exhibit C: missing posts about major progress on many fronts in Rwanda. Exhibit D: my inbox. Apologies to everyone and then some.)
12. Art really does heal you.
13. Beware of words you put on paintings. Two and a half years ago I made a postcard that I thought would be lovely for random unknown sad people. It only took two years for me to realize the person the postcard was meant for was me.
14. If you forget about time, you will still get somewhere really wonderful right on schedule.
15. There’s some strange connection between creativity, spirituality and sexuality. I can’t even begin to understand it let alone explain it, but I always feel it buzzing below the surface of things when I’m creating something.
16. Your paintings know things about you that you don’t know yet about yourself. (See #13)
17. What shows up on the page is the very thing you most need to know for your own wellness of soul. Let your all-knowing mind be your teacher.
18. Not everything you do will be brilliant. Some of it will suck, and that’s okay.
19. It’s nice to have someone to rub your hands at the end of the day after all that work. You can ask random people to do this task, and most of the time they will say yes without minding it one bit. This many paintings will wear you out after awhile, but that’s to be expected. You can rest when you need to.
20. You don’t have to have perfect circumstances or a wildly supportive cheering section to meet your goals. In fact, it might be best to just do it because you want to.
21. Everything you do matters. Every story you tell yourself about your creative life and what’s possible for you holds incredible power over you, so choose your story wisely.
22. It’s okay to have serious doubts about your talents and abilities. Do your work anyway.
23. Nothing is a mistake.
24. It’s okay to take your time.
25. What you think is a breakdown is really a breakthrough. (Thank you Jen Lee for this.) So push through the hard parts. The other side of each little meltdown is truly glorious. Unless, of course, what you really need is simply a little sleep.
And with that, my darlings, I say goodnight. A sneak peak from the studio coming tomorrow. If. I get those Etsy packages out. Swear.
January 15th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I used to love drawing and painting as a kid. As an adult, I find that I am far too critical of my attempts at art that I become frustrated and quit. It is unfortunate because I used to find it to be an extremely calming activity.
January 16th, 2009 at 3:32 am
I can’t wait to see your art soon - I know it will be fabulous!
Remember your post on impossible things to believe before breakfast?
I commented about my baby dreams and you wrote me such a beautiful email in response.
Well….and I’m smiling as I write this…I am 7 weeks pregnant with twins. My 2nd IVF was successful and I am feeling so blessed
January 16th, 2009 at 6:46 am
FANTASTIC ! and you are so right ! all the people I know who have set up projects have become amazingly more productive. I need to choose one myself and set off.
January 16th, 2009 at 7:55 am
[…] Jen’s post this morning reminds me of the ways we fantasize about people who we think are Really Doing It, and […]
January 16th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Rock on, Jen. Keep painting and healing and writing and growing. I cannot wait to see some of what you have produced.
Thanks for sharing this journey with us. For being reborn in our presence. For weeping and growing and stretching and rebuilding a distant village and bringing us together as a family here at home. What a blessing and inspiration you are to me. And to so many others as well.
Peace to you, deep peace.
January 16th, 2009 at 11:43 am
thanks jen.
i love the inspiration of this cold winter, dark nights, stark beauty and sunsets beyond belief.
i have spent many hours at my pottery studio with my hands deep in clay and my mind lost in the creation of utilitarian beauty.
like you, so often, in retrospect, i see reflections of my heart in artwork.
January 16th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Fabulous wisdom! *So* glad you’ve been busy creating! Right now, I say there’s no better way to spend your time and energy. What an inspiration!
January 16th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
If you put whatever you are looking for in your art, the world will give it back you, and more. Keep painting!
January 16th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
25. Truer words never spoken, Jen.
January 16th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
your words really touched me on this post…spoke to me, gently nudged me - beautiful inspiration. thank you jen
January 16th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Wow! I can’t believe how far along you are already! I feel good if I paint a whole painting a day. Not that it’s a competition.
Your words help me, because I’m right there with ya.
Thanks.
Keep on motoring.
January 16th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
What an incredible list! As I read through the items I realized these all apply to my writing. So, if you don’t mind I’m going to print your list as a reminder and for encouragement when it’s needed:-)
January 17th, 2009 at 8:17 am
You are right about everything except the postcard (which hangs on my fridge still) - it may have been for you, but it is for me too Thank you lovely friend x x
January 17th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I love the “beware of words” item. In the animated cards I create, this happens all the time. You might enjoy this article, which I came across after reading your blog this afternoon:
http://whiskeyriver.blogspot.com/2009/01/dear-artist-recent-activities-have.html
create with ease, Susan
January 17th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I’m so happy today that you exist. I mean I’m always happy that you exist, but today, I feel that way even moreso. Thank you for putting your thoughts here for us to soak up and enjoy. You’re blog is one of my *feel good* places. Thank you.
~Monica
January 17th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I love your writing. That’s all I have to say. Is it getting even better, or am I just listening better? In any case, it’s sweet.
January 18th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
[…] really liked what Jen Lemen had to say about her painting project. Her blog post titled What 100 Paintings Will Teach You was so inspiring….and I was nodding yes, yes, yes as I read through her list. I haven’t […]
January 18th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Thank you so much for this list…it is so inspiring and I’m finding it to be true in my own little project.
January 18th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
whoa … i dont have words to tell you what I felt when reading this post … i can only say thank you for sharing.. for your list of why to do it .. I needed this! And I have never heard of Ani Difranco until today, wonderful soulful!
January 18th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Your blog/writing/art always brings a smile to my face. These words of wisdom are priceless, full of light…just like you.
January 19th, 2009 at 11:25 am
This one makes me cry ~ happy.
January 20th, 2009 at 6:22 am
Ah, love the 100 project!! I am “getting back on the creative horse” myself, after chemo paused the creative flow. It feels awkward, yet it IS time. I am not the person I was before. And my old format doesn’t seem relevant. I changed the wiring inside, the output is going to be different. But where to go from here has me stuck.
I think adopting your project, letting it encompass a variety of formats (writing, collage, sketching, music) seems like the perfect way to (re)introduce myself to my (new)creative self. Thanks, once AGAIN for the inspiration!!
Jenna
January 20th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Jen, this post is such a gift. *You* are such a gift. Thank you.
January 21st, 2009 at 3:04 am
[…] also What 100 Paintings Will Teach You→ (via Dave Pollard) ▶ Comment /* 0) { jQuery(’#comments’).show(”, […]
January 24th, 2009 at 5:42 am
Sweetheart - I’ve missed coming here, although I’ve been away for all the best reasons (summer holidays and gardens and loads of activism and lobbying about Gaza and, best of all, LOTS of writing).
My favorite reminder - what feels like a breakdown is actually a breakthrough!
January 27th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Re #13 - I was one of the random, unknown, sad souls & a friend gave me that postcard & I cried. It helped to have my sadness understood & in some way shared. I’m glad you realised that it was for you too.
My creativity is beginning to wake up & this post addresses just about everything that’s ever gone thu my head on the subject of creating - thanks for blazing the trail ahead!
February 10th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I love this! Thanks for writing this out…it’s what I’ve been trying to say and it’s what I need to hear. Good luck with your Portfolio Project. I’m gonna start that too.
February 19th, 2009 at 11:02 am
[…] Painting by Jen Lemen. Read more about What 100 Paintings Will Teach You. […]