Driven
What is it that drives you? What does it take to get you so into something that all of your focus is on that goal, and that nothing else matters except it’s success? Does this ever happen to you, or are you more an easy come, easy go type personality, the “que sera” attitude?
When I get going on something such as my painting, I really go at it hard, and I would say I am a “driven” person, though I still take
Fanning the Flames
time to “smell the roses” so to speak. I work hard at what I am doing, but I take time out to have fun at what I’m doing, or if I’m doing something that “no way in hell can this be fun”, I get it done first and quickly, then have some fun. I always tackle the hardest tasks first, so that once I’m past the first step, it’s all down hill from there. I’ve always done things this way, and I find it easier. On my dinner plate, the 1st thing gone is usually what I like the least, and my favorite I savor for as long as possible.
One of my goals in art is to “be the best at what I do”, which is plein air painting. I am working very hard at this, and have been since I was first introduced to it in June of 2010. In the rest of that year I painted 15 plein air paintings in preparation for my 1st solo show. The following year I painted over 50 plein air paintings, then 2012 almost 70. And these are not the average 8×10 or 11×14″ paintings, my average size has been 18×24 over these years, with my largest plein air being a 36″ piece.
Okay, enough with the numbers already, the point is that I know that to get to be the best, it’s going to take a LOT of practice. I have a long way to go and a short time to get there. I am not young so I have to stay hard at it. I know I have what it takes, though lacking in some fundamental skills, these can be mastered with time. In 2013 I have no idea how many paintings I have painted, but I know that I am improving. It is fun to see the progress, though I really have not set down time to note it. It should be done, and needs to be. I had
Stay hydrated
a solo show at the beginning of 2012 that had the best of my work to date in a chronological order. It was fun to see, you should do it too. See where you are going.
So yes I am driven to be the best that I can be. But my fanatical drive is mixed with all that a good fun life should be, for I also captain a couple tennis teams, and play on another. I cook, and try to spend good time with my loving wife. We have about 7 children around the country and enjoy our family dinners on Sunday evenings. Drop by, we would enjoy having you.