No Importance Development

Horror-  are ya ready for this one?  SIT DOWN AND SET THE COFFEE ASIDE.

You're itching to jump up on stage today and sing or dance. Although you may feel those creative urges now, you aren't really interested in performing unless you have an admiring audience. However, you don't necessarily need hundreds of people watching; you just want someone you love to shower you with attention. Go ahead and give them a show that is worthy of the adoration you seek.

And I don't even have the headscarf to contend with.

Robert Genn today talked about our Inferior Shadow following us around.  Hits me between the eyes, how about you?  

I've spent a lifetime trying to figure out why some artists just go ahead and do things and thrive, while others don't get much done and languish. I noticed that thriving in our game often has more to do with attitude than talent. Further, I noticed that some would-be artists were dragging something around. I knew this because there were times when I dragged the thing around myself. These days, some high-priced shrinks are talking about "Your Inferior Shadow." This creepy critter is a dark presence--always with you--and he wants you to be fearful, incompetent, lousy, victimized, procrastinatory and self-loathing. Some of us have almost untamable Shadows while others have small ineffective ones. It's possible to train the former to be the latter. No matter what the size of your shadow, here are a few ways to keep him in check: A lot of what comes out of your mouth is him speaking. When you speak, you reinforce intentions. You need a small policeman standing alert at the side of your mouth. He puts up his hand and says, "Stop." Shadow-talk needs to go to the trash. You need to cultivate habits that overrule his power. Some of these habits can be mighty small, like washing your brushes, but when they become habitual you can move on to bigger ones. B.J. Fogg of Stanford University in California has pioneered a system of developing "tiny habits." According to Fogg and many of his satisfied customers, the system can change behaviors and even personalities. Your Inferior Shadow is a whizbang at throwing obstacles in your way. Funnily, some of the obstacles can be legit and daunting. But once your Shadow knows you will react to obstacles, any obstacle will do. One lady told me she couldn't paint because her laundry wasn't dry yet. I used to have a friend who felt he couldn't paint until his studio was finished--and then he took 10 years to finish his studio. Because your Shadow has his own powerful ego that can overshadow your own ego, he can actually block your ability to work confidently, study, take advice and learn. He can literally shut you out of your own best interests. Just knowing he's there and understanding his motivation is half the battle. You can't shoot him because he's just a Shadow.

The Leadville Twins, vintage photograph I'm working on-  Hey, that's a bit o' PROCESS.  I've named them Amy and Emmy.  Today I mess with the arch and drapery.  Yesterday I did faces, tomorrow I do dresses.  That's about it for process, folks...

My new (imaginary) steampunk glasses so I can see things as I want them to be instead of the way they are.  Maybe I can find a Buy-1, Get 1 Free deal on these.

Wow, a little free art lesson from DaVinci:

"Curiosita"--an attitude of curiosity and continuous learning. What, when, where, why, and how?"Dimostrazione"--an ability to learn and to test knowledge by experience. Experimental nature."Sensazione"--a development of awareness and refinement of sight and other senses. High sensitivity."Sfumato"--a tendency to embrace and accept uncertainty, ambiguity and paradox. Free thinking."Arte/Scienza"--a development of balance between science and art, logic and imagination. Whole-brain thinking."Corporalita"--a calculated desire to achieve poise, fitness and ambidexterity. Physical action."Connessione"--a recognition that all things are connected. Systems thinking.

"How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day," by Michael J. Gelb, and, "The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci," edited by Pamela Taylor

 (found on interest)

People who work with their hands are laborers. People who work with their hands and their heads are craftsmen. People who work with their hands, their heads, and their hearts are artists. ~ St. Francis of Assisi

Watch this poor dog keep his cool-  side-eyes, sighs, yawns-  everything imaginable to signal disinterest!


No more Shadow-Talk here!