Don't Stop Starting (Patreon)

I really made some progress on this one. Should be completely finished in one more session.

I noticed last night that Most of the time when I sit down to paint I’m not excited about it. Starting is the hardest part.

I look for reasons not to do it. I have a lot of reasons not to do it. I think of all the other stuff I should do instead.

There are more reasons not to paint than there are reasons to paint. Art is just one of those things in life. At first it's exciting and fun when it's new. Then after a long time it takes work and effort to maintain. And if it's not that important to you, you stop starting. 

I have to force myself to start most of the time. Usually that's the hardest part. But most of the time it's worth it in the end. The enjoyment comes back during the session. All of a sudden 3 hours have gone by and I'm excited by the progress.

The few times where I force myself to start and I still really don’t feel like it after an hour or so, I try to stop. Because at that point frustrations can take hold.

But if I could predict the future and I knew that I was about to have one of those sessions, I'd still choose to force myself to start.

Because even those bad sessions create links in the chain of time that you've put in to painting.

Forcing myself to make art especially when I don't want to is maybe the most important part of the process.  

Happy December 18th Everybody

I finished writing two videos today. Now I just need to wait for a quiet time of day to record the voice over, then edit the videos. Then upload them.

Lately during my painting sessions I've been listening to the Led Zeppelin biography. It's pretty wild. But the only thing I've written down is this one:

They just played together for the first time. They immediately knew they had a special chemistry.

Peter Grant, their manager, had a deal with this producer. The guy would produce the records of all the bands Grant managed. But Jimmy Page didn't like the producer. He didn't want to work with him. So to get around his deal with this producer, Grant told him that he had terminal cancer. He asked for the new Jimmy Page project, Led Zeppelin, for himself as a way to leave something for his family. The producer guy bought it and agreed. Later he was embarrassed that Grant played him like that.

I'm currently where they are finishing the film The Song Remains The Same. They're all burnt out from touring all the time. It's one of those books where I feel like the other shoe is about to drop the whole time.

It's raining here. 

Have fun

Goodnight Sweeties