Monday, July 13, 2009

Motivation Monday


Are you fierce about your art?

Like you, my inspiration comes from many sources. Something I read recently had an impact on me and I would like to share it with you.

On the last page of The Ark magazine, summer 2009 issue, (a publication of the Nature Conservancy of Canada) there is a feature article of someone who is an important volunteer. The text that grabbed me is this: "So fierce is Mabel's conviction that this is a special place that for the past several years she has worked to ensure that the Musquash Estuary would be protected for others to enjoy." Humm...fierce, such a powerful word. A fierce conviction...Wouldn't it be extraordinary to have someone define you as fierce?

A dictionary definition of fierce states this: savage and violent in nature, ferocious, extremely severe, very ardent or intense - now this last one sounds right. Very ardent, intense. I started to ponder what am I 'fierce' about?

Let me ask you again, are you fierce about your art? Can you honestly say that you are very ardent and intense about creating your art as well as honing your skills as an artist? Don't we all wish to be deeply devoted to our art not to mention passionate about it? Perhaps you aren't as fierce as you would like to be. Maybe you have let things get stale and routine. Maybe you have let other tasks get in the way of making your art. Don't settle for that. Now is the time to make a change. Bump your motivation level up to the heights of ardent intensity. Go on, choose to be fierce!

(If you are new to my blog, you can check out other Motivation Monday posts by clicking on the button in the sidebar. I recommend scrolling down to the very bottom and reading up as the posts tend to follow on from the previous one. May you be inspired!)

10 comments:

Jennifer Rose said...

I would like to honestly say that I am "fierce" about my art but there are probably aspects that I could improve on, time management and marketing would probably be high on the list. I have to draw or I go insane so I make sure that I am creating something everyday, even if its a scribble on paper. I wish I could balance the drawing part of my art with the learning part of art better and do try to combine the 2 as much as possible because it is usually the only way I can learn new things, but I could do better and have been really trying these last few weeks to get "fierce" with my art.

Sometimes I wish the days were longer so I could get more art done and the dishes don't sit there the whole day :p

Teresa Mallen said...

Hi Jennifer Rose. Oh I hear you, more hours in a day...wouldn't that be grand? But would I be able to stay awake? Humm...Congrats on having the desire to get 'fierce'. Often that is just what we need to go to the next level. Sounds like you are doing a great job so far - creating every day! Give yourself a big pat on the back for that. There are lots of folks that talk about art but never seem to get around to making much. So woo-hoo sister, welcome to the fierce club!! :-)

Laure Ferlita said...

I think you're on to something here, Teresa. I know I am very passionate about my art and about making art. I've had myself described that way twice in as many days, but it does seem to take a bit more to keep all of the interruptions and obligations from crowding art right out of our lives.

Being straight about our priorities, focusing with clarity on what we really want, passion to pursue it with determination and fierceness to get going, and keep going! A winning combination!!

Reflections From Life Art Blog said...

You have such wonderful and informative articles Teresa!!! I'm so glad you visited my blog so I could find yours!!! :D

I just had to twitter about you and posted your blog URL. Hope you don't mind.

Nancy

Teresa Mallen said...

Hi Laure, "fierceness to get going and to keep going" - I like the way you think!! :-)

Hi Nancy, thanks for stopping by! Please, twitter away.

Paula Pertile said...

Great post Teresa! Fierce = good, I agree. Especially about your art. Thanks for the reminder.

Laure Ferlita said...

Hi, Teresa, I have a blog award over at my place for you, please stop by!

artbykarieann said...

Fantastic post Teresa, very true that we let everything become mundane, routine and staid when we should be fierce about our passions!

Jan said...

Great post but you always do say something interesting and provocative.

Fierce about my art? Yes and no. I do wish I could tell my DH to go commando when he mentions that the laundry hasn't been done in a while but I'm not quite that fierce! It's nice to say that balance is the key but how do you balance all the little things that must be done with the things you want to do for your art? I know I get on streaks when all I want to do is paint then there are times when I have to just take a breather from it. So, I don't know if I'm really all that fierce or not. If I were really fierce, I'd push to paint every day, wouldn't I?

Teresa Mallen said...

Hi Paula! Fierce in this sense is definitely "good"!!

Hi Laure, thank you. Gosh, I should check my blog more often...I shall be right over.

Hi Karie-Ann! Fierce about our passions - yes indeed! Sing it sister! :-)

Hi Jan - gosh you are so productive I am sure you are fierce! :-) I don't think that there are any rules here. I don't believe taking a break means we aren't fierce. Sometimes the break is just what we need to restore and refresh ourselves. Even if you are busy taking care of life you can still be fierce about your art. When I am not in the studio I am often thinking about art stuff, reading about art stuff or working on my art business. These are all part of my passion for art. We can also be fierce about our relationships, gardening, volunteer work, keeping a nice home etc. That's all good too. Yet for some reason many artists just don't put in the hours in their studios that they would like. Perhaps a reminder to get more fierce will do the trick. :-)