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If I don't succeed at this career I might have to go back to a high tech sales job, which is what I did in years past. I work hard at painting so I don't ever have to do anything else for a living!
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How dearly I relate to this. Part of my driven persona is the abject refusal to go back into hospital administration to earn a living.
My thought for the week (I give one every week to my students):
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Don't use the wrong yardstick to measure your progress.
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This stuff isn't a race, and it's not about how much the dissertation weighs. I lost 17 years building an executive career. So what? The time is gone, and although I think I might now be a much better painter, I'm not sure that is so. The years may be lost, but I think the basis is gained. In retrospect, I don't think I would be able to view my portrait struggle in the same light, had I not had those intervening experiences.
When I started painting portraits, I learned to use pastel. When I decided to learn how to paint in oil, I decided to make myself paint 100 portraits in oil befoe I offered them to clients. I probably only got to about 60.
Having had the privilege of meeting and painting with Michele, I do know that I very clearly relate to the nature of engagement with the (her) work.
There is much that is necessary, as it would be in writing, singing, music, etc, in putting in the countless hours of hard work - but I do agree that the work has to be properly focused. At least for me this means periodic, and carefully chosen workshop study, with my brain in the "open" position.