Moving the Goalposts | A Recipe for Burnout

Your openness and honesty about the challenges of a creative career are incredibly insightful and helpful for any kind of working artist. Thank you!

It’s the classic case of having an ultimate goal, and breaking that goal into smaller goals. I was getting into doing more portraits and wanted to get better at human features. I hated that I couldn’t quite get facial features down. I never could get an eye/nose to look good. I had to slow down and breakdown the entire process of painting an eye. The different layers. Nothing is just surface deep. You can’t run without knowing how to walk. You can’t walk without knowing balance. You can’t balance without being able to stand up in first place. And so on.

I have started many projects over the years and never quite been happy with the results, they are okay but never what I call great. I have put my brush down for what to me is a long time without painting. About 10 days is common, in the meantime I watched videos like yours to get the mood back. As for burnout, last year I did my own Inktober and wow pushing myself through that improved my drawing but trying to find a different subject each day made it such hard work, a couple of times I nearly stopped but my wife drove me on and the block went and by the time the month was done and I could start painting again it was flowing even subjects I had previously done and struggled with. So my "cure" for burnout is do something different for a month and maybe use some of the drawings for inspiration. I'm still dreading Inktober again 😀.

such a smart, reflected, sharp point of view! to me you are also an exapmle of how a talented person who is working hard will make it further and last longer when they are reflecting even when it hurts. reaching goals always means getting to know yourself even better...if you do it right. :) which you do. how wonderful, thank you for this great video!

Thank you for the encouragement, very inspiring. You are doing so well and your paintings are beautiful!

Yes. Enjoy your time NOW as a commenter mentioned.. Reminds me of anxiety and way over thinking a situation. If it's that pesky voice in your head, interrupt it with, "I'm sorry, I can't talk to you right now. I'm busy painting." And say it outloud. Sounds strange, but it kinda works.😊

Burn out only happens when you are working for the result instead of the experience. It’s a matter of perspective.

Hi Christina. I feel as though my comment may sound way too simplistic. One way i find to get out of my head, and in the moment, while still keeping all.of the ambitions etc in mind, is to write. Write in my sketchbook what my goals are, make lists of what I'd like to make, what exhibition I'd like to enter, what new pieces I'd like to challenge myself with, using different materials, anything really, make it a simple list or a long story, as long as it helps to ease pressure on yourself and helps you enjoy your time. Now. I hope that didnt come across as a rant! Take care. Enjoy your time in Canada x Nell.

Hi Christina, I just wanted to tell you you might want to look at your thumbnail because you‘ve got the word recipe spelled very wrong.

A residency in Canada? how did that go? Before or after Milan AA MP. I wish I could had made it past that point decades ago. I got lost off track. Don't forget your dreams. One day at a time.

I hit the thumbs up, and it did not count. Still at zero.