If you're a working artist, be glad . . .

You turn your head, run some sunscreen in your face, throw back a Cosmo or two, and the next thing you know, an entire month has passed. Such is the joy, and the sorrow, of summer.


Truth be told, I have had a wildly busy month working as an Arts Professional. In addition to simply painting ( though, "simple" is probably the incorrect term), I have designed at least four different logos, created the look and feel for six different web sites, created course descriptions for two different college courses I will be instructing come this Autumn, began Stage Managing the Christopher Peterson show at the Rehoboth Beach Theatre of the Arts which runs through the end of the summer, written 3 different press releases, collaborated on a group exhibit that will be occurring on the 23rd, designed 4 different posters, a post card, given about 6 different Tarot card readings, attended 2 different out of town art events, and a partridge in a pear tree.


Whew. And you thought all us art folks had to do was wax poetic, look pretty, drink cheap wine, and wave brushes in the air. Au contraire. In fact, this, in my opinion, should be the average schedule of any arts professional. The goal is to always be creating/working on something. I use those two words interchangeably as the are one in the same. After 25 years as a working artists, I have learned that as long as you keep focused on your work (creative process), then usually, everything else will take care of itself. That may color me a certain shade of Pollyanna, but I happen to find it true over and over again.

I was once having dinner with Quentin Tarantino several years ago - true story - right around the time Jackie Brown was released.



Some member of the dinner party had mentioned the actress Jennifer Beals, though I can't recall why. That same person (a Washingtonian not in on the Hollywood scene) made a comment about having not seen in her in anything in a long time and implied that she was a "has been". Now - this was a long time ago, but truth be told Ms. Beals had been quite busy with film work, just nothing that this particular person was familiar with, which meant nothing mainstream.

Though the passage of time prevents me to recall his exact words, I do remember Tarantino, quite calmly, replying that not only was she a friend of his, but that he was well aware of her work at that time and over the previous years. It was then that he stated that the important thing in Hollywood was  to always be working. While leading roles in popular films are wonderful, the real essence of being an artist is to keep working. If you stay true to and focused on that - the rest will fall into place. I found the moment quite profound.


And I still do. . .