Why We Need to Get Out of the Studio

'Interact with the Art World' is one of the key habits of the 8 Habit Plan for Creative Growth and one which has been noticeably missing from my agenda lately. 

Its absence became conspicuous while using my own habits as a model for new screen-grabs for the PDF workbook version of the 8 Habit Plan. 

Apart from a recent visit with my other half and an artist friend to visit some exhibitions in a nearby city, and online conversations with other artists, I haven't been interacting with the art world at all.

Artists Love Other Artists

New look for the 8 Habit Plan Workbook © Cherry Jeffs

Despite acknowledging this as a 'missing habit' when I did the screen-grabs, I didn't plan on doing anything about it other than a rather vague intention to meet up with the same friend to see the new Russian art museum in Málaga which is currently showing works by Kandinsky, Iliá Repin and Chagall - sigh! (More on my visit to the Russian Museum here.)

The universe had other ideas apparently. Out of the blue, on Friday night I found myself surrounded by not one nor two but three other artists having the kind of conversation that artists love to have. Out of this conversation came the opportunity to submit to a local juried show.

Artwork by three new artist friends: Jessica Shepherd, Gail McNeillie and Kitty Shepherd (click images for links)

Exhibiting and the Inner Critic

Exhibiting is, of course, another aspect of the 'Interact with the Art World' habit but it wasn't on my landmarks list for this year. After personal circumstances put pay to my plan to do an open studio last year, I hadn't recouped the mindset for showing my work and felt that with all the other projects on my plate, I'd be happy just to keep up my regular art-making routine and experiment with some new ideas. 

That said, getting rid of as much stuff from my studio prior to downsizing and becoming more nomadic, definitely is a priority. So the possibility of selling some work presenting itself right now is too good an opportunity to ignore.

Of course my inner critic has been rampant telling me that I - no! - my work won't be accepted into the show so I've set him to work on editing my artist's statement and although he's still grumbling, he's substantially subdued.

Get Your Inner Critic On Board

Getting the Inner Critic on board is a hot topic covered in my book, Blast Your Creative Blocks. Newsletter subscribers can relax safe in the knowledge that you'll automatically be notified when the new illustrated edition is out. 

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The 8 Habit Plan for Creative Growth PDF workbook is now available.