As I sit here and begin this the radio is telling me that
the music people are seeking out this year is more upbeat than in previous years.
In my teens, I had a brief flirtation with the gothic indie style of music, I
think it suited my wish to portray myself as the dark and moody teenager not
the frightened unsure one I really was. But it was miserable sitting alone in
my black bedroom so I soon switched back to my usual upbeat I can do anything
hairy rock genre and have never looked back since. Yes I know its not high brow
to admit to dancing around to ACDC but it makes me happy, my main point is music
has the ability to lift the spirits and I think we could all do with a little
bit of that right now.
The last few weeks have been a blur of trying and failing
and not trying and succeeding I have had to have a long hard look at what I do
well and what I try and do and fail at. In these uncertain times, I think panic
can set in, the news cycle is a whirl of doom which if one is not careful can
blow you off track. In my life, I have already graduated twice into a recession
once in 1992 and then again in 2010 just as austerity kicked in. If I had paid
attention to the news, then I would have thought there was no way that in 1992
I could start a career in fashion design and in 2010 launch an art business in
the UK. I am about to graduate in a pandemic … I see a pattern here best-laid
plans out the window!
I think we can only work with the circumstances we are given
and must find ways of adapting our expectations without losing our dreams.
There are new ways of working but first, we must accept that the old ways are on
pause right now. I am very lucky I have been supported by my customers throughout
lockdown and I have enjoyed creating some lovely work for them. I am not sure
that I will be able to sell face to face for a while which is sad but new
technology is making things easier.
All walks of life are changing and some adaptations are going
to make life better for some, here I am thinking of those that hate the daily commute
and those whose physicality holds them back yet now can work remotely equal to
others. Many are frustrated and just want life to fall back as it was but that
will take some time. Overall I have been carrying on as normal getting up early
working in my studio till around 4pm and not much has really changed but on the
other hand, everything has changed I do miss the human interaction I miss setting up art groups and workshops and
meeting people and sharing my art. But patience is required, and this time will
pass.
But I have not been listening to miserable music no I seek
out the upbeat, now is not the time for self-imposed melancholy now is time to try and find something that
brings a smile to your day even if that’s hard right now. Take time to reflect
on what you can do within the confines of all these restrictions and it doesn’t
have to be a big project, it can be silly like finally fixing that thing that
drives you mad or watching trash TV, who cares. I am not here advocating that
you start book writing and reading war and peace! I feel things are speeding up
out there and before we know it, we will soon fill our days with other people's
demands so take a little pause before that happens, if it hasn’t already!
These little works I painted to help me feel upbeat not my usual style but they did the trick at the time :)
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