Good Morning, Gents!

I figured I'd show this today, because it captures my feelings on a few levels. First, I'm sick, so just not operating on all cylinders, which maybe that's how a lot of us feel in the winter. I despise the heat, & I know Joker made a comment that if you can't handle 78 degrees, you're a pussy. Right here. Happy to admit it. I can't hang in the heat. But I can handle the cold like none other. Despite that, however, I won't lie that getting up in a cold home, looking out at the snow & ice & knowing you gotta get out & do whatever, you're just slow. Slow moving, slow motivation................just slow. And that's how I physically feel right now.

On the other hand, it's brutally hot for some people right now. Not so bad here. But perhaps some of us long for this weather or season or just a break from the heat. So, I just figured I'd post this one today. It's been here before, but definitely one of my favorites.

I've taken a week off of art (kinda). Not bad to just relax. Let the mind wander. I read a little Common Sense (Thomas Paine) earlier in the week, not bad. Been reading 1984 with @Tobias_Jensen (though he doesn't know it, ha ha ha). I can't keep pace with him, but I'm not too far behind.

I do most of my drawing in my car at work on my breaks. However, in this heat, which isn't too bad here, but bad enough, my mediums react in ways I don't like & it's harder to keep my surfaces clean from my body (oils, sweat, etc). So, I'm cool with taking a couple of months off & maybe just drawing on the weekends.

The only problem is that if my mind isn't actively engaged, it wanders & I get all kinds of ideas. After just a week, I'm already suffering from the effects of this phenomenon. I have more ideas dancing in my head than time to develop them. And I tend to have a good idea; then no, wait, a better idea; then no, wait, a great idea; then, no, wait..........you get the picture. I spent a couple of hours drawing a great idea, then scrapped it for an even better idea that I spent another couple of hours on yesterday. This one, however, won't be scrapped. But it's the nature of the beast (at least for me). Dog owners probably understand why you keep your dog on a short leash -- so it doesn't get away from you.

I'm not disciplined enough to keep my mind on a short leash, but eventually I'll settle on an idea & then develop it. And there's nothing quite like committing to something. It's the idea & the potential. And once you put pencil to paper & it starts to take shape, I think that's make or break. It either looks exactly like you want it or better, which is where the commitment takes hold, or it doesn't, in which other ideas crowd in & crush it & what little is left of your commitment under their weight. It's a process.

Another thing that I mentioned a while back was that every once in a while, usually after I finish something, I find myself thinking what am I doing? Why am I doing this? Is it worth it (maybe)? And I felt like this was possibly the result of the artistic process. After it's done, you're kinda creatively drained, so it's probably natural for these thoughts to come into your mind. However, I don't think this is limited to artists. I think everyone does this wth everything. Parents ask themselves what they're doing, why they are doing it, etc. Husbands & wives. I think anyone undertaking an endeavor of any kind, toils, struggles, labors, & then maybe takes a break, looks up & around, & thinks, "The hell am I doing?" I think this is normal.

Anyway, whether you're just slow today for whatever reason or just pine for a break, here's something for your eyes to enjoy & hope you have a great weekend.