Fluid Expectations

So I have this dog.  And you’re wondering what this has to do with art - it’s a long story, but it goes something like this. 

Last year had more than it's share of challenges - not so unique, but my challenges led to the idea that maybe I should adopt a dog.

Dogs are supposed to be good for your mental health. And there she was, waiting at the shelter.  Bella, a beautiful yellow lab, who turned out not to be three, as described, but more like an experienced, determined seven.  Who not only has no leash manners (what’s a leash?), but apparently has been trained for retrieving, a process which includes responding to things like hand signals and whistles and running like mad through the brush, 80 pounds of nose to the ground, shoulders forward, pulling the, uh, new forever-home owner along like a sandbag. 

And so now I have this dog.  And what she's teaching me is that expectations are best enjoyed when they are fluid.   When we face challenges with our art, it's natural to invest emotionally in the anticipated outcome, and then struggle when the road turns another way. We can be locked into rigid inaction (walk on the left and with me, dammit!) or go with the flow ( as in dragged through the weeds).  Or we can find a way to adjust our expectations to fit our circumstances and work toward the best outcome.

What we can't do is give up. Because human creativity can be an uplifting force in ways that go beyond the obvious. 

What you do matters.

What you have to say is important.

How old or young you are, how recognized or obscure, how much your style is accepted or overlooked, even how well you walk (or don't walk) on the leash – if you have something important to communicate through your art then you must persevere.

It doesn’t have be anything more than this.

Comments

[Phyllis Tarlow]

Great story and sound advice. I had a year like that where I had to let go of plans like doing lots of new plein air paintings and instead move back towards many portrait commissions coming out of the blue. Along with those came new efforts to share animal images from past portraits and personal paintings as prints and expand out in the world through that new avenue.
Sometimes I feel as if someone spun me around, pushed me onto another path and said, "March!" I'm marching and finding it interesting to see where that path is taking me.

[TracyWall]

Well said, Sue.
It's good to set the bar high, but sometimes trying to live up to expectations can cause our demise.
Thanks for the reminder!

[Susan]

Sue, I love this story and the point is well-taken. It's interesting what sometimes brings us back to ourselves, help us center and remember what's important and what we have to contribute. Thank you! warm regards, Susan

[sue smith]

grazie mille!

[renatabarillipainter]

yes, you are right. When
never everything is happening, that you espected to or not,it is comming out of you and this is.