Time is elusive - it plays games with us… or are we playing games with it? One moment, we are hoarding our time and the next wasting it. One moment we scrape and scratch for more time and the next we try to hurry it along. What is my point in that? I guess just that things sometimes take longer than I think… either because I waste too much time or try to cram too much into the time I’ve got, or both. Maybe the real issue is time management.. Probably.

Here’s an illustration I’ve been working on for a poster for a fund-raiser at my boys’ school. It is for a good cause, so I don’t feel the time is wasted. Plus, it has given me a chance to use my Wacom a bit more. All of this was done digitally. I’ve decided I don’t really like Corel Painter Essentials. It just doesn’t do enough. I want the full-blown version of Painter. Even Photoshop, as good as it is, has it’s limitations artistically (and yes, I know I need to upgrade, but I’m trying to hold out until I can get a Mac). I’m fairly pleased with the illustration - I don’t do a lot of illustrations, and I’m definitely out of practice, so I feel pretty good about it. Now I get to add the typography.

Question of the week:
Have you placed limitations upon your creativity? Is it bursting to get out?

The limitation I most place upon myself is practicality. Not so good - when are most artists particularly practical? I’m working to balance this one out a bit.

I know I’ve neglected posting for a bit.  My apologies.  I’ve still been working through creative hindrances, but I think I’m making some progress, at least internally.  A few years back, I decided that it is okay to allow myself to have time for creative pursuits.  Just that one thought made a difference in my personal happiness.  Now, the goal is to actually set set aside time for myself, more regularly, so that I can also feel creatively fulfilled.  I don’t want it to be feast or famine, I want it to be integrated into my every day.

This week’s question: Do you nurture or bury your talents?  Do you appreciate the gift that they are?