A Better Approach to Creating

Most recognizable artists are recognizable because they have found their niche. I haven’t found mine, yet.

I have been attempting to find my niche. My method for doing this has been to try many different media. Of course, this has resulted in a tidiness issue! The more I experiment, the more I accumulate. The more stuff that is out simultaneously, the more I give off the appearance of a slob. I have a habit of starting new projects partway through old ones, and although I am a finisher, I just have a hard time doing one project and one project only!

Recognizing one’s weaknesses can be the first step to change.

In order to restrain my impulses and cut down on the mess that comes along with creating, I have been trying to implement a few rules:

1. No more than three concurrent projects. 
2. As soon as I finish a piece, put the corresponding supples completely away.

I have a tendency to take breaks between media so I can be excited every time I get out those supplies, which isn’t necessarily the best strategy for niche-finding, but it is for maintaining a more tidy workspace. It’s also helpful if one of my projects is in a more manageable medium, such as pen, which is easy to clean up entirely after each session working on the piece. Keeping extra messy media, such as pastel (for me), is also beneficial. No more than one pastel piece in progress at any given time!

My creativity is learning how to play by minimalism’s rules. But sometimes creativity thrives when set within the bounds of limitations.