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I am working on a commission that I wish would be done. I have lost my passion and enthusiasm for the subject. Everything in my life is being affected by my apathy toward this painting. The weather is annoying. I can’t find the right music to put me in the “mood” to pick up my brush. I find dozens of things that allow me to procrastinate in getting this painting done. I have given myself pep talks. “Come on,” I say. “Just work on this little 4-inch square and it will be done before you know it!” Still, the painting stares back at me as the paint on my palette continues to dry out. “Come ON! Snap out of it!” I lecture myself. Truthfully, I just don’t feel like doing anything.

Even the most motivated of us can find our way to Slump Land from time to time. Slumps are mostly encountered by people who are unmotivated to move forward with something, but when this happens to me, I find I am doing one of two things—I either have too many things on my plate that are distracting me from painting (obligations and responsibilities) or I don’t have enough variety in my life to stimulate creativity. Sometimes, I go back and forth between the two, which is just downright crazy making.

When I try to switch hit too many outside activities with my time at the easel, there is little constructive brain function left in me to give either my best. People who work “regular” jobs know this story well. It seems our most productive and inspired time for creating ends up going to the tasks we are less passionate about.

I own the second scenario at the moment. It occurs when I devote too much time to the business of painting. I hole up in my studio planning paintings, marketing paintings, preparing to paint, and then actually painting. If I am not in the act of making art happen, I doubt there is an hour that goes by when I’m not thinking about it, and this does not stop when I sleep. I think the term is “burn out.” If it walks like a duck…..

There are hundreds of writings on getting over slumps. The advice is to get motivated, stay positive, take baby steps, and other such things to keep you working on your goals. But, when the problem is not motivation as much as artaholism, there is only one thing to do… step away from the easel!

Now, I thought this just meant to stand back and look at your painting from a distance with a fresh eye to see areas that could use improvement. The alternate interpretation here is to stand back and look at your life and see what else is going on around you. Art imitates life, right?

Experts say that sitting is bad and excessive sitting leads to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, a variety of cancers and early death. Yikes! I know most of my work is done from a chair since my ceiling is too low to raise my easel high enough to stand and paint. Well, sounds like another good reason to get out.

So, I am on a quest to step out of the studio and get a little injection of life. Maybe see if my friends and pets remember who I am. See if I can remember how to have an actual, face-to-face, verbal conversation, order a root beer float, go for a swim, or sing karaoke. (Don’t worry. I would warn you ahead of time if that were to happen!). Point being: get out and do something different for a change.

But, yes, I will have to take my sketchbook and camera. I can’t go near the water without my life vest. I'll let you know how it goes. See you at the lake... or the beach... or...