by Bethany | February 3, 2020
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**This is a repost of one of my Patreon posts from last year! I return to this every month and this quote always resonates at the beginning of a new year…
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Every month, I choose a new quote, inspiring word, or action verb and write it on a chalkboard in my studio. I refer to it throughout the month to give me courage, motivation, and roots of where I want to be in my art and my life.
This month I chose this beautiful, powerful, and inspiring quote by german poet Johan Wolfgang von Goethe from his most famous play, Faust.
Lose this day loitering—’twill be the same story
To-morrow–and the next more dilatory;
Then indecision brings its own delays,
And days are lost lamenting o’er lost days.
Are you in earnest? seize this very minute–
What you can do, or dream you can, begin it,
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it,
Only engage, and then the mind grows heated—
Begin it, and the work will be completed!
~ Goethe
I don’t know about you, but this pushes me to action! I love its message and think it apropos for the beginning of a new year…one we all hope to make full of genius, power, and magic.
What does this look like on a daily basis? To some this could mean huge works begun (maybe a new painting series, revamping your website, or writing a book!).
We all love a big goal! It’s exciting and fun and new! But you can’t accomplish a big goal without many little ones along the way…and reality sets in once we get past the excitement and the the hard work sets in.
It is in the small, the daily, the tedious, the most basic where growth happens and habits form. This is how we build our practice, our study, our lives, improve our art, whatever you dream – you can begin it!
Many days, I walk into my studio motivated to get things accomplished. However, life happens and artist blocks, ruts, and de-motivation attack like a slow moving wave. I check social media and get lost in it, I procrastinate on little tasks, get distracted by the overwhelming bigness of the future.
Recently I found myself feeling anxious because I didn’t have paper ready for my next painting. (I order my paper by the roll and hadn’t cut any recently. The roll is stashed away in a corner and my small studio makes it harder to cut.). It’s the simplest task. The most basic of all! I had let this one small thing become an unrealized excuse for why I couldn’t paint.
So…..I pulled that big paper roll out, crawled onto the floor to measure and mark, and cut 25 new usable pieces of paper. That’s 25 paintings waiting to be realized! I can breathe easier knowing all I have to do is tape one to a support and I’m there.
Have the paper ready, if you paint daily have a board ready the night before so when you walk into the studio you have no excuse! It’s basic and small but these things will help you grow and thrive and lead you to boldness and power!
xoxo,
Bethany
