Attitude is Everything

Perspectives from The Artist's Road

Bazille Studio in the Rue de Furstenberg

We’ve all had those moments when the details and concerns of keeping all the plates spinning distracts us from the one thing, the most important thing, that those of us who are creative people must do—create. Even doing chores that are pleasurable, like gardening, can take us far away from our art, and soon an hour becomes an afternoon becomes a day away from our work. Too many days away and the focus wanders and the hand forgets the brush. Many years ago we discovered a simple formula for ranking priorities in order of importance: Must-Do, Should-Do, Want-to-Do. It is amazing how often those get out of order in our lives. While Want-to-Dos are always competing for the top spot, we do not consider making art to be a Want-to-Do, no matter how pleasant that activity can be at times. It is a Must-Do, and always will be. Just establishing that priority in one’s life can open doors to new inspiration and determination.