Episode 232: The Demons of Procrastination

The Messy Studio with Rebecca Crowell

Procrastination may be human nature but identifying its role in your life can be a big help in moving forward. Instead of simple laziness or looking for distractions, procrastination can also be active avoidance behavior in which you channel energy into activities other than what you really want to achieve. You may stay busy, but you’re not doing what is truly important. Today we look at how artists are affected by procrastination and ways to confront it in your own studio practice.

As noted in a recent article in the New York Times, "procrastination isn’t a character flaw or a mysterious curse on your ability to manage time, but a way of coping with challenging emotions and negative moods induced by certain tasks — boredom, anxiety, insecurity, frustration, resentment, self-doubt and beyond." Each of these may show up as various aspects of studio practice. Some procrastination has to do with your artwork itself, when you are bored or frustrated, while others are practical chores and obligations.

Artists experience procrastination around such topics as finishing projects, organizing financial records, creating and updating websites, deadlines of all kinds, making decisions about materials, and contacting and communicating with galleries. In fact, there are so many aspects to an art practice it’s no wonder that some get put aside, so something to consider in all of this are your true priorities. You may discover that some things that you procrastinate about are not as important or necessary as you assumed. Prioritizing helps keep you from feeling overwhelmed, another procrastination trigger.

But although it’s common for artists to allow procrastination to loom large, it is truly detrimental and can sap your growth and excitement for your work. Like so many other challenges of an art practice, it helps to just become more aware of where your own procrastination demons are lurking and try to confront them. Even small steps are rewarding.

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What's new at Cold Wax Academy?
Rebecca and Jerry sre well into their Fall quarter of live, online sessions with a special focus this time on member participation, plus informative sessions on a variety of other topics. This month also marks the beginning of Cold Wax Academy's 3rd year of teaching sessions, meaning that the member library now has over 80 recordings and other instructional documents available for members. To access this wealth of information and to take part in upcoming live sessions, please visit the membership page at ColdWaxAcademy.com and sign up for one of the two levels of membership available.

Please visit http://www.coldwaxacademy.com for more information.
Here is what a member named Sandy has to say about her own experience with Cold Wax Academy:
"Rebecca and Jerry have presented the most professional, authentic and structured approach to a creative activity I have ever come across. Their selfless sharing of all their knowledge and encouragement is a gift in my life unsurpassed."

Also-- please visit https://www.espacioart.org to learn about Rebecca and Jerry's newest project, Espacio, dedicated to providing beautiful living and working spaces for artists and writers. Espacio's first offering is Casa Clavel, a modern, fully equipped house opening this September in the beautiful cultural city of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. A few booking openings are still available in 2023, so please incquire if you are interested.

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