Comments on: Sustaining The Practice of Art

By: Karyn

Karyn — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:53:46 +0000

I do exactly what you said. Being selfish with my photography and creating. This year I’m being selfishly creative with a friend across the country and we’re doing a photo pairing project. It makes us happy – and pushes us to. Thanks for the great post.

By: Stuff You’ll Like | Chuqui 3.0

Stuff You’ll Like | Chuqui 3.0 — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:27:44 +0000

[...] David duChemin: Sustaining the Practice of Art [...]

By: Regenerating My Creative Drive or Choosing Who Controls My Life

Regenerating My Creative Drive or Choosing Who Controls My Life — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:57:41 +0000

[...] yesterday, I came across this article talking about dealing with being creative emptiness. The author writes: So what do you do when the thing that sustains you begins to tire you? What [...]

By: Carl Beihl

Carl Beihl — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:11:15 +0000

Simply, I teach. Then, learn.

By: Sustaining, Part II

Sustaining, Part II — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:15:33 +0000

[...] Sustaining The Practice of Art [...]

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:03:41 +0000

I put away my camera. I don’t open my photos and work on them. Soon I find that I am ‘hankering’ for my photography. I start to study other photographers, and when I can’t stand it anymore, I pick up my camera and shoot again.
I guess I’m lucky not to be making a living at photography yet. Because then I wouldn’t have the luxury of time to spare. Where I work, I can’t just walk away whenever I want to re-ground myself, but I do start taking more time for me so I can come back to my work with the passion to create again.

By: Camille

Camille — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:46:05 +0000

I’ve seen a few of the things I do already listed here. The common thread… doing something different.
Here is my list:
- When I was in college, I baked bread. Now I sometimes go to the kitchen and get wildly creative with whatever I can find. The alchemy of cooking – it engages all of the senses.
- If I need a quick fix, I go for a run.
- I have made jewelry for years and so I go to my bench and completely immerse myself in something very tactile.
- Any type of mountain activity. The mountains have a way of making all of my concerns seem ridiculous and calming my nerves. A few hours hiking or skiing is magic. There’s nothing more creative than nature and when I immerse myself in it, it recharges all the batteries.
- I go to the climbing gym and get completely out of my thinking mind.
- 15 minutes of meditation – same as above.
- Gardening.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:51:32 +0000

I am reminded of a quote from the movie “The Shining” … “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” or something to that effect. I suppose we all have what we consider our individual playgrounds – the beach, the woods, even just playing around in Photoshop or Lightroom with our images.

By: brent manke

brent manke — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:35:18 +0000

I’ve always thought that doing less, not more, was the way to recharge, but I like your perspective. I get stirred by taking a deep breath, and by focusing on giving and investing in those around me.

By: lisa cueman

lisa cueman — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:57:36 +0000

I go sit in the sun on a beach, which is not easy to do when living in the mountains. I watch the ocean and I listen to it. Somehow, the visual and audible rhythm of the water and the warmth of the sun re-calibrate me. I also look through other photographer’s work which I always find incredibly inspiring and motivating, but it is the beach that really recharges me.