It's called doing your work

"You make good work by (among other things) making lots of work that isn't very good, and gradually weeding out the parts that aren't good, the parts that aren't yours.  It's called feedback, and it's the most direct route to learning about your own vision. It's also called doing your work.  After all, someone has to do your work, and you're the closest person around.

               ~David Bayles & Ted Orland

                  (from Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils and rewards of Art-making)

Do a lot of work

"Nobody tells this to beginners— I wish someone had told me.

All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste.  But there is this gap.  For the first couple of years you make stuff... but it's just not that good.  But your taste (the thing that got you into this game!) is still killer!

And your taste is why your work disappoints you.

And a lot of people never get past this phase; they quit.

Most people who do interesting, creative work went through years of this.  We know our work doesn't have this special ting we want it to have.  We all go through this... it's normal,

and the most important thing you can do is  a  l o t  o f  w o r k .  

Put yourself on a deadline, so that every week you will finish one story.  

It is only by going though a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your intentions.

... It's gonna take a while.
It's normal to take awhile.
You've just got to fight your way through."

        ~Ira Glass~
(read on Melinda Josie's blog)

Invent

From marvellous Maira Kalman.

Winter Solstice

(From ilovedoodle)

Today is the Winter Solstice — the year's shortest day and longest night — so let us settle down for the duration.  I don't know about you, but it is my most productive time of year.  

William Blake wrote, "In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy."

I leave you with a few wintry images to enjoy...

(from Camil Tulcan)

(From Mique Moriuchi)

(from Northern Soul)

Stay warm, and enjoy the season!

PS.  One last thought:  Pietro Arentino (a 15th century poet) wrote, 

"Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius."  

Get busy!!

Thought for the day

Thought for the day, brought to you by Jean Dubuffet and the marvelous blog, stopping off place.