Creative Procrastination?
Anyone here read ‘the war of art’?
It’s a book designed to help you get over your creative hurdles.
I was recommended this by a photographer friend, not because I was suffering from any creative-writers-block, but because he thought it would help me understand the pains I am going through with my Workshop business. In that respect, the book has been great – allowing me to understand that anyone who goes into business, is essentially going it alone. There’s no backup, it’s all up to you. And also the hurdles in making the jump in the first place.
But what I’d like to talk about is creative procrastination. Do you feel you suffer from it?
I certainly suffer from procrastination in some areas of what I do – namely stepping outside of my comfort zone. It may be a surprise to you to learn that each time I get on a plane to go someplace, I’m filled with dread and fear the night before. I’m aware of it and I’ve recognised that I have a tendency to ’settle in’ when I’m at home. Only to find that getting on a plane to go to somewhere new like Eithiopia (which is on my list), is initially a terrifying experience for me.
But that’s not creative-procrastination.
I’ve met many people who tell me they’d love to do what I do, to make images and travel. When I ask them ‘why don’t you?’, I get told that they ‘don’t have the time’.
My argument is that if you really want to do something, really, really, then you make time. You have to do it. I believe that when people say ‘they don’t have the time’, they’re really saying that they’re really not that bothered. It’s not a big thing for them. In the way that I’d quite like to learn a different language. I know I won’t though, because I don’t have the drive to put the hours in.
A photographer friend of mine recently said to me about this site – ‘one thing’s clear; you’ve worked your ass off to create these images’. I wasn’t aware of it, but when I think about it, that is true. But It didn’t feel like hard work, even though I do come home from trips exhausted and fatigued. It just feels that it’s something I have to do. It’s all pervading in my thoughts.
There is a quote in the book about Ernst Hemmingway, when asked if he worked only when he was inspired, said ‘yes, I work between the hours of 9 and 5′. Or something to that effect. Basically suggesting that the act of working brings inspiration. I’d tend to agree with that from the point of view that if I don’t go out to make pictures, then I don’t get inspired. I have to put myself in a position and start to work to see if anything will come. Some days I’ll come home with nothing while others I will come home with something that I never in my dreams expected to get that day.
Some of us have very high standards, we’ve either developed a style and find it hard to maintain that level of quality, or we give ourselves a hard time before we’ve even started. In order to be creative, I feel we have to let ourselves go and be open to what may come.
So I’d like to hear your thoughts on creative-procrastination. Does it affect you and if so, in what way?
Bruce, first I would like to say that I’m a huge fan of your photography, podcast and blog. Thanks for putting your thoughts and your travel experiences out there for all of us that follow your work…
Now, onto Creative Procrastination, I’m always in that mode… I’m trying to take advantage that I have to travel for my day job, so I always take my gear with me and always find some time to go out shooting. But other than that, I struggle doing day trips not just because of time, but because it gets expensive real fast. I know that those are excuses and I’m trying to continue trying to find the time and the money to fulfill my photography career..
Again, thank you for all that you do for the photography community…
Comment by rmedina — 16 August, 2009 @ 5:35 am
I think that creative-procrastination and any other excuse we come up with is completely dependent on how desperate we are to do something – anything.
Sure, there are days when I don’t really feel like getting out and taking photographs. Sometimes I’m tired so I rest.
But I am seriously desperate. I have so many projects in my head that I know I won’t be able to finish all of them before I die.
A friend of mine likes to say “There’s no such thing as can’t; you do or you don’t”.
I do what I can and I make time for my photography. I don’t have any spare time to creatively procrastinate. (I have a wife, a 2 1/2 year-old, and a 4 year-old)
Comment by andy — 16 August, 2009 @ 7:01 am
Hi rmedina,
Sorry to hear that finances are the biggest limitation for you. I have to agree that Photography is not a cheap passion.
If it’s any consolation, my own finances aren’t often in a good shape, purely because of what photography puts me through. I seem to have, for instance, a budgetary issue whereby I think anything non-photography is very expensive, but £1000 for a lens is a bargain! I seem to not be able to help myself when I’m funding a project, or a trip abroad and often come home more that broke.
My feeling on this is that I’ve got a screw loose (I’m a bit nuts) and will put more than 100% or my time and money into something that I’m motivated to do. Even to the point of fatigue, as well as debt.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 16 August, 2009 @ 8:14 am
Hi Andy,
Well, that’s my sentiments. If you want to do something badly, you will. Just as I was saying to rmedina in the first post above, I’ve put myself into financial debt on many occasions, as well as subjected myself to fatigue in the pursuit of what I do.
I’m not suggesting by any means that creativity is only won by these means. I’m just illustrating that when I’ve wanted to do something badly, some constraints become less of a problem and I just find a way round them. Not that brilliantly I’ll admit. It’s no fun coming home from a trip in debt and with a bad dose of the flu, but that’s just me. I tend to go all-out.
I’m doing less of that this year. After coming home from India and Nepal feeling particularly unwell for several months, I’m more aware of being kind to myself. I feel I’ve needed a rest for this year. And as you point out – you rest when you’re tired. I certainly have days when I go out there to make images, perhaps have traveled to the other side of the world, only to find that I don’t shoot every day. You have to give yourself a break – it’s not possible to work all of the time, without some detriment, so I’ve learned, perhaps this year than most.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 16 August, 2009 @ 8:20 am
Hi Bruce,
It’s always good to hear of photographers having the same problems and insecurities as myself. I think when you set out as a landscape photographer you tend to look at the established names out there and assume their workflow is effortless and efficient, but this is obviously not the case at all – all of the influential landscape photographers I know suffer from self doubt and times when their creative flow becomes a drip.
Procrastination – because landscape photography is so demanding I find it’s easy to talk yourself out of it and come up with an excuse to go out – which is odd as it’s the thing we love doing! This is particularly true at 5am on a cold December morning when you’re tucked up in bed – it’s amazing how quickly, once the alarm clock has gone off, I can tell myself it will be better weather tomorrow so I should go back to sleep again!
I certainly think you get out of the creative flow and it takes some time to get back in to it. I’ve recently had to put my camera down for a month or so whilst I got ready for a big exhibition, when I finally got round to going out photographing again last week it didn’t feel natural at all, it’ll take a few more outings before I get back into my stride. There’s definitely an argument for continually making photos, even if it’s in your back garden, just to keep your eye in.
I also relate to what you’re saying about people putting off doing things, making up excuses for not pursuing their dream. How often do you hear people say things like ‘I’d love to do what you do’? As I see it you’ve got this life and then that’s your lot, so you might as well make as much effort as you can to pursue your creative dreams. You may well say you haven’t got enough time now, you certainly won’t have when you’re on your death bed!
Just ordered “The War of Art” (having first found myself looking at “The Art of War” which I was finding a tad confusing!). I’d also recommend an excellent book called “Art & Fear” which I recently read and I’m sure you’d find interesting.
Comment by peaklandscapes — 16 August, 2009 @ 11:22 am
“It’s always good to hear of photographers having the same problems and insecurities as myself. I think when you set out as a landscape photographer you tend to look at the established names out there and assume their workflow is effortless and efficient, but this is obviously not the case at all”
In order to develop as an artist, you have to get over comparing yourself to others and just do your work. That little book ‘the war of art’ covers this. I pretty much knew it myself, but it was interesting to see it spelled out for me. A real artist doesn’t go around comparing themselves with others, they just do what they do. I think this is often a stumbling block for beginners who can be constipated by the feeling that they need to be as good, if not better than the artists they admire. It’s counterproductive because it stunts your own development.
Nice point about not having any time once you’re dead. I guess it’s a common trait to think we always have ‘tomorrow’. However, I feel those that say they don’t have the time are really saying ‘it’s not that important to me’. If it was, they’d ‘make’ the time. We always do for what we want.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 16 August, 2009 @ 11:40 am
I’m not sure it’s just that it’s not that important to people. Humans seem to have a great ability to talk themselves out of change, particularly as you get further on in life. I think people tend to look at the negatives first and the positives remain dreamy ideas.
For most people they are pinned down with the every day cycle of having to stick at their mundane lives, jobs etc in order to pay their mortgage, loans etc etc. People just don’t like to take chances.
I totally agree about the problems with comparing oneself with other artists, it’s important to find your own artistic voice – there’s no point comparing yourself with Ansel Adams, Joe Cornish, Bruce Percy, particularly if that means you’re trying to create work from their mould, if you try to recreate the work of others you’re only ever going to end up being a second rate version of the original.
Dav Thomas
Comment by peaklandscapes — 16 August, 2009 @ 2:12 pm
Hi Peaklandscapes,
I guess we’re talking at crossed purposes….. I agree entirely with what you say but feel what you are discussing is comfort zones. Stepping outside of what you know, into what seems potentially frightening. This is, I feel, does have some impact on creativity, but it’s not the main thing. I feel that to be creative, you can still do the mundane things, hold down a job, pay the mortgage, but if you are short on time, you’ll still do your art somehow because you want to.
The comfort zone issue is a big one….. I myself suffer from a great lack of self confidence in what I do…. but I hear that this is not unusual. Not that I dare to compare myself with people like Paul Newman, but from reading about him, each time he went on stage, he was always sick in the toilet. I guess for some, they have to push themselves over that hurdle every time.
Being creative; drawing a picture, making a sculpture, writing a book, making a photograph, these things don’t really require us to step outside of our comfort zones too much in order to be creative?
Comment by Bruce Percy — 16 August, 2009 @ 7:14 pm
Bruce,
I find your comments in this discussion quite fascinating. You take some of the most amazing pictures I’ve ever seen and you “…suffer from a great lack of self confidence…”?? Wow, maybe there is hope for me yet!
I am an engineer by trade, developing computer software. Engineers are not typically considered “creative” and I have definitely fallen for this belief that I am not a creative person.
However, I love photography and I want to be good at it. I am also highly competitive so I find it hard to be satisfied with anything I produce. I DO compare myself with others and find that I come up WAY short.
Every now and then I take a picture that makes me think that maybe I have some talent and that keeps me going, but mostly I struggle. Even when people compliment my work I am hesitant to accept that praise because I don’t necessarily trust that they would say if they didn’t like it (or some other excuse).
I greatly appreciate your comments about not comparing myself to others. I know that you are right, now I just need to figure out how to do it. Because if I don’t compare myself to others then how do I know if I am any good?? (That’s my competitive nature).
I guess I both appreciate and am somewhat disappointed by your comments. You mean that this isn’t going to get better? If you doubt yourself does that mean I am doomed to continue to doubt myself as well??? : )
I will continue to take pictures because of those occasional rewards that I do find. I am an optimist as well so I’ll hold onto the belief that I can start liking what I produce someday!
Thanks for all that you share on this blog!
Doug
Comment by Doug Arlt — 17 August, 2009 @ 8:01 pm