Mike Dooley (www.tut.com) in his Notes From The Universe inspires us each. This time he lands on four thought worthy phrases that fit passionate work to the tee. Here we go:
- Wanted It So Greatly: When you experience passion for your work, you yearn for it when you are away. There is a pull, a tug that you feel towards the work. Upon awakening in the morning, there is a sense of urgency to ‘get to work’. You want it so greatly that you begin to prioritize the passionate work over other activities.
- Imagined It So Vividly: In your idle time, you daydream about your passionate work. I walk by a painting in an airport and get inspiration for a composition I am working one in my studio. There are more daydreams about being in front of a huge canvas and creating a giant image that people feel they could walk into. I imagine a large palette of paint where I have mixed the most beautiful colors. There are also dreams through the night about being in a very special space exhibiting my art and enjoying the conversation regarding different impressions and perceptions others’ see in visual images I created.
- Prepared For It So Thoroughly: In a previous article, I talked about returning to a college campus to study art and learn from artists who teach. And there’s more… Visits to museums to see masterpieces of all genres; travelling to artists’ studios and seeing their work-space, asking questions about their practice and work habits; watching YouTube videos about how to paint, how to mix color and how to prep a canvas; reading books; talking with fellow painters; and making quick practice paintings, ready to be thrown away like a taste test of wine and spit out.
- You Could Literally Taste It: Five years ago when I started down this path, I had no idea where I would be in 2015; however, I ached to be a painter deep inside. And now I can literally taste it. I no longer squirm when speaking with artists on the street, in a gallery or in their studio. I am eager to communicate about art and painting with university professors, retail gallerists and museum curators.
I wanted to be a painter so greatly that I spent numerous hours vividly imagining the possibilities. For passionate work, there is a personal commitment to and prioritization of preparation and studies. Even though I am five years into this journey, I could literally taste the sweet sensation of being acknowledged as a painter, a creator of visual images. I want to do more and continue down this path. With Mike Dooley’s inspiration, there is more to come.
