R/T 014 - Why don't you...

This week's radical thing is: A call to take creative action!

One of my favourite pastimes is encouraging other creatives to do stuff.

I'm a big fan of taking action on creative projects - creative action.

In a world of social media and constant FOMO it can be much easier to look at our phones in wallow in other people’s seeming success.

But worry not!

This is not some ‘holier-than-though’ article telling you to stop consuming social media. We all do it. And we all agree at times probably too much. It’s designed to be addictive after all, right?

It's also designed in a way where it’s almost impossible not to compare yourself to others.

When doom-scrolling you might find yourself thinking:

• Why are they so successful?

• My works better than that!

• If only someone would see how good I am.

I'll tell you a secret - just between you and I. I've thought these things myself.

And the truth is - this thinking is unhealthy and unhelpful.

Why?

Because there is no reality on social media. Everyone is painting the picture of their best life. You don't know what’s happening behind the camera phone lens.

But there is one thing I'm certain about. Taking action creates opportunity.

Sometimes the outcome is progress. Sometimes it's new ideas. Maybe even an award or two.

It could even be (God forbid) money!

The truth is, you don't know what the opportunity will be. It’s always a risk. But, in my experience, something always emerges.

Here’s a personal example.

My wife is a hugely talented artist. She shows her work at the NZ Art Show in Wellington. I help her with the show each year. Hanging the work, working on the stand talking to customers, and finally packing down.

A couple of years ago I was chatting with the husband of another artist. We discussed the inaugural sculpture exhibition in the show. As we were both industrial designers, we thought we could do something worthy of exhibiting.

We agreed we’d both enter a sculpture for the exhibition the following year.

As the deadline grew close it became clear it was just going to be me entering the competition.

I was on my own.

At this point it would have been easy to give up, but I persevered and forced myself to make some work over summer. I think I submitted my entry with minutes to spare!

Fortunately, both pieces were selected and displayed at the show in 2022. Woop!

I started a website and developed a little brand to promote my work. I also started posting it to Instagram. Although I only have a tiny following, showing my work publicly meant it became (a tiny bit) more visible.

Following the NZ art show, a local gallery asked if we’d be interested in doing a small joint show.

Although I found this idea uncomfortable (She’s the artist, not me. Why would anyone care what I’m doing?), I wanted to give it a go.

We recently hung the show - called ‘Complement’ - and had a lovely opening with a small group of friends.

But it wasn’t an easy journey. Like all good things, it took a lot of effort.

Two weeks before the show opened I had one semi-finished piece and a few ideas. Like all good designers (am I an artist now?), I used the deadline to drive action.

This also meant I couldn’t be too analytical about what I was doing. I had to make quick decisions to progress. This was definitely a feature and not a bug!

Cluster 002 from our new show ‘Complement’. No it’s not a render!

To promote ‘Complement’, I’ve also been posting images of my new work. At this point I’ve sold four out of the six pieces I made for the show. I’ve even received interest from a potential buyer in LA!

It feels like it’s gone pretty well.

So what’s the point of the story? Well, it’s certainly not some sort of flex. I’m not killing the art game making squillions. And that’s not my motivation for doing it.

I love making things. I’ve got a masters degree in furniture design. Making is a way to escape my computer and do something for myself. Explore my creativity and put something out into the world.

The goal isn't to create a finished thing. A perfect outcome. The goal is to do something and see where it takes you.

When I was growing up, there was a Saturday morning kid’s programme called “Why don’t you’. The format ran like this: viewers sent in letters with ideas for creative projects and the kids on the show executed them.

The theme of the is stuck in my mind.

“Why don’t you just turn off the TV set and do something less boring instead?”.

Maybe today we should replace “TV” with “Social Media’?

Not as pithy I know!

So, if you’re struggling with doom scrolling, FOMO and social media envy - this is my ask of you: Create the time to pursue that lingering interest or personal passion.

Figure out what energises you and investigate that energy. Where you thought you'd go will change and evolve. Let the process take you where it will.

And be ready to pounce on the opportunities that emerge. No matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel.

You first idea, project or initiative might not be perfect. It might no even be successful.

But taking action will enable the next creative opportunity to emerge.