December 11, 2022

"An artist goes to the studio to work. Not when the spirit moves you. You go every day and work. Just plain work...."

"[Then] the tools are put away at night, and the studio is swept down, and the things you want for tomorrow morning are placed out." And, in the morning: "Everything is clean, is nice. You are very happy. You start working."

Said the sculptor Louise Nevelson, when she was in her 70s, quoted in "What powers artists who reach old age? The work" (WaPo).

5 comments:

mongo said...

"Blogger Althouse goes to the keyboard to work. Not when the spirit moves her. She goes every day and posts. Just plain posting...."

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

I believe it was Dorothy Parker who said, when asked what was the secret to a successful writing career: “Ass in the chair.”

Kate said...

We've allowed "writer's block" and other angsty excuses to gain a mystique. No, just get to work.

However, sometimes a piece needs to sit and stew for a little while. The subconscious needs to breathe. Work on something else in the meantime.

Jeff Gee said...

Or, as Aaron Copeland said, "Don't worry about 'inspiration.' Just do your work. You'll find out if you were inspired when you finish."

walter said...

Ask Hunter.
He has a new work being shown. A couple buyers fighting over it.
Free cheese crunbles at show.
Time your visit right and you might find him there with his son Beau.