We have been taught to think of procrastination as a moral failing, the “Thief of Time,” the enemy of the serious artist, the character flaw that separates the merely talented from the truly disciplined.
I structure my newsletter releases around a monthly calendar that follows the moon, specifically to give myself time to procrastinate without guilt. It's become a way to work with my ADHD rather than against it. The boundary keeps it from getting out of hand, instead of the spiraling I used to do.
Thank you for this smart and detailed article! I journaled this morning about my current stall and how typical it is for my practice, but without the acceptance or understanding of what these periods nurture. The next time I feel self-critical about time wasted, I will reread this.
No one in the 21st century said that. Giorgio Vasari, an art historian in the 15th century wrote about this. Also people can be very successful and have regret about different aspects of their life. I am unclear why that as a concept seems so unbelievable.
Because placing the evaluation of “successful artist” behind the paywall of cartesian colonial patriarchal value systems is an extremely limited view which only benefits certain oppressive forces in society. If we are going to be audacious enough to claim “the science of art”, be prepared for someone to critique: “whose science and whom does it benefit?”
Most of my work isn't behind a paywall. What is behind the paywall is my own journey and I choose not to make that accessible to all. If you have followed my work long enough, you will know that I write about alternate economies in the arts mostly about models that are anti capitalist.
I was using paywall as a metaphor for the writing structure and perspective of this particular piece itself. Especially the last paragraph and final sentence. I think it’s an absurd overreach to think that leonardo wasnt “as successful as he could be.”
We all think of him as successful, but what if he didn't think of himself as someone who could fully reach his potential? I think even da Vinci could have had regrets; he was human after all.
I structure my newsletter releases around a monthly calendar that follows the moon, specifically to give myself time to procrastinate without guilt. It's become a way to work with my ADHD rather than against it. The boundary keeps it from getting out of hand, instead of the spiraling I used to do.
That is an incredible structure to follow. Thanks for sharing
This is the story of my life.
Thank You for the validation.
Thank you for this smart and detailed article! I journaled this morning about my current stall and how typical it is for my practice, but without the acceptance or understanding of what these periods nurture. The next time I feel self-critical about time wasted, I will reread this.
Glad this was helpful!
I’ve only read the first paragraph, and I’m already printing this out to highlight it.
this needed to be written and read by any artist.
you are really saying leonardo died full of unfinished regret? what an amazingly arrogant assumption. peak 21st century derangement.
No one in the 21st century said that. Giorgio Vasari, an art historian in the 15th century wrote about this. Also people can be very successful and have regret about different aspects of their life. I am unclear why that as a concept seems so unbelievable.
Because placing the evaluation of “successful artist” behind the paywall of cartesian colonial patriarchal value systems is an extremely limited view which only benefits certain oppressive forces in society. If we are going to be audacious enough to claim “the science of art”, be prepared for someone to critique: “whose science and whom does it benefit?”
Most of my work isn't behind a paywall. What is behind the paywall is my own journey and I choose not to make that accessible to all. If you have followed my work long enough, you will know that I write about alternate economies in the arts mostly about models that are anti capitalist.
I was using paywall as a metaphor for the writing structure and perspective of this particular piece itself. Especially the last paragraph and final sentence. I think it’s an absurd overreach to think that leonardo wasnt “as successful as he could be.”
We all think of him as successful, but what if he didn't think of himself as someone who could fully reach his potential? I think even da Vinci could have had regrets; he was human after all.