Today is my first official day at work for 2012. Both kids are in school and I’m sitting in the library’s teen section, where it’s typically quiet all day. The seniors stay out of here and the children’s library (with the occasional screaming toddler)–is tucked away downstairs.
But I need a little help getting motivated again. And it’s not just because they moved my favorite table away from the window. I’ve been hanging out in my jammies for two weeks! It’s tough to get moving again when you’ve gotten used to being stuffed in rainbow flannel.
Maybe you need motivation, too. Well, you’re in luck. I roamed the stacks when I first got here and found the lovely “Artist to Artist”, a collection of children’s illustrators talking to children about their art. And here are some get-up-and-go gems I found inside:
“When people look at my work, they often say, ‘Your picture is so good. I can’t even draw a straight line.’ I think everyone can learn to draw. The important thing is to keep trying, keep drawing.” ~ Alice Provensen
“If I have an unusual gift, it’s not that I draw particularly better than other people—I’ve never fooled myself about that. Rather it’s that I remember things other people don’t recall: the sounds and feelings and images—the emotional quality—of particular moments in childhood. Happily an essential part of myself—my dreaming life—still lives in the light of childhood.” ~ Maurice Sendak
“The most important thing in the whole of life is to love what you do. If you want to be an artist, don’t draw from movies and television. That’s something someone else has already imagined. Draw from your life. Draw all the time. Expect to be different from other kids, because if you are an artist, you are different. Sometimes it’s hard to be different. Sometimes it hurts when people don’t understand you or laugh at you for not being cool enough, but stay the course. Believe in yourself. Believe in the paintings and drawings that come out of your mind and your hand.” ~ Rosemary Wells
“Your ability to see and respond sensitively to the beauty of the world around you will, in turn, be transformed into the ability to create art that other people will find to be beautiful. As long as you have this visual sensitivity, you will discover that the actual techniques you need for drawing good pictures are very easy to find. They are within you.” ~ Mitsumasa Anno
“Making pictures is how I express my truest feelings, my truest self.” ~Eric Carle
“In our earliest years there’s no how? to our plunge into art. The doing gives the answer. There is no one way. Your work is original and there is no end to the adventure…HURRAH!” ~Ashley Bryan
So get moving, friends. Keep doing what you’re doing. There’s joy for you and joy for the children who read and view your work. Joy to the world!
40 comments
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January 5, 2012 at 12:40 pm
julesmae
I have this book. It’s lovely. I’ve read it with my kids several times and can’t help but be inspired by it.
January 5, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Jennifer Kirkeby
Thank you for this inspiring blog, Tara! Glad that you’re back at it. I know how hard it is to restart after a break.
January 5, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Julie
What a lovely book to read on your first day at work. 🙂
January 5, 2012 at 12:45 pm
Sandi Hershenson
Such motivating thoughts! It is hard to get back into the groove after taking some time off. When I think about all of the smiles that these wonderful artists have put on my own kids’ faces, it gets me motivated to do the same!
January 5, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Kayleen West - Children's Book Illustration
It is rare I feel unmotivated to be creative, family commitments and 3 littlies are more of a creative restraint at times but the quotes above are valid. I entered this year bursting with enthusiasm and gave myself permission to spend much needed time in my artist journal and play around on my new IPad testing the painting apps. Journaling and sketchbooks are the best way to authentically explore who you are, what you love and playfully discover all sorts of things. The sketchbook or journaling is a great way to kick-start yourself if you are feeling unmotivated at all and the memories you create in them are priceless. In any downtime there is still so much you can do to grow creatively. Never forget the humble sketchbook as a kick-starter. You don’t need to be an artist to use one either.
January 5, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Louise
OH I love this book! It’s been a couple of years since I read it. I think I will order it from my local library today!
thanks for sharing!
January 5, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Alyssa Wei
Thank you thank you Tara! I am in the same boat. Sick kids are healthy, holidays are over. Out of the jammies, into the world again. But not quite into my office yet… Maybe your post was just the kick in the head that I need. Off to see if my library has that book! I’ve had it “wishlisted” on amazon too long now. Good luck with your work!
January 5, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Darshana
lovely book. will have to recommend it to my illustrator friends!
January 5, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Karen
What a great surprise to wake up and find this in my inbox. I’ve missed you so much this last month. Your upbeat posts are a big motivator for me.
THANKS!!!
January 5, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Jennifer DuBose
Lovely post! Just the inspiration I needed.
January 5, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Cathy C. Hall
Oh, I want a library where the children’s section is downstairs–sounds perfect for cozy reading and research! (Thanks for sharing the inspiration you found!)
January 5, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Wendy Greenley
Wonderful thoughts to start the year, Tara! And when my college kids trundle off this weekend, I’ll be back to a real schedule, too.
Wishing you a great year of writing.
January 5, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Mary Z
Thanks Tara. I see my library has it, so I’ll head there after work.
January 5, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Diane Kress Hower
ahhh…Tara, just what I needed was your blog in my inbox 🙂
thanks!
January 5, 2012 at 2:31 pm
tommybelle
Thanks – a really confidence booster!
January 5, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Britton Minor
And in your post, there is great, inspiring beauty. Thank you, Tara!
Happy New Creativity Year–welcome back to work! 🙂
January 5, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Dana Carey
It was so nice to see your blog post in my inbox, Tara. I know what you mean about getting back into things after vacation–no matter how hard I try to maintain some routine, by week two I’m in my jammies way late in the day. But heck, that’s what this time is for (the kids won’t be hanging out at home for vaca when they get older so it’s good to take advantage of it now). My sister gave me Artist to Artist for xmas a few years ago–thanks for the reminder to dig it out!
January 5, 2012 at 4:55 pm
the writ and the wrote
Great quotes. I’ll definitely be saving this one for future reference.
January 5, 2012 at 5:41 pm
tinamcho
Wonderful encouragement of quotes to begin my day! I hope you had a successful writing day as well! Thanks for sharing your gem!
January 5, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Elizabeth Stevens Omlor
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. What a wonderful post. Have a great day.
January 5, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Denise M. Bruce (@DeniseBruce22)
Gosh, it’s so nice to know i’m not alone, Tara! I’m the exact same way… PJ’s and no motivation. I’m literally pushing myself to get critiques done but have yet to get writing … i’ve done some, but not like i was…
must keep writing… must keep writing 😀
Thanks so much, Tara!
January 5, 2012 at 8:09 pm
Elizabeth McBride
“…the doing gives the answer…” – yes, and I’d say the doing IS the answer. Writing through my own resistance can bring about surprising results, gets me out of boxes I didn’t know I was in, and challenges me to write in ways that are not most natural to me – freshening my thinking and my writing. Great post, Tara! Thank you for the good things all through NaPiBoIdMo and carrying on still.
January 5, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Love this post!! Thank you!
January 5, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Joan Y. Edwards
Dear Tara,
Thanks for sharing what you learned about different artists and their advice to other artists. Great advice!
Joan Y. Edwards
http://www.joanyedwards.com
January 5, 2012 at 10:58 pm
Rebecca
I love that book, and own a copy myself. It really is a good motivator. And so fun to just flip through too!
January 6, 2012 at 12:06 am
Jarm Del Boccio
Welcome back, Tara…and thanks for the encouraging quotes!
January 6, 2012 at 1:22 am
Jenn DesAutels
Thank you Tara!
January 6, 2012 at 3:24 am
karen
Your blog is wonderful–fun, helpful and inspiring–thank you!
January 6, 2012 at 7:04 am
Brenda
This is really lovely, Tara. I’m so glad you shared these quotes. I will be on the look out for that book. I have my own story for how I became an artist when I was just a little toddler. It’s called “Draw a Circle, Brenda!” an autobiography. You can find it at: http://www.drawacircle.net
I hope it breaks your writer’s block. Blessings.
January 6, 2012 at 7:50 am
alison Hertz
Thank you for the inspiration. Best of luck to you in finding the words to start your creative flow. You motivated me through November. Check out my log of daily story starters if you needs little push. http://Www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com.
January 6, 2012 at 8:47 am
Catherine Johnson
That sounds like a great book to read. Thank you, Tara!
January 6, 2012 at 10:42 am
Lori
love the quotes. and as I am presenting a visual literacy
talk to a middle school next week, so appropriate to read a couple of the artist points of view.
thanks! I also am featured on the blog:
hungry mountain talking of this type of inspiration…check out:
http://www.hungermtn.org/the-daily-inch
January 6, 2012 at 11:40 am
tinakuglerstudio
I need to find this book. Wonderful post!!
January 6, 2012 at 2:15 pm
shirley
Thank you so much, Tara..such fabulous inspirational quotes that really resonate. I am SO glad to have found your blog and PiBoIdMo. Wishing you and all of your readers a wonderful new year!
January 6, 2012 at 9:01 pm
thiskidreviewsbooks
Cool! I’ve never heard of this book… Aren’t Libraries awesome?!? 🙂
January 7, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Jan O'Neil
Ooh, I love this. Thanks!
January 8, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Beth MacKinney
I think I’ve read that book. Great choice for inspiration!
January 8, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Heather
I have to go find this book now, it sounds great! Good luck getting back into the groove in 2012.
January 9, 2012 at 10:20 am
Patricia Tilton
Enjoyed your very motivationald inspirational post. Am not familiar with the book, but it sounds like a book I’d enjoy. Can resonate with your feelings of getting going again after the holidays. Nice post.
January 9, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Melinda Tennison
Wonderfully inspiring post, Tara! Motivation can be a challenge at times, but your blog always seems to help move me in the right direction. Thanks!