I told you I was wanting to sketch some cows. I bet you didn't expect this goofy little drawing. I saw these cute cows on a card and thought they would be fun to draw. Easy. My artist brain just defaulted to copy mode. I use to tell my kids all the time, "It takes so little to be above average in the work force" and I believe it. I'm just settling for average today, not taking myself too seriously, just having fun. I guess we all need days like that. But, as I get older I find it harder and harder to push and be disciplined about my goals. I'm not hungry enough I'm sure and not uncomfortable enough to sweat the hard work for the next level. "The throbbing vein will take you farther than any thinking" -Rumi. So tomorrow I refuse to take on the herd mentality of mediocrity. I will rise above this comfort level and stretch myself once again. When asked about the easy reads his books offered, Mark Twain said, "Great books are wine, mine are water - but everyone drinks water."
So I'll just have to enjoy my watered down art today.
But I don't want a mediocre life, love or art. What do you do to rise above the level of mediocrity?
6 comments:
What an excellent question. In some areas, I don't bother to avoid mediocrity. In my writing and editing, I think I feel conscious all the time that it's my very self I'm laying out there for the world to see. I guess that's my motivation to be the best I can with the amount of time and the parameters I have for each task.
Sometimes a relaxation into the ordinary and non-challenging can spur us on to greater performance the next day. It sounds like it might be doing that for you...
I like the drawing - it looks like it was fun to make. Not all drawing has to be art. So this wasn't chicken Kiev - it was brownies. Nothing wrong with that sometimes.
Oh, I like the cows.....whether they're a copy or not!
And, I like that guy's comment above.....about being ordinary and non-challenged.....that fits me! I wish I had some ambition to rise above mediocrity.....maybe. Would that mean I have to keep a sparkling clean house? If so.....forget it. I'll stick with the mediocre.
Great, thought-provoking post. And, I always love cow art!
I love brownies and the cows are cool, imho!
I don't worry too much about mediocrity because I am my only judge(unless I share it on my blog :) but I hate to waste my paints so I usually don't continue with it if I think I am...I don't feel I make great art, but they bring me Joy, a lift of Spirit, in their creation and, for me, that's the purpose for making it in the first place...
there is much food for thought in your question!...my journal has it's share of mediocre stuff but it still holds meaning for me and that's the bottom line...if it brings you a tinge of Joy, then it's not mediocre, it's miraculous! And your cows make me smile ~ Perfection!
Peggy, I've nominated your blog for an award. You can pick it up from my blog:)
http://anecik-sz.blogspot.com/2008/10/award.html
Well your cows look like they're looking at you saying "What?" .... you've totally captured the silly innocent faces of cows doing what they do best - munching :) Personally I love it!
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