I love creating, and the creative process!
However, I have always found it rather challenging to work through distractions. Mind you, I should be specific here and say that I have often found it challenging to work through distractions that somehow involve me, even if only peripherally.
Designs I was working on and finished today!
When I was in college, I was always able to concentrate on my reading; on my homework even though my roommates might be watching sports on TV or there were other people in the room talking and doing things.
That's not the problem.
The problem arises when I'm concentrating on something creative — whether it's painting or writing — and somebody comes up and says something like "can you look at this real quick?"
I suppose it may be as a result of my ADHD, but my impression is that most people can just insert a bookmark in what they're doing and come back to it without too much trouble.
My experience is not so simple.
Whereas I don't mind getting up to help somebody with something, or to be part of a conversation for a couple of moments, when I go back to my creative endeavors it often takes me 15 minutes (or more) just to get back to the place where I left off, both in terms of "flow," as well as simply being in the creative mindset that was going when I was interrupted.
Over the years, I've discovered that I'm not the only artistic type person who struggles with this particular issue.
And yet?
Most of us face regular interruptions because art is kind of a part time endeavor of ours, and there are almost always more important things clamoring for our attention.
When it comes to painting, part of the problem becomes that I tend to return to what I was doing to find partially dried paints that I have to revive and then I have to try to remember how exactly I came up with the color that I'm using at this point.
With writing it's a little different and mostly revolves around interruptions meaning that my train of thought will more or less permanently leave the planet, leaving me feeling like whenever I was working on is going to be forever incomplete because I had a fully formed set of thoughts and now I'm trying to finish something that doesn't actually have the last third, anymore.
Which is why sometimes I end up publishing things (although much of the time I just end up sending them to the recycle bin) that feel like they have a very abrupt and incomplete ending.
Of course there's no easy solution unless you are always by yourself and your time is entirely your own. And that's not a "luxury" I have had in many many years!
Will I ever have uninterrupted time? No telling... it would be contingent on selling enough that I would not have to worry about jumping up and dealing with other things... and that may be a long time coming!
Thanks for stopping by! Do leave me a comment if you feel so inspired — interaction and engagement are always welcome!
If you enjoy painted rocks, do check out The Hive Rocks Project and help spread the word about Hive, while also being creative!
Because I am trying to make some semblance of income — a part time living, even — I now add this footer to all my posts, in the hope that someone, somewhere, might decide to take a further look at my work, and perhaps consider supporting independent art.
Thank you, in advance, for your consideration and support!
My Alchemy Stones Patreon appeal
Alchemy Stones web site and blog
Regardless, your upvotes and comments are always appreciated!
2022.08.25 AS-TXT-119/087
