Going Through Changes. Personally and Artistically.

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People are always going through changes.  Sometimes those changes are more apparent because they’re happening fast, other times it takes years until you realize you’ve changed, or grown.  I believe that artists have the potential for growth that happens more quickly.  At least, that’s how it feels to me.  Working alone affords a lot of time to be introspective.  A lot of time for prayer and meditation.  A lot of time to turn off the thinking brain and to let inspiration flow.  How can one not change if they’re in that place on a regular basis?

I mentioned in my last post that I’ve been in a two year slump.  Definitely one of those times where change, if it’s happening, is taking it’s sweet little time. And don’t get me wrong…not changing isn’t a bad thing.  But, to grow as an artist (not necessarily to be a good one) change is necessary.

With the way that the economy is going these days many people are being forced to change.  They don’t have the luxury of time. That fear has been working on me too.  Someone has moved the cheese.  Revenues at bead shows are down.  Online sales are down.  People just aren’t spending money like they used to.  So what do we do?  That is what I have been asking myself.

When posed with that question my natural tendency is to go against the flow.  Do the opposite of what everyone else is doing.

So, what does this have to do with creativity?  It is what has sparked these beads.  While many people are drawing in, pulling back, acting out of fear, and planning, I’m going bigger.  Getting bolder.  Playing.  Throwing caution to the wind.  I’m spending a lot of time on things that don’t bring me money. Things for charity.  Not being focused on sales/money has freed my mind.  And my art.

I keep hearing radio shows talking about now being the best time to start new businesses.  That it’s a good time to invest.  That when things are tough is when entrepreneurs rise up.  The rate of new inventions rises.  While I’m not directly doing any of those things, somehow it’s getting to me too.

I could sit around and worry or I could move forward.  We can only do what we can do. Someone once told me, worrying doesn’t solve anything.

Lori Greenberg blogs about beads and the business of beads from her studio in Cave Creek, Arizona. You can see more of her beads at her web site: www.lorigreenberg.com