I’ve been asking myself whether painting and design is still just a hobby; nothing more than a random occurrence of inspiration. Or do art and design represent a future I have never considered before?

Prior to being on long-term leave, I had several careers, almost all in corporate environments. Honestly, I’ve felt a bit at sea without that structure and the purposefulness offered by a regular job. I’ve been thinking lately that, although I no longer go to an office, there’s no reason I can’t incorporate some of the time management teachings that proved successful in former settings. So does that mean art is work? I suppose that depends on how one defines “work” and whether the outcome of that effort has value to you or the community of which you are a part.

Whether I concentrate on product or process as a measure of success, this is where I’ve chosen to put my creative energy. Why not take a page from musicians and writers. How do they improve and stay fresh? How do they learn new techniques and keep on top of their game? I think they do it by incorporating a bit of discipline. For me, that means painting or drawing every day, getting more adept at using the tools and various mediums. Experimenting and be willing to waste a few canvases. Even if it’s just an hour or two per day, the effort will pay dividends ─ whether or not it is immediately apparent.

Will every work be a masterpiece? Of course not. I’ll count myself lucky if I strike gold. That’s not what I’m looking for. What I want is to find a sense of purpose and plumb the depths of my capabilities; to get better at deconstructing my vision and reconstructing on the canvas or on the page. If this is what I truly want, then I must be willing to give myself over to it fully if I want to succeed. If this is what I truly want then, yes, art is work. My kind of work!