It’s 2021. Do You Know Where Your Projects Are?

Through interviews I've been conducting with creatives, I've noticed a common theme; they all have important projects and they're all facing challenges. So, in today's post, we'll be talking about how to finish art projects.

The artists I interview talk about their art, their processes, how they balance their day jobs with their creativity, and lots of other best practices (and some frustrations, too. It isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, in case you think you’re the only one facing resistance or fear).

There are two unifying characteristics among all of the artists

As I mentioned above they all have intriguing projects they're working on, and they’re all facing some headwinds.

This includes me, and my Artists Don’t Starve book. I’m ready to give birth but afraid I can’t.

I’ve learned a lot about the creative process over the past year, so I’m dedicating January to helping us get started, keep going, and finish.

Tip #1 for how to finish your art projects: Find the purpose.

This works no matter whether you’re starting out, in the middle, or getting close to finishing. Remembering the purpose of your work will keep you going through the dips.

Here’s one way to do that: use this repeating question to get to the deep purpose of the project you’re working on. The repeating question is "So that what?"

Here's what I mean using my book project as an example.

Why am I writing Artists Don’t Starve?

To give artists tools that work to make friends with resistance, fear and their inner critics, so they can get their work into the world.

So that what?

So more artists can do their work with ease.

So that what?

More art gets into the world to improve our culture--the way we see ourselves, other people and the world. 

So that what?

So there’s more beauty, understanding and joy in the world.

Ultimately--I want my book to bring beauty, understanding and joy to the world. I don’t know about you, but I find this pretty motivational.

I recommend using this "So that what?" trick when you're feeling stuck. Open up a document on your computer and try this. It’s a tool that might work. It’s not the only one (more will follow this month), but it’s worth trying.

I interviewed the two following artists for my series, and they talked about their projects.

Andre Solorzano is creating a comic book about the Salvadoran Diaspora.

Lisa Shifren is creating a book of photographs she has made of Holocaust survivors.

What is your project? Where are you in the process?

This is a time to remember--your work matters.