Nook 1 (searching for that quiet place to just read) by Joshua Krause

Awhile back, I flippantly mentioned to folks on Facebook and Twitter that I felt I wasn’t doing enough with my art. The response I got was pretty much, “You’re doing enough, cut yourself some slack”. I’m always grateful for the people I have met that keep me grounded, make sure I don’t spin out of control because that is always a remote possibility with me.

However, when I mentioned not doing enough, I didn’t necessarily mean that I needed to do more work, push myself harder and longer each day. When I say “more”, I mean more progression in my work, extending myself. I don’t feel like I’m pushing my creativity enough, I’m taking the easy way out of what I’m doing sometimes.

I realize that some people who buy my art appreciate the simplicity of my collages and might not dig work that is a little more high concept. If I push through to a new realm and nobody appreciates but me, was the effort fruitless? Probably not, because I can always meet somewhere in the middle.

Lorraine Glessner, an artist and art teacher, has an art blog called “Oh What A World, What a World” where she features some of the most astounding artist from all over. The site is a constant source of inspiration, but also the main reason I tell myself I need to do more. Take the work by Joshua Krause for instance.

Joshua Krause on Oh What a World, What a World

Abstract art is where I started, but obviously I’ve gone in a completely different direction. When I look at work like Joshua’s I start dreaming of how I can progress my work to something at this level. This is a long road from where I’m at now, and I’m not expecting to go this far away from where I am now, but I know I can do better.

What about you? What are you doing to raise the bar on your work?