Serious artist or hobbyist? A new start in Berlin

Originally I was going to keep this blog as a dry record of events in which my art is being exhibited. But since my move to Berlin in late 2013, I have started to reflect on my arts practice and I realised it was time to get honest with myself. I am going to use this space more for discussion of my process, thoughts and ideas to get an insight into my work. This is helpful for me, and maybe for you, if you are interested in what I do. 

I have had a few chats with other artists, writers and comedians too, about the creative process. Since a child, I have considered that the artistic process must be consistent throughout the duration of ones life. I have nurtured the idea, that to be a true artist one must work at their practice physically, in every waking moment. Anyone who doesn't do this is a hobbyist, an amateur, or just not that serious. I am not entirely sure where this idea originated, but I have a sense it was from all of those Modern artists biographies I read as a child. Artists lived, loved and died for their art. All very romantic and heroic stuff. 

20 years into the future I am an artist, and by a random set of events, I am living in Berlin Germany, the hub of contemporary art. One would suppose that by now I would be showing in some galleries, mingling with other artists and basically using the energy of the city to bring my art to life. But, I in fact, I am not making that much art at all. And this is the point I want to explore: contrary to my childhood ideas about art, I actually think to be an artist you do not need to be making art ALL THE TIME. Sounds a bit like a lazy person's excuse, you are thinking. Well, it isn't. I have met and worked with a lot of artists from around the world  over the last 8 years in particular, and it is clear to me that every artist has a unique process. Some artists work from 9 - 5pm, focused on one form of art for many years. Others are working on several projects, often in different mediums, and the projects  often stop and start over a course of years. 

My process, I think, works in cycles. I naturally work in intense periods of time, usually from 4 - 6 weeks. And I could be working on anything from a series of poems, learning guitar, baking cakes, painting, sculpting with clay, or knitting. But for me, each of these processes and projects are an outlet for my creativity and are part of what I call my artistic process. The products of this process are eclectic and multi-mediumed, but I can see now they are part of a life long project to be a creative person and live a creative life. And in fact, even the spaces in the cycle -in which I am reading science fiction novels, drawing cartoons with German speech bubbles, or spending time daydreaming as I walk along the Spree birdwatching - these are PART of the WHOLE creative process for me. Without these life experiences, these observations outside of myself, I would always feel blocked. Creativity is about freedom and having the option to choose how to let that creativity flow. 

So, if in the next few months you hear that I have taken up singing, or comedy or amateur robotics, don't think I have lost my way as an artist. I know what I am doing. I AM serious.