Start Small

I’ve struggled with burnout on and off for the past 4 out of 5 years I’ve been a full time creator. It’s hard coming up with ideas, following through, running your whole marketing operation, and mostly being a one person show when you enjoy the company of working with others. Strangely enough, painting rocks was how I started painting again after a few years of rarely painting.

More than a month ago, my friend Alissa asked me if I wanted to paint one and I did, then I went home and painted my nails, then bought markers and kept painting rocks. I’m painting for the joy of it and not from a trying to sell paintings standpoint because it can be overwhelming trying to sell your work when all you want to do is make them.

I’ve been painting for me: rocks and guitars so far because I want to keep them, surround myself by them. But as soon as I get a collection of rocks built up, you bet they will be out in the world ready to greet you. Find a painted rock, take one, make one. Share a book. Make work that you’d like to keep instead of sell and the rest will fall into place. Trust the process.