nothing much here right now

Letter from Robert the painters keys~

Dear Izabella,

I always thought it was just my problem. Every time
anyone--friend, art dealer or family member--wanted to take a
look around my studio, I felt I needed to apologize and tell
them, "Nothing much here right now. Come back later."

One day, several years ago, I dropped in on an elderly painter
who lives nearby. At her studio door she warned me there was
"nothing much here right now." I insisted on seeing around her
studio anyway. Every square inch of the place was filled with
her art. Canvases ten deep leaned against the walls. Pastels in
multiple piles a foot thick lay on large tables. I began to
suspect that my "Nothing Much Here Syndrome" (NMHS) might be a
universal condition. I wondered what might be at the root of
this deception.

For some time I've observed that only the really poor artists
are totally pleased with their work. I've also noted that most
who toil for quality are lacking in even modest amounts of
post-creation glee. As perfectionists and optimists, the better
artists fantasize that their work may get better. It seems a
mark of competency that these folks often hide their talents
under a bush. In the land of the truly good, there is the
tempting illusion that the truly good stuff will be created
"later."

Humans, of course, are probably hard-wired to be makers of
things. But, as widely noted by smarter pundits than I, human
beings are deeply flawed with incompetence and inadequacy.
Schools, universities and colleges exist on this principle.
People are widely advised there is no cure--other than to
become a student and to keep trying. Here's the point: the
stations of our trying are not only of interest, they are the
windows of our vitality, our personality, and become the very
ports of our progress. Advice: Be strong, open 'er up, let in
the interlopers--that stuff's worth looking at.

Hard-wired also is the artist's need to sail the high seas and
get away from the studio legacy. Intuitively, while we may love
our studios, we also suspect them. The travelling artist has
the benefit of being a more genuinely empty vessel, at least to
start with. Newly virginal, with only optimism and without a
nagging history of "not much here"--you have a clean canvas, a
fresh slate, an empty sheet, and there's nothing to do but fill
'er up.

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "Hope springs eternal in the human breast." (Alexander
Pope)

Comments

[Annabelle]

Robert speaks so many truths. I enjoy reading his letters.

Luv Annabelle

[Nicole Z.]

Great letter hun, loved reading it, thanks for sharing these thoughts. ;) Velvet Hugs Nicole

[helene]

thanks for sharing this Izabella...it was very interesting especially with the way I feel about my art and my future & the reality that yells at me: no money then you're nothing!

this letter brought some lights...

Blessings***

[Gypsy Purple--Chamara]

Oh how I enjoy the Robert letters...this was stunning...!!!

[Jamie]

I think I heart Robert:) He speaks true.