7 Deadly Sins for Artists

April 6, 2012 in Creativity, Dreams, Guest Posts with 12 Comments

Photography/Artwork  by Andrew Zahn
 Editors note:Today I am pleased to have a guest post by the talented Andrew Zahn. Andrew is an actor, writer, corporate sales trainer and candy lover. I encourage you to visit his blog Creatives. He’d love to connect with you on Twitter and maybe even that Google+ thing.
 
1. Overindulge
Oversaturation drowns. 
2. Underindulge
Underfeeding starves. 
3. Work When You Feel Like It
Work is good. 
4. Be a Hermit
No man is an                          . 
5. Be Original
Artists sometimes curate instead of create.
6. Don’t Start
The time is now. 
7. Don’t Finish
Worse than not starting is not fini
 
 
Which sin(s) are you most guilty of? Please confess in the comments. Thanks! 
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  • Albert Lew

    Being original is one for me. I realize now it simply distracts me from the thought process I had in that moment in time. Thanks for posting this article, Jim. :)

    • http://www.zahndrew.com/ Andrew Zahn

      To ‘be original’ is a lot of pressure, and for most of us, pressure isn’t really conducive to the creative process. 

  • Yvette Carol

    Hey great post Andrew, I subscribed to your blog too. Man, that’s a lot of reading to do a week but I love it!! I’d say, in answer to your question, that I am definitely guilty of being a hermit. I am a homebody, and an introvert, so out here in the blogosphere is without a doubt the most socialising I do!! :-)

    • http://www.zahndrew.com/ Andrew Zahn

      Hi Yvette! Thanks for your kind comments. I hear you completely. I’m a hermit, but can fake a socializer when needed. It’s a hard charade to keep up for too long. We need our ‘quiet time’ don’t we?

  • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

    I think I’m guilty of both not starting and not finishing. It is REALLY difficult to finish a project. It is also really difficult to start a project if it is something new or intimidating. 

  • http://chrystalmurphy.com/ Chrystal

    Work when you feel like it…guilty!!

  • http://www.nicolelbates.com/ Nicole L Bates

    Hmm, I think I would claim to underindulge, but I fear that my son would say I overindulge. I try to work when he is asleep, which means getting up at about 5 a.m. to get in some writing time, but I find myself sneaking away to write when I see that he is otherwise occupied during the day. He always catches me though and insists that I stop and give him attention. It was so much easier when there were naps! 

  • http://www.zahndrew.com/ Andrew Zahn

    I hear you Scott. I’m a hermit too. It’s quite the tightrope walk at times isn’t it? (And I don’t know why this didn’t go in the ‘reply’ part to you)

  • http://www.indueseason.net skottydog

    #4 for me, without a doubt.  

    Between my 120 mile round trip commute to work every day, a 4 and a 2 year old climbing on me when I get home, stress at work all day long–it doesn’t leave much time for writing.  Then, when there is a window, I tend to try to take advantage of the few minutes to myself that exist (outside of bathroom time) and not do anything.  It has not only affected consistency on my blog, but also the clutter on my desk!

  • http://www.adamlasky.com/ Adam

    Definitely not finishing.  Sometimes I feel like I got a million things in the air and in my mind that I never get to.  Which leads to frustration.  Which leads to starting more projects.  Which leads to more frustration.  I also have a tendency to be a hermit as well.  And work when I feel like it.  Actually, I’ve committed all the deadly sins at some point.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      I totally understand Adam. I’m the same way too for the most part. The juggling too much game is something I often play!

    • http://www.zahndrew.com/ Andrew Zahn

      What’s the saying… “too many irons in the fire makes you wonder why you’re putting irons in the fire since we plug them in now anyway.” :-)