Art As Avoidance

With few exceptions,people procrastinate and put off doing things that need to be done, in lieu of things that are enjoyable to do.
If you are fortunate enough to claim art as your business, there isn't a whole lot of "daily grind" attitude....you should be anxious to get up in the morning and have at it.

Marlene, there are way more wannabes than professionals here so in your case, art isn't avoidance.

Thought this was about avoiding doing the laundry and working on a painting instead. Or doing what I'm doing now, and hanging out on this discussion site instead of doing the other things I meant to do this morning...
...which reminds me I really do need to get those things done, so... gotta go.

Procrastination is my middle name

Not so much about mundane chores. There are many times when I'm so wrapped up in the creative process that I am completely oblivious to anything else going on around me. If something does manage to penetrate the bubble and is persistent enough to require immediate attention I will deal with it but 99% of the distractions don't even register. Pretty convenient until it isn't.

Kathleen, Actually, it can be....I'd much rather be painting than taking care of the business side of things.
Over the years, the business consumes more and more.....I honesty don't know how people with day jobs fit everything into their schedules.....

I am a firm believer in procrastination, really. Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow.

Marlene, I'm guessing that most of us drop the ball a lot.We are spread too thin to take care of everything that needs taking care of so compromises must be made. But I tend to focus solely on whatever project I'm into and push everything else away.

But Pat, isn't there a difference between putting off odious chores and using art to avoid having to deal with life?

ETA - Goatie girls are hollering so I need to go see if they're gotten into the garden. I guess some things DO penetrate, LOL.

Since working in the arts I procrastinate far far less.

Everyone has their own thing.

Dave

Yup. I should be folding laundry right now but I found a nice photo to edit….

Kathleen... "Pretty convenient until it isn't." LOL...I know all about that.

Uh.... yup yup yup. & that goes for the forums too.

Painting is my escapism - I can simply paint things the way I want them to be.

( @ Patricia - I've meant to say how much I love your new avatar )

Don't put off until tomorrow what you can put off for all time

Stove and oven cleaning, now that's an overdue chore - that is I remember it as chore last time I attempted it (about a decade ago)

Solution: just turn it to full until all the grease has burnt away

Also micro hoarding - stuff like old electronics that deserves to be got ridden of, but accumulates in the corner into a mountain of shame

Being a single mom to a few kids still at home I tend to use my photography as a way to unwind. I also have a full time job that I can retire from in 9 years and counting!

Do I use my photography as a way of getting out of doing things at home? Sure since it is the ONLY time I am able to do something for me.

When I go out and capture photos I do take my three youngest with me and I am teaching them how to take pictures with their cameras.

I make art to avoid aging or at least slow it down.

I was going to answer you but I decided not.

Procrastination runs rampant at this very moment....But for just the opposite reason.

I HAVE TO CREATE WORK for the annual shows I do.

And what am I doing instead??...Typing

I see what you mean, Kathleen... hmm, I'm going to have to think on that. Thank you, Janine!

Well, this thread just shamed me into cleaning my toilet, Kathleen ;-). Although that's not exactly a "hot" issue.

I've been spending the last three days editing. I'm ready to upload, but I'm too tired. I will be spending all day tomorrow uploading instead of mopping my floors.

Between wasting time on the computer and pushing to get new beds ready to plant before the rains, I haven't taken care of anything else besides my animals. Luckily my partner takes up the domestic slack and has long since become resigned to my shutting everything out except whatever I'm working on. Not sure that kind of imbalance is a good thing (relationships aside) but it is what it is and I doubt that I'll change though sometimes I think it should try (otherwise I probably wouldn't have brought up the topic).

One of the things I do like about long roads trips is that it forces me to deal with a whole variety of things instead of shutting out everything except pursuing the next shot. I always feel so capable and self-sufficient when I'm traveling because I deal with everything fairly competently, then when I get back, I slide right back into using art to shut out everything else because I can. At some point there will be a rude awakening,

Kathleen,
Don't be so hard on yourself....one in the partnership has to be the domestic one.
Honey loves to cook and clean up. He's great at shopping, laundry and housekeeping as well.
When I am on a painting jag, I just let him know that if he wants food, clean house and clothes, he'll have to completely take over.