How Can We Work on Productivity as Artists?

From time to time, muses fly around us, and if we have the necessary materials and time at that moment, our artistic productivity increases significantly. This affects both the quality of the art and the frequency of production. However, sometimes we get tired as if we were doing a chore during production and we cannot reach conclusions. Even if we complete the art we make by forcing ourselves, sometimes we are not satisfied with it, or we do not know how to actually finish it and leave it “unfinished”, and we are afraid to even look at it. In my opinion, as artists, we should approach our art like our child and be patient and attentive with it.

When I was mentally and physically tired of working on a project, I tried many methods to solve this, and some were useless, while others gave me great results. In fact, one of my simplest pieces of advice would be to accept the work you are working on as it is. As artists, we decide when the work is finished or when it is incomplete. Most of the time, we constantly add to the work we have done and sometimes it takes months to complete a project. Sometimes even after months we continue to play with it, saying “it would be better if it was like this”, and there are many people who regret it after saying it is finished and opening it to the public. The best solution to this is to be aware that we are the only authority on the work, and when it gives us a level of satisfaction, maybe it is better to accept it as it is without turning it into an obsession. Of course, it is necessary to be patient and make subtle touches during this process; otherwise, art will turn into chaos that we will constantly work on and we do not want that. In short, my advice to you is to accept that your art that is finished but seems “unfinished” is just "done” and embrace it. Move on to your next project and do not let your own productivity get in the way of yourself.

Another advice I have is to spend time with nature if possible. As artists, no matter what we do, we imitate nature and it is always an advantage for us to know her closely, spend quality time with her and be good friends. At the same time, it is very important to dedicate time to consuming art during the day and observing the feelings you experience closely as a part of this. The biggest part of your art is your emotions and getting to know them closely will greatly benefit you in terms of expression. Consuming other works of art is of course very valuable in terms of both technique and inspiration. Another important point is to be able to stay in that moment when you pick up your pen, brush or instrument and start your art ritual after all this. While opening up to other worlds, getting away from your worldly problems and thoughts of what to eat for dinner will be good for both you and your art. After all this, when you get tired and feel stuck, it is often better to take a break. After all, it is not going anywhere, and both your art and you need some time. As we mentioned at the beginning, it is very important to approach them like our children and to be patient.