Cultivating a BIG Project
I’m wrapping up my third major theme at the moment (Romance), and preparing to tackle a new one (Community). This is a part of my practice that I didn’t know would exist ten years ago. I’ve commented on project size/duration before:
One of the most motivating experiences in the art-making process is finishing something. If you’re early in your practice, or art is lower on your list of priorities, I recommend that you take on projects that can be completed in a single creative session. If you want to be ambitious, commit to something that you can complete inside of a month, even if you only have one evening a week to work on it.
I am just now taking on projects that require two whole years of my creative efforts. This feels like a long commitment. One of my biggest mistakes in my early career was committing to 5-year long collaborations or projects with undefined endings. And to be clear, I HATED receiving this advice as a student. I thought that people didn’t believe in my ability to complete an ambitious project and I was determined to prove them wrong. In reality, they were speaking from experience and trying to leave me more open to creative growth and unexpected opportunities.
Sometimes you have an idea and it feels precious to you. It’s the best idea you’ve ever had or will ever have and you need to do it justice creatively. I see you. Try to think about doing it in stages. What small piece of your dream project can you take to completion and have it feel satisfying and stand-alone? What would it look like to do this project (or a distinct piece of it) within a reasonable time frame? You will have more ideas that feel just this magical, and you will have a lifetime of opportunity to work on them, but if you never get to finish anything, you will have a much harder time staying motivated.
- Penrose Periodical, Vol 2
I’ve discovered that beginning a big project is feeling habitual and easy, which is so cool. I thought I would share some of the questions, steps, research, and parameters that I set up for myself when beginning a years-long creative theme.
What themes have felt rich an full of potential lately?
What aesthetics have felt rich and full of potential lately?
Talk to friends, family, and creative coworkers about the themes.
Save at least a hundred images of related aesthetics: colour, composition, style, lighting, texture, etc
Find a few other artists who are doing something related and make sure to be in conversation with their work. (Don’t copy them. Do talk about/to them. Make sure to contribute something new/different.)
Consider scale and accessibility.
Consider where/when/how the public will interact with this work. Only at the end via exhibition? Or collaboratively throughout?
Consider material, space, equipment, time and financial resources you will require to create the art.
Start small and get proof of concept. This will help with grant acquisition and/or public trust/participation.
