Discipline and devotion in art

A great Canadian painter, Didi Gadanski, once suggested to me the two dualities, or delineated sides of artistic practice: discipline and devotion, and the presiding need for both. For so many years, I was devoted to the ‘idea’ of painting, but in work life, did not have the disciplined hours to make it happen.

Looking back, I would suggest to any “creative”, that they apply the same schedule and vigor to their craft, as they might, to say, working out regularly at a gym. It’s the 10,000 hours of mastery that we must accumulate, and then maintain over time. I was able to remain somewhat in my practice, as I always painted on my vacations. In these times, my weaker efforts ran to muddied, and over-worked pieces, as I was not giving my work enough time and energy to solidify and develop.

The Covid Pandemic created the daily quiet space that my craft demanded. I am thrilled with my loose work of this past year. A recent workshop facilitator from Hilton Head, SC, said of my work, “well, Brenda’s voice leaves a lot that is unspoken in her work.” I was happy with that tip to the abstract. - BLCB 2021