Take Advantage of Routine: Stan Kurth on Learning and Goal Setting
This is part of the end of year advice series. Podcast guests offer suggestions on how to use an hour a day to get better at painting and share some of their own goals (and how they set them) for the year ahead.
Artist and workshop instructor Stan Kurth (Ep. 9) has drawn and painted most of his life. An aunt, who was an artist and art instructor, became a big influence even before he began school. Kurth lives with the conviction of “fear not” and that same attitude permeates not just his life but his art.
On an Hour a Day:
Committing to an hour a day isn't easy. Here are some things that help me get over any reluctance. I make this time a routine by repeatedly doing it. After a while it becomes a habit. I make it consistent and convenient, roughly the same location and time. I lessen the burden of setup time by creating a space where everything I need is always ready or near-ready to go.
For example, I do daily intuitive sketches during the evening when I'm less likely to be disturbed. Everything I need to do this is in one convenient location, a comfortable place. Small travel palette, brushes, small water container and paper towel are all ready to go. I just add water, ink, watercolor and gouache.
Setting Art Goals:
Once I have finished a painting I have to do something with it. What do I do with it? Should I paint over it? Do I keep it? Do I sell it? Do I exhibit it? Do I rest my laurels on it? (May it never be!)
I'm always looking for opportunities to expand my audience, which leads to possible sales and teaching opportunities. Marketing is one big frown emoji, but as a serious artist you have to do it and it's all about exposure, getting your work noticed and recognized with ongoing networking, social media, newsletters, websites, e-commerce, videos, interviews, press releases, books, magazines, articles, podcasts, awards, exhibitions, shows, etc., etc., etc.
“I do daily intuitive sketches during the evening when I'm less likely to be disturbed. Everything I need to do this is in one convenient location, a comfortable place. Small travel palette, brushes, small water container and paper towel are all ready to go. I just add water, ink, watercolor and gouache.”
- Stan Kurth
I use my calendar to list tasks or notes which will benefit me in this regard. Anytime I see or hear of an opportunity I make a note of it in my calendar and respond to it either on or before the date where it was entered.
These opportunities can be just about anything, but they're mostly notes to myself to accomplish something triggered by the opportunity. My calendar is filled with tasks, all of which are contributing to the goal of getting my work as much exposure as possible. The more the work gets exposed, the more opportunities come along, which in turn produces more notes for my calendar.
This pattern expands exponentially. Seventeen years ago one of those notes in my calendar was to buy a domain name and create a website. There are many website related notes in my calendar in the years since. It's not just a coincidence my online presence parallels my calendar notes over those years. I think you get the picture. My calendar is one big compilation of tasks which points to a pie-in-the-sky goal of achieving Picassoesque stature.
Learn more about artist Stan Kurth here:
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