Brush and Pen

Any art form contains enough learning, exploration and discovery to last a lifetime for those willing to commit themselves to it. As a visual artist, the challenges of finding the right approach to a thematic series, what to edit or include, the appropriate tools and materials– can take me years to resolve in any given period. You’d think with everything else we have going on in our lives, a chosen field would offer plenty of room for expansion should the need for variety or change arise. Some writers for example, switch between poetry, short fiction, and novels. Many musicians are able to sing, play various instruments, compose songs for themselves and others. Actors have been known to produce and direct films. What happens though, when an artist engages in another discipline completely different from their own? Is it possible to sustain more than one career in the arts? What are the benefits and difficulties? A movie star pens a science-fiction book. An opera singer produces an exhibition of watercolours. A realist painter attempts the saxophone... Most of the time, a second endeavor is weaker or less developed than the primary one. Obviously, not every venture needs to become a career. Many art professionals who adopt further creative pursuits have no illusions about these additional interests. The reasons for involvement usually centre around recreation, relaxation or diversion. Perhaps it is chiefly research for work in progress. However, sometimes an artist already has a background of formal training in another area prior to the one they chose to dedicate their lives. Certainly no rules limit creative expression to a single art form. In fact, creative energy doesn’t even have to be expressed solely through the arts. But developing multiple talents does offer more to share with the world. It also has the potential to inform, find its way into other projects. If the First Law of Thermodynamics basically states that energy is never created or destroyed, only changed/transferred to another form, then it must apply to the creative impulse as well– especially during times when artists feel stymied in their work. Another discipline may reveal where that missing energy went, how it wants to be expressed, and if balance, contrast or diversity are currently essential to the process. If passion has bled out of work that requires detailed precision, then maybe pounding drums or improvised jazz will not only re-instate it’s presence, but invigorate other efforts.    
I paint and write. This extends the scope of opportunities and venues available for the placement of any creative output. Unfortunately, it also increases the amount of rejections I can now receive. There’s nothing like finding both, returned manuscripts and declined gallery submissions– busting out of your mailbox all at once. Constraints of time, energy and resources eventually became a problem. A habit grew whereby guilt at the neglect of one while I was occupied with the other, compromised an ability to be wholly present with either. The old pull of two directions and not enough hours in the day, or days in a week, to give equal attention to both...For now, painting is the priority, mainly because it is more physically demanding and I want to do as much as I can while I am still able.  Writing continues to be useful though, even with lowered expectations. Although a separate activity, it actually impacts my painting in unexpected, surprising ways. I attribute the narrative qualities evident in my work to the influence of writing. Other artists have discovered imaginative ways to include several of their passions together, for example, in a single piece, or a body of work. Striped tonal paintings based on the experience of teaching piano. Gestural drawings that recall movements from dance classes. If anyone out there successfully manages more than one art form, I would definitely like to hear how you do it, what sacrifices you had to make (or avoided) and whether or not it dissipates your energy. Power to you and long make you thrive.