Stressed?

We are at that time of year with an upcoming critique, a semester fast coming to an end when students start to feel some pressure. I've just read some of your recent blogs and I empathise.

I'm not sure if there is any easy solution, but I do know that worry is a useless emotion and doesn't help you.

Part of the learning process is learning how to create a balance and use time effectively. Often jobs that should take a short time can take you ages, and I guess it is through this experience that you discover this. I find for students, what you set out to achieve, what you think is good and what is good is often two very different things.

The critique is NOT something that should burden you. Yes, you should try your best and try completing and resolving your work to the best of your ability, but at the end of the day, all it is , is a moment of reflection, a time to look at yourself, a time to see how you may do things differently, a time to ask questions and to learn.

Everyone learns differently and at their own pace, and art "clicks" for people at different times. you just need to keep pursuing it and enjoying the 'half adventure' that happens as you push yourselves.

Drawing this week is a good example, a change in medium, a different influence (video) may be all it takes for something new to click and your find new ground..something works.

I thought I'd post the following:

Stress is not what happens to us. It is our response to what happens. And RESPONSE is something we can choose. Maureen Killoran

The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without our thinking. Albert Einstein

There is more to life than increasing its speed . Gandhi

Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nathalie Goldberg

There is a healthy state of upliftment and anticipation when you are totally involved with your work and inspired by what you are doing, try to find this state of mind.