Mid-Year NYE

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The 4th of July celebration feels for me like a mid-year NYE. Technically we reach the first half of the year and celebrate with fireworks. The first half of this year has been very exciting and busy, so much it feels like a full year just passed. The second half of the year looks busy already but moreover it is going to be full of changes, challenges, new routines to get used to, new vocabulary to master, and agendas to put together as one.

With the new school year upon us we have to combine several agendas: university, school, homeschooling, and work. I get asked a lot how do I do so many things and still have time to share with family and friends. I don’t have a straight answer for that but I believe it is about having your priorities in order. Whatever is more important to you will always take the most important part of your agenda and everything else will find a place or not.

The Mid-Year NYE is also a good opportunity to assess the goals set at the beginning of the year. Small victories are victories too. Even more, those small victories help increase self-efficacy and engagement to continue trying and working hard to finish the year strong. Not only that but it gives a chance to re-evaluate and change goals if necessary. Exploring new possibilities is a good thing sometimes. It is possible that we need to pursue different goals before going back and continue others.

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 Join our painting and sculpting parties in July

Play Your Game

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I am not good at chess. I play a little and can hang in there through a game but I don’t take the game seriously. I’ve never touched a chess book as some people do. I do like to think ahead five or six moves and develop options based on possible moves from the opponent. I do the same when I fight. I plan my moves and plan my reactions to possible attacks but remaining flexible and alert to any surprises. I play chess very fast too. I don’t like to be there thinking for too long what my next move is going to be. Some people take so long to make a move a just bring my sketchbook with me and doodle while they think. People have their way of playing and I respect that.

During my stay in Kampala, Uganda we played chess from time to time. One of the guys was slightly obsessed to beat me since his first nine attempts didn’t prosper. I went to Rakai for a few days and upon my return to Kampala my friend was waiting for me at the gate with the chess board in his hands. He told me about his nightmares during those nights and how he figured out how to defeat me. Honestly, he was so much better than me at the game and also takes chess very seriously. His tenth attempt ended in his defeat yet again. At that point I had to reveal my secret: “You are defeating yourself. You are trying to play my way. Play your game not mine”. We played for the eleventh time and after two hours and twenty five minutes, and many sketches, he won.

Sometimes we get distracted from achieving our goals because we are trying to play someone else’s game. Each one of us have specific goals sustained by specific values and desires. However, sometimes we try to adapt our ways and end up losing ourselves. I’ve been asked by a few people to change my art to something more ‘commercial’ so I can sell more. People is always recommending to do things in a certain way as if one size fits all. On the other hand, some people try to do things the way I do things. Doing things the way I do things entails that you have to become me and that might not work for you. I am not a fan of either one.

We can share knowledge and we can learn from each other. These are two different processes. We share knowledge all the time. Right now as you read this I am sharing knowledge with you. We transfer or give information. Learning is about ‘making sense’ and ‘finding meaning’ of the information in ways that we can apply, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize in new ways to create new things or thoughts. Learning is not about copying, reproducing actions, or repeating what somebody else’s said. Learning is experience through applied knowledge. Use what you learn to play your game.

Define Your Destination

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If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.

Lewis Carroll
(Alice in Wonderland)

Instructional system design begins with an analysis and this is a principle we can apply to more than just designing effective learning solutions. You can use these questions to define a plan of action to achieve your goals. It is futile to attempt solving a problem if we don’t know what the problem is. A good prescription comes as a result of a good diagnosis. We can’t suggest a solution without understanding the need first.Defined problems are easier to solve than undefined ones. The analysis phase is like detective work. We ask questions:

  • Where are you now?
  • Where do you want to go?
  • What do you want to accomplish?
  • Why? What is motivating you to go there?
  • How do you get there?

The answers to these questions are going to help draw a roadmap. Imagine that you are using a GPS device. Identify your current situation. Define your destination. In order to determine the best route to take you need those two pieces of information. Certainly with no destination we can arrive anywhere. Leaving a trail of breadcrumbs in case you get lost is not effective. Just ‘ok’ is not enough. There are many more questions we can ask here depending on the situation in order to form a plan of action.

In the analysis we can’t forget about affective factors that are motivating the change. The attitude towards change can define the willingness to change and how much effort would be directed towards reaching the destination. Knowing where you are going is not enough. The affective domain includes values, beliefs, feelings and emotions. This is important to build a bridge between the current and the optimal desired situation because the affective domain gives ‘color’ to behavior by setting the mindset of the process.

The last question would be answer by synthesizing the answers from the previous questions. Once you have a map, the current and the desired destination, and the motivational factors, a plan of action can be designed. Through the process of designing the plan it is important to return to these questions and the answers and determine if necessary alternative routes as time and the plan progresses. Knowing where you want to go is a step to get there. You just have to start walking towards the vision you already have.

Resolutions and Goals

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Photo Nov 22, 10 38 29 PMIt is that time of the year! Many are figuring out their new year resolutions and goals.  The desire of making something different for a new year is very common. We know most of them are carrying on from previous years. We also know that desiring to do something is not enough. Resolutions are decisions or determinations to accomplish something. Action is required.

Goals on the other hand require a plan and commitment to achieve results. Goals require preparation and lots of work. Self-regulated individuals know all about being ready, taking action, and being committed to a plan. The results often reveal their efforts. The most important aspect of self-regulation is intentionality. Self-regulated individuals are not only capable of controlling their impulses but also do this intentionally. It is a decision followed by a plan. The plan is then followed by commitment and action. Achievement comes as a result.

Achieving a goal is not the only benefit. Cognitive psychology explains that reaching a goal also improves self-efficacy. Our perceptions to reach a goal transcend the domain in which we reached success but to other areas in our lives. A cycle of improving self-efficacy continues as goals are achieved. Cognitive psychology suggests therefore to set achievable short-term goals towards a larger goal. Which each step we feel closer to the finish line, more willing and stronger to continue.

This year set up your goals and make a plan. Remember to set realistic achievable goals and break down those goals into short-term goals. Be firm in your decision to accomplish your goals. Commit to your plan. Keep track of your progress and celebrate each accomplishment one short-term goal at a time. I wish you all the success for the new year.

Who Decides Your Success?

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contactIt seems like everyone in the art world knows if you are successful or not in. Interestingly, there is no specific measure of success. Everyone measures success by comparing someone with someone else. Artists are trying to compare themselves with other artists to determine if they are successful or not. People who claim they can help you be successful are comparing one artist with another, or with some quantitative formula they invented for their own entertainment. There are so many books about how to succeed in the art world seems like we will never read a fraction of them. Measuring success in the art world sounds like people trying to figure out how much of a sinner they are by comparing with the sins of others.

Who Decides Your Success? There is no one-size-fits-all measure of success for an artist. You have to determine your success by setting your own goals. Setting goals is important, but be careful to stress yourself about those goals forgetting your love for the art itself. When setting goals be realistic. Set up short-term goals and make sure these goals are achievable. Most importantly, do not measure yourself with others. Be your own measure of success with your own qualification and quantification. Measuring success by how many pieces you sold, or how much money you made, is important. I get it! But our lives are so much more than numbers.

studio timeI didn’t want to get involve in the ‘business’ side of art because I didn’t want to stop loving what I do. While I’m definitely prefer to be sculpting all day everyday, I realized that the business side of art is very important, because it allows me to continue creating. I love to network and meet new people, and I also love to teach. As my wife says, “If you were making art alone, you wouldn’t have the chance to meet so many people, you wouldn’t be making all these connections, and you wouldn’t be teaching”. I can do all the other things without neglecting my studio time.

The business aspect of art doesn’t have to be separate from making art. It shouldn’t consume your love for art or the time you need to be creative. Moreover, no one else should determine your success but you. Decide for yourself what success is and work for it. Don’t compare yourself with others and what they are doing. Yes, it is good to listen, read, and learn from others. That’s how we grow. Seek help if you need to. Surrounding yourself with the right kind of people is going to make your life better, but don’t let others decide what success is. People would never be satisfied and if you let them decide for you, you would never be either.