Momentum - creative drive to move forward.

One of my words for 2024 is: momentum. The inspiration came from Austin Kleon’s book Show Your Work. He talks about this concept of being a “creative chain smoker”, meaning, we need to start our next project as soon as we finish the last one.

So often, we may feel tired and empty at the end of a project from all the energy expended to produce and share our work. We tell ourselves that we need a break, or vacation, to recharge before we dare start the artist engine again, however, that’s the creative equivalent of taking your foot off the gas. When we reduce our speed and switch to creative cruise control, we may end up parked and stuck somewhere in our artist journey. 

Spinning our wheels

We got hit with a blizzard this month and I spent a lot of time shoveling and removing snow. I needed to move the cars out of my driveway to clear the snow from the spaces, so I asked my son move one of the cars around the block until I was done.

After I cleared the spot, I asked him to move the car back into the space. I waited and waited until I walked down the alley and saw him spinning his wheels at the top of the hill. I ran over, hoping to push him free. His wheels were spinning and turning but going nowhere at all. It was too late. His stationary position and the slippery footing made it impossible to push and generate any momentum.

We decided it was best to back down the hill again, even further back than expected to ensure enough speed. His tires slowly crunched in the snow as he backed away. Finally, at the bottom, he hit the gas and maintained his speed. I waited to push him onward at the top but he glided right past me and made it home safely. 

keep your projects moving forward

I think there is a parallel to your creative life. Brief moments of pause and recharging are important in our life, but we also need to be aware of our creative seasons or positions. Depending on where you are, for example - you might be tapping into a new creative rhythm or creating multiple works that are developing a new theme. In these cases, it may be best to keep your foot on the pedal and keep your work and calling moving forward in the right direction. It may be tempting to stop and rest but you have to remember that slowing down too much, you might risk losing momentum and getting stuck and spinning your wheels. 

Monthly Challenge: Write down on a sheet of paper your current project and then make a list of three potential projects that you could start right away after. Take time to reflect on these options for awhile. Then, select the one you think pairs best with your current project. Finally, set a reminder in your phone or on a calendar, or maybe even ask a friend to check in on you to be sure you’re ramping up your next project as the current one finishes. Developing the habit of looking ahead and generating creative momentum may be an essential key to achieving your creative goals this year.

-André Vander Velde
Artist Community Leader