What would you say is the greatest tool you have in your studio. Don’t look down the page to see what I think it is… take a moment to answer the question for yourself.

Is it your brushes? The canvas in the corner? The turntable that spins the vinyl you listen to while painting?

Honestly answer, what is the most important thing in your studio?

In this episode, I want to walk you through my discovery that the most important tool I have as an artist is none of those things. The most important tool you have is not even talked about in most art classes. What is it? Keep reading and listen to this episode…

Outline of This Episode

• [0:05] A transformational year for me and the work I’ve been doing with artists
• [1:32] Your brain is the most powerful tool you have in your studio
• [10:25] Your thoughts are the obstacle and that’s good news
• [11:59] My results from making this mental tweak
• [12:44] An example: You can’t figure out what’s wrong with a painting
• [13:30] Another example: I have to make this painting work
• [15:37] Start to be aware of what’s going on in your head

Your brain is the most powerful (and important) tool in your studio

The things that are going on in your mind when you enter your studio are powerfully important. I’m not talking about the latest tension you saw on social media before you opened the studio door (though that qualifies), I’m talking about the beliefs about yourself and your work that you carry into the studio with you.

Those are powerful. Those are what either enable you to do great work (the work you want to do) or do less than you hope for and less than you are capable of doing.

I want you to walk through a few examples in hopes that you can come to a vital understanding: Your thoughts are not reality.

Thoughts are merely how you interpret things

Have you ever wondered how 30 people can witness the same event and each of them will have their own unique perspective of what happened? It’s like there were 30 different versions of the event. How is this possible? It’s because each person interpreted the event differently in their own minds. That illustration helps us understand that our thoughts are not us and that if we can learn to change our thoughts, we can change our ability to do great work.

Up to this point in your artistic career you may have felt any number of things are your “problem,” the thing that’s holding you back.

• Do you believe that your painting skills aren’t good enough to do great work?
• Is it a belief that there are too many things in the way?
• Do you believe that there are way too many artists and not enough galleries?
• Are you uncertain what your style or voice as an artist is?

Any of these might be an issue and issues can be worked on specifically and diligently. But none of those is your real “problem.”

The real problem is WHAT YOU MAKE THOSE THINGS MEAN. Said a different way, the stories you tell yourself ABOUT those things is your problem. 

What you

Do you spend more time thinking about making art than actually making it? Start things you never finish? Make work and then stack it against the wall, facing inward, so you don't have to look at it?

If any of that sounds familiar, I'd love to chat.

Click here: savvypainter.com/survey to tell me what's going on. If it seems like I need more info, I'll reach out to schedule a call.

Thanks so much!

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