Too Many Late Nights In Front Of The Canvas?

Question

The problem is most of us artists still have to get up the next morning and go off to some real job and do some real work to pay our bills.

How often do your inspirational surges play hell with your real time life? You ever get into a groove and not want to stop? Shouldn't God or the US government figure out some way for us to keep the same hours as our muses and still be able to pay our bills?

I don't know about you guys but my muse likes to keep late night hours and more often than not she's a pain in the butt when it comes to punching a more practical time clock.

So about four o'clock this morning this thing was finished:

http://pics.livejournal.com/unmired/pic/00077cx9/g41

The title is either an homage to the muse or a slightly veiled threat that she start keeping better hours or she'll be out of a job.

(It can be clicked on or double-clicked on to enlarge the image.)

SoMiss, this question is not about if someone likes my art or not. Some do, some don't. I posted that simply as an example. The question is more about creative urges keeping ungodly hours and wishing we could somehow control them better.

Several really wonderful replies here but Yahoo only lets us select one 'best' answer. So please don'e feel slighted if your reply wasn't selected.

Answer 1

As I write this it is 5:49 AM & my eyeballs feel like your painting! Yes, I have a choice, but the muse sometimes whispers, so I hear her better in the late nite & early mornings. When the world is dark & most civilized folk are dreaming there are no loud voices & demanding tasks to make me deaf to her siren song. Don't most of the more brilliant & eccentric stars of art work at night? Blessings.

Answer 2

you have a choice. If you want to succeed at being a professional artist you have to make it a full time job. Your muse will then be more reasonable.
from 1986 to 2001 i worked a $15 an hour job 35hrs. a week. then put in another 30 on the artwork. Yet still i had 2 to 3 broke days every month. finally i quit to follow my dreams of being and living as an artist. since then i've had 7 broke days total in the last 6 yrs. and i never go without. follow your bliss and have faith that the universe will take care of the money.
or you can continue to split your energy and be half a--- at both. your work is good, it could be better if you gave it the energy you're giving to line someone elses pockets.
check out what i'm doing at
www.myspace.com/tishmonster60

Answer 3

Seems you have entered a new line of painting. Very nice.
I'd say the title is:
"Homage to the muse or a slightly veiled threat that she start keeping better hours or she'll be out of a job"

(Still like your portraits best though ;-) )

My problem is more a medical one...so replace the 'a job' by 'a life at all'. (Yes it is that serious)

*edit*
I have to rephrase the nice. It is amazing. The image is stuck in my brain. Truly magnificent composition. Pure painted power. If you could part with it how much would it set me back? (I know what I would gain.)

Answer 4

The haughty muse makes a mighty slave master, doesn't she? Seems none of us can resist her clarion call. Personally, I have developed a rather serious insomnia problem because of it.

But I love her, and if she tells me that the breakthrough will be at 630 in the morning, I'll listen to her even if it means "oh by the way, it's in your grave. Good luck!"

Answer 5

Hmmm, your paintings are different and definitely stand out, but it doesn't appeal to my personal taste.