With what feels like a change with major implications, for most Americans, it’s safe to say, and for much of the world, has brought uncertainty and wild emotional swings. Indeed, some have felt for the past 4-8 years that powerful leadership, at the very least, would be necessary to bring order and peace.
Writer J.R.R. Tolkien wrote of such times, reminding us where power also matters.
Consistency is a red herring.
In a photography group I watch online, a member posted a photo from a model shoot, asking for constructive critique. Another member’s praise prompted him to lament with something like, “… if only (my work) were consistently this (good)”.
I understand that, as a developing Professional, you want to be consistently producing excellent work, if only to serve your clients well enough to bring ’em back. And/Or, on the basis of personal pride in one’s work, consistency in grace or technique or inspirational quality or compositional leanness, etc. seems like a worthy benchmark.. . like it means we’re a “real” artist.
Looking to become consistently awesome is a great way to undermine myself, I find.
Having sweeter successes than my “usual” is a very promising and healthy sign that we are growing and deepening.. not necessarily in the skillsets that we often try to cultivate, but in mysterious talents and exciting discoveries that keep us in the game, pull us forward.
The cyclical “rut” is, then, more obvious, and bearable, since we have the experiences of those peak successes to remember and look forward to. Meanwhile it is practice…
not to become “perfect”, but to trust intuition as much as any skills.
In short, Play On.
That’s where the learning is.