Comments on: Focus on One Thing, or Many? http://joysblog.glassnebula.com/art/focus-on-onething-or-many/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=focus-on-onething-or-many Art and life by and about Joy Alyssa Day of Spherical Magic Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:11:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joy Alyssa Dayhttp://joysblog.glassnebula.com/art/focus-on-onething-or-many/#comment-271 Joy Alyssa Day Thu, 11 Nov 2010 02:09:46 +0000 http://glassnebula.spherical.org/focus-on-onething-or-many/#comment-271 Hi Lily, I have a lot of interests as well. The only way to become better is to keep working at them. I won't tell you to choose just one because I wouldn't be able to do that and it sounds like you wouldn't be able to either. But what I have learned to do is restrict myself to only taking up new interests that have a direct influence on my career. For example, I really wanted to take up woodcarving, but didn't want it to be another hobby that took time away from everything else, so I forced myself to not start learning about it. Once we got the Orrery job though, woodcarving was a part of that, so I could buy the equipment and learn how to use it and directly help my career. Now I have the equipment and knowledge to use for future jobs that might require it. Am I a master at it? no, but it's past the "hobby" stage. I would love to get into mountaincliming or scuba diving, but since they wouldn't further my main objective of being the type of artist I am, I make sure I don't allow myself to take them up. If there was a time in the future where I needed to scuba dive to be able to finish a certain artwork though, I certainly would do it and then I'd have that learned as well. So I guess what you might want to do is focus on a whole theme and then you can work at all the various parts of that - like fashion photography. You would need to learn about fashion, you would need to learn about photography, so put them together. You won't be an overnight expert at any of them, but that's ok. You will have a unique view and skills that others don't. I hope I've helped a little. Write back if you wish. Peace, Joy Hi Lily,
I have a lot of interests as well. The only way to become better is to keep working at them. I won't tell you to choose just one because I wouldn't be able to do that and it sounds like you wouldn't be able to either. But what I have learned to do is restrict myself to only taking up new interests that have a direct influence on my career.

For example, I really wanted to take up woodcarving, but didn't want it to be another hobby that took time away from everything else, so I forced myself to not start learning about it. Once we got the Orrery job though, woodcarving was a part of that, so I could buy the equipment and learn how to use it and directly help my career. Now I have the equipment and knowledge to use for future jobs that might require it. Am I a master at it? no, but it's past the "hobby" stage.

I would love to get into mountaincliming or scuba diving, but since they wouldn't further my main objective of being the type of artist I am, I make sure I don't allow myself to take them up. If there was a time in the future where I needed to scuba dive to be able to finish a certain artwork though, I certainly would do it and then I'd have that learned as well.

So I guess what you might want to do is focus on a whole theme and then you can work at all the various parts of that - like fashion photography. You would need to learn about fashion, you would need to learn about photography, so put them together. You won't be an overnight expert at any of them, but that's ok. You will have a unique view and skills that others don't.

I hope I've helped a little. Write back if you wish.

Peace,
Joy

]]> By: Kitty Lilyhttp://joysblog.glassnebula.com/art/focus-on-onething-or-many/#comment-270 Kitty Lily Tue, 09 Nov 2010 21:57:29 +0000 http://glassnebula.spherical.org/focus-on-onething-or-many/#comment-270 Today I really started thinking that something is wrong with me and maybe I need help. I started googling: too many hobbies and this sort of things. I cant say I jump from one thing into other, I keep the old things too. And at the point it becomes too much, I kind of like it.But as I deeper start getting into hobby I start realizing that there are so many professionals and I know nothing about it. I start comparing myself to them. For example started really getting into fashion, started readying style and fashion blogs realizing I need to learn a LOT and a LOT, then photography came along, so I started studying it too, taking pix, bought lenses. These are only my lates hobbies I'm talking abobut, I have dozens others. But I'm not perfect in any of them to say - I'm a professional. And I dont know which to pick to perfetionize it (dunno if I say it correctly, english is not my native), so to become professional. Which I really do want. I want to become so good at something, but I'm just going into lots things, and I know its not the end, and I'm already 30! So it really bums me out. Any advises would be helpful. thanks... Lily Today I really started thinking that something is wrong with me and maybe I need help. I started googling: too many hobbies and this sort of things. I cant say I jump from one thing into other, I keep the old things too. And at the point it becomes too much, I kind of like it.But as I deeper start getting into hobby I start realizing that there are so many professionals and I know nothing about it. I start comparing myself to them.
For example started really getting into fashion, started readying style and fashion blogs realizing I need to learn a LOT and a LOT, then photography came along, so I started studying it too, taking pix, bought lenses. These are only my lates hobbies I'm talking abobut, I have dozens others. But I'm not perfect in any of them to say - I'm a professional. And I dont know which to pick to perfetionize it (dunno if I say it correctly, english is not my native), so to become professional.
Which I really do want. I want to become so good at something, but I'm just going into lots things, and I know its not the end, and I'm already 30!
So it really bums me out. Any advises would be helpful. thanks...

Lily

]]> By: What’s Your Take: One or Many? – Part I | The Art & Engineering of B.E.Johnsonhttp://joysblog.glassnebula.com/art/focus-on-onething-or-many/#comment-121 What’s Your Take: One or Many? – Part I | The Art & Engineering of B.E.Johnson Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:11:45 +0000 http://glassnebula.spherical.org/focus-on-onething-or-many/#comment-121 [...] that crosses my mind every so often; more so now in these uncertain times. It is also the topic of Joy’s blog post a few days ago. I haven’t read hers, not wanting to influence my writing here, although I do [...] [...] that crosses my mind every so often; more so now in these uncertain times. It is also the topic of Joy’s blog post a few days ago. I haven’t read hers, not wanting to influence my writing here, although I do [...]

]]> By: Joy Alyssahttp://joysblog.glassnebula.com/art/focus-on-onething-or-many/#comment-21 Joy Alyssa Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:05:00 +0000 http://glassnebula.spherical.org/focus-on-onething-or-many/#comment-21 Thank you! I would love to do more watercolors, but so far, they're only personal projects, and I don't have the time. <br/><br/>The big sculptures are fun too. I agree with you -- the more variety, the better each is, and I think it's because of the brain resting thing. If you're always on one thing, that section of your brain never gets to take a vacation.<br/><br/>Peace,<br/>Joy Thank you! I would love to do more watercolors, but so far, they're only personal projects, and I don't have the time.

The big sculptures are fun too. I agree with you -- the more variety, the better each is, and I think it's because of the brain resting thing. If you're always on one thing, that section of your brain never gets to take a vacation.

Peace,
Joy

]]> By: Dianahttp://joysblog.glassnebula.com/art/focus-on-onething-or-many/#comment-20 Diana Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:31:00 +0000 http://glassnebula.spherical.org/focus-on-onething-or-many/#comment-20 Definitely my experience is with the many, not the one. How cool that award is! And you there with Mr. Lovell. Congratulations. <br/><br/>I think the more variety, the better each individual pursuit is.<br/><br/>Both of yours shown here are special. Definitely my experience is with the many, not the one. How cool that award is! And you there with Mr. Lovell. Congratulations.

I think the more variety, the better each individual pursuit is.

Both of yours shown here are special.

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