IN A BETTER PLACE

So i have been taking stock of my current working "Situation" of late. Really taking it apart and asking hard questions to myself about my productivity, the quality of the work I produce, and the importance of each individual project, and where it's place is in the pecking order.But those are the kinds of questions you do ask yourself when you are in a creative slump.

Now let me define "slump"

This is what the dictionary says:

SLUMP–verb (used without object)1.to drop or fall heavily; collapse: Suddenly she slumped tothe floor.

2.to assume a slouching, bowed, or bent position or posture:Stand up straight and don't slump!

3.to decrease or fall suddenly and markedly, as prices or themarket.4.

to decline or deteriorate, as health, business, quality, or efficiency.

5.to sink into a bog, muddy place, etc., or through ice or snow.

6.to sink heavily, as the spirits.

Heres what I say:

SLUMP–verb (as applied to being an Illustrator)1.to drop or fall heavily; collapse: Suddenly she slumped tothe floor.( after you have worked your ass off for 3 days straight to hit a deadline with 2 hours sleep)

2.to assume a slouching, bowed, or bent position or posture:( because you spend too much time at the desk, and not enough walking in the sunshine)

3.to decrease or fall suddenly and markedly, as prices or the market( this happens when noone wants to look at your crappy artwork anymore , and you can't get work)

4.to decline or deteriorate, as health, business, quality, or efficiency( You get the flu,shit yer pants, get drunk at a Con and lash out at someone who's been a dick to you one too many times, blow deadlines, blow deadlines, blow deadlines.....)

5.to sink into a bog, muddy place, etc., or through ice or snow(this happens when u are an Outdoorsman, and an idiot. This is why I rarely leave my Art Cave, but I did draw a one page column for a year for OUTDOOR LIFE magazine, called, THIS HAPPENED TO ME, where idiot outdoorsmen wrote letters to tell on themselves, and i drew their sad tales.)

6.to sink heavily, as the spirits( Now. Here we go. this is the one. But it's the sinking of your Spirits, because your "Muse" has left you. She's the one who inspires you, gives you the pictures you see in your mind, and whispers stories in your ear as you sleep, that you eventually write down, and then draw. She is you and you are her. One. So , when she leaves( god knows why, wish I could cage her scitterish ass) you are sad. You can't see the pictures. You can't hear her voice as you sleep telling you "you" stories. So your spirit sinks, low. As it should.

Until she comes back :)

Which was yesterday.

TONY

MACON GA APRIL, 2011