Are Artists Ever Satisfied [19]
This week, we discuss why so many artists are driven to continually change … is this the natural state of all artists? Or do we vary in this?

This week
Louise has been finishing paintings and promo for open studios using different process this time by putting a strong intention in place first. You can see more here Louise’s new work
North Yorkshire Open Studios runs across the first 2 weekends in June https://www.nyos.org.uk/
Alice has been filming for a guest lesson within a programme. (More coming later on this!)
Are we ever satisfied?
We consider the benefits of settling into a subject matter and a way of working (there are benefits which include easier branding and consistent audience growth) but ultimately we accept that it’s a matter of personality type and that neither of us is able to stay in one place with our work for too long. There are of course, pluses and minuses to this … and we explore some of them in a wide-ranging conversation that covers studio size, ways of working, Ted Hughes, running, and even Eastenders! This one is sure to get you thinking…

Audience Question
If you have a question you’d like us to discuss, click here to send it to us
Inside / outside inspiration
Louise has been rediscovering a connection with the poetry of Ted Hughes – and letting ideas run to fantasy. Ted Hughes’ poem “Wind”
Alice has no fantasy illusions, but nevertheless is impressed with the Couch to 5K app if not with her own running!
Follow Alice on Instagram @alicesheridanstudio
or Louise @louisefletcher_art
Credits
“Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Loved the discussion today. I can relate to Louise’s feelings. It reminded me of this quote from G. K. Chesterton, “Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”
Maybe that’s the thing – we just need to find whatever gives us abounding vitality!