Ryan James Artist

Howdy,

I'm just here today to remind you to stay on course! Keep making! Keep finding the fun in it. SO much of a creative life is unfortunately about feeding yourself, keeping the lights on and appearing somewhat successful and this never ending BORING conversation about “growth”. I'm just ready to re think and to sink back into the fun of it all. It sounds so strange but I forgot for a while that this is what I love to do. I love to paint, to make images, to fill sketchbooks, to write and make albums, to create books. That damned capitalist idea that validates everything by calling it WORK and then holds you hostage to a “WORK ethic” to validate the existence of what you do and of course who you are. Fuck it! Fuck it right in the eye!

I am going to be inconsistent. I am going to mess up and not know what I'm doing and find dead end after dead end. I am an artist not a machine. I am a human being with more mood swings than a feral playground filled with drunk teenages on a full moon. IM WEIRD. You are too by the way and yes, I mean that as a compliment. The point I'm trying to make is that whilst I understand the value of all the habits I've put in place I also have to understand the times when to put them down and just “be” for a while. I've not been great at communicating that with myself and the people that read my blogs ( both of you ). But I strive to do better. I am doing better.

So that's why there's been a lack of blogs and paintings this last 6 weeks. I've just not felt like making things. I've managed to finish a sketchbook and a few simple illustrations for my youtube channel but the big juicy stuff I want to paint I haven't started yet. That is changing though. I can't believe I tripped up again on the idea of making things “people” want to see instead of making the things that put a smile on my face. I forgot to PLAY. So, this is my offering today. If you're in any way creative and you've weighed down your art by calling it work let me remind you and let me remind myself with you that this is your JOY. Take a break if you need to but get back to it and make something just for you. Not to impress yourself but to lift your heart.

There, I said it. Now go make something.

Love you

Ryan x

Hello loves,

So, A.I art is here and it's not going away. At first when I started seeing the art that it was creating I was blown away by just how beautiful it was. Then I saw it getting even better and it made me feel inspired, for like a day. Then, the reality hit of how much this was going to change the industry and then I got very, very nervous. Essentially you don't need any artistic skill. Just a few words from a prompt and it will do all the heavy lifting for you. The years I have spent honing my skills and practicing endlessly are not only throw out but out done in terms of execution by a few words in a computor program. A.I art is faster, cheaper and more often than not more perfectly exectured. I could say that it's soulless but then, let's not pretend that the companies who will use this instead of artists will give a shit about “soul”.

So where does this leave us? Our entire econimic landscape has just changed and like all change I think we can find an invitation within it. One in which we actually take care of each other. I have long been irritated by artists competing with each other. I saw it ferociously when I was making music and I've seen it in art too. We have collectively forgotten that we are a community and I've seen so many of us behave in ways that have turned my stomach over the years. I am fully aware that I might be being naïve here, that the idea of a creative collective that connects makers all over the world might be a bit “kum ba yah” but right now what other options do we have? If we don't look out for each other who will?

Raging against A.I art is like the horse and cart raging against the car. The change has happened already and all that's left is for us to adapt. It won't stop me painting, making, creating or being inspired. It might impact my money from it but I am a resourceful person. I am willing to work to support my art. Thankfully for me it's a side business but it is one that I would like to see continue to thrive and grow. My major concern is how this will effect younger artists. Are they going to think careers in art are pointless the more and more money that is taken out of it?

Art matters. Artists matter but let's not pretend. We have rarely mattered to big business and they will show us this quickly over the next few years. The opportunity here is for us to work extra hard at showing that artists matter to each other. I have no idea all of the big changes that are coming because I think we are in the middle of them right now. What we need is to hold on to each other and keep going forward.

Keep making. Keep holding on to each other. Keep going.

Onward,

Ryan James x

Howdy,

Would you ever think of going up to a child who is playfully drawing, take the crayons out of their hand and tell them, “You're not talented enough?” so they should probably stop? Would you berate them for colouring outside the lines? Would you tear them down for not being a better artist than they are at their age? Would you shame them for even wanting to make something or to play? Of course you wouldn't. You're not a psychopath ( I hope ).

Yet so many of us, in some way shape or form has had this done to us. I still hear the trope “I don't have a creative bone in my body!” at least a few times a month off my clients. If you've ever said that, if you still think that, please know that this sentence is a wound. It is a pain. It is a weight that you carry that you may have no means to express or even articulate. What's worse still is that even when we are free of institutions that grade our creativity solely upon it's ability to create money we often continue to abuse our creativity in the same ways it was done to us. We continue to hurt ourselves over and over again.

So what if you just didn't? What if, on a very real, visceral level you told anyone and everyone who has ever stunted your creativity to, not so politely, fuck all the way off?

Yes, you are allowed to say that. I said so.

Now, pick up a pencil and draw something. Write a few lines of a poem. Sing a song. I don't care if it's shit. It will probably be shit at first but that's the point of art, theres ALWAYS room to improve. Even seasoned artists have goals and ways they want to get better. That part never ends. Just make a start. Don't try to be a “good” artist, just remember that you've always been an artist and that you're only job is to turn up and make something. Not sell something. Not show something off. Just make something and then make something else and keep going until you end up covered in paint, albums worth of songs and a stack of half edited books.

Monetary success in art is not guaranteed but what is, is that if you don't show up to the plate you'll just be a little more miserable than you need to be. Honour your inner child. Give it room to be the artist it always was. You have 206 creative bones in your body, now, go play!

Big love,

Ryan James x

Hello loves,

How do you know the difference between knowing when to keep going and when to call something quits? I've made the mistakes on all sides of this. I've pushed myself to burnout, I've also quit something before I should have and missed opportunities, I've also listened to when it was time to put something down and realised the benefit of doing so in the moment or maybe some short time later. It's a difficult question to answer for yourself especially when you are doing anything creative.

Art is beautiful and a real privilege to be able to create but that doesn't detract from the fact that it's WORK. There is a part of it that feels like the universe is working it's pure magic through you and then there's also the part that feels like it's pure labour. That's one of the things I look out for when trying to decipher what to do. If everything is more labour than fun and it's that way permanently then it's definitely time to take a step back. There can be a fun to the progress and a fun to the labour but when all joy is gone, stop. You may not need to quit, you may just need a break and to be honest usually the thing you need to quit is the way you are running your business or the way you are approaching your work. Normally that's enough but if you've done all of that and the thing that you used to love doing now feels like a dead weight on your chest, walk away. If you stay, you'll likely hurt yourself so much that it will be that much harder to ever come back.

Sometimes though there is the bitter truth that art might never be a career for you. Despite doing everything “right” those doors might just not open. That can be tough. I've been there, it sucks. In that case take some time out and whilst it might be important to put the business side of it down, DONT throw the baby out with the bathwater. Keep making art. Make it for yourself. Make it because it lights you up inside. Make it so that no matter what when you leave this planet you have firmly put your handprint on the momentum of your life. It really is better to have tried and face planted rather than wonder “what if?”.

Your art is important but please don't mistake fame and wealth for greatness. Your art is making you as much as you are making it. Be stubborn. Dig in. Make because your soul burns to. You are the first and only person in your like who truly deserves your art.

Onward.

Big love

Ryan James x

Howdy,

This week I've managed to finish three canvas. One is another halloween prompt and the other two were paper plane inspired. For those that don't know I use origami a lot in my manifestation and affirmation process and I never really thought about putting them in my work properly until recently. I'm figuring out ways to use them more because it seems to bring a bit of that magic with it to the canvas.

Right this second there's nothing on my easel which is new for me. Usually when I finish a painting I put something on the easel straight away. I like to be in constant creative motion. I think I need a little break from that thinking. I've been thinking for a while that I'd love to try a few new techniques and explore abstract art a little. I think it might help my composition skills? Not sure really but it's been a while since I've let myself get bored and I think being a little bored helps your work now and again.

With a hyper distracted world I've noticed that I don't give myself enough time to let my mind wander. To really just dive into my inner landscape and make believe for a while. I am old enough to remember a life before social media and I think, in terms of imagination, I was a lot more free and explorative before I got hooked on a device.

These last few months I have been aware of just how much time I'm wasting and how much of it could be going on things that matter to me.

I use social media for work and for fun but it's those times when I'm on it and neither of those things are happening is a concern. I've been doing small things like using Duo lingo ( 128 day streak thank you ) instead of doom scrolling, making sure there's no phone after 7 o clock so I can have time with my other half and just making a habit of checking in with myself over the intentionality of my useage. All of this is to give myself more time to let my mind wander. To walk without earphones or any of the things that usually keep the world at bay. I don't think I need to protect myself in the way that I used to. I need to let the world in a little. Be bored. Be amazed. Wander. Wonder. Oh, and rest. Definitely rest.

Now, put your phone down and go be bored.

Big love

Ryan James x

Welcome back,

The biggest threat to your progress will be your ability to handle your lonliness. Making art, making anything really takes time and usually way more of it than you are budgeting for. There's no way in hell I thought I was STILL be writing that novel I started over a decade ago but, here we are. Yes, I am in the final ( hopefully ) edit of it but still! Now I like peace and quiet. Leaving me alone in my art studio or on my writing desk is a piece of heaven for me but, we are human creatures who need to socialise.

I call it the “water cooler moment”. If you work in an office you get to speak to other people at certain breaks during the day to connect, chatter or just to see another human face. The problem with creatives is that those precious babbling ten minutes during the day are missing. That for me is usually one of the uncomfortable moments that can trip me into a spiral of doom scrolling or taking a “minute” to watch a part of a show and then BAM, three hours have gone by.

Back in the day I used to live surrounded by friends and other creatives but I've moved, friendships have gone their seperate ways and a more adult pace of life is happening around me now. Most of my friends have grown up day jobs which still leaves me rattling around the house with coffee and crayons at my disposal. The need to connect is still there. So, to combat this I've put some rules in place for myself. Mainly I make sure to take myself out for a coffee most days ( drawing in coffee shops is on my self care list ) and of course I make a point to say “Yes” when friends ask to meet up even if it will interfere with a schedule. I'd rather arrive at the finish line with a full heart than create unneccessary inner battles.

If you aren't part of a social group of artists then creative social groups, creative clubs, all of the above will be more important the deeper you dig into your creative career. If there aren't any locally then maybe this is a sign to start one. We all have different starting points and different circumstances and maybe what I've said here doesn't fully apply to you but it's a good idea to be aware of your lonely. If you don't pay attention when it arrives, and I'm afraid if you are investing in a creative career or practice it will, then it could derail or delay so much of your progress. Keep taking care of you. Keep reaching out. Most importantly, don't just create great art, create the friendships and connections that will support it and you for a lifetime.

Big love,

Ryan x

Howdy,

I've had a little stumble lately when it comes to how I view my art work. It was a slight step backwards in that I started to play “the game” instead of creating the kind of life I wanted as an artist. For instance, everywhere tells you to make countless videos and reels, and I have been, but I'm also writing blogs, which everyone tells you not to do but I do it because I love it. Theres something about this form of communication that just feels like home for me. Also I think I want to go back to my newsletters. I used to send one out weekly or bi-weekly but, I stopped. I lost faith and I started to think of it as pointless. I got emotionally muddy. But something has woken back up in me recently. Just a truth that I had lost for a while which is, simply, do what I love.

An audience of any sort is never promised. There will always be people who fart in the direction of a piece of paper and get a million people to applaud and there's incredible genius' who's work will never see the light of day. And there's people like me. Firmly and proudly in the middle. I'm not the best, nor the worst. Passionatley average. All I can promise is that I will do my best to make the most honest work that I can. I will fail from time to time but, I will pick myself up and carry on. I promise only that I will make and keep making. So here I am, back on track.

Also, I want to talk to you. I want to share my art with you. Social media with all it's algorhythms and adverts just get's so overwhelming that I don't end up fully connecting with anyone as much as I'd like. With all the changes that seem to constantly happen it's become a space that's not as enjoyable for me as it used to be. A newsletter lets me do one thing I love, writing, to share something else I love, art and music and it's directly to you. So I am collecting email addresses from this point so if you want to sign up let me know and we can actually connect. Properly and through a medium that I feel I can show up more fully on.

You in?

Big love

Ryan James x

Hello loves,

All is well here at Ryan James HQ and I've been working on some comissions which is why I haven't been posting or engaging as much lately. Whenever I get a commission I tend to hyper focus on it until it's done and now that I'm on the tail end of this one I shall be back to my regularly scheduled stuff! I've also been thinking about social media, well, mainly instagram, and I'm figuring out how to use it. I've definitely been letting it use me for a while and I'm glad I caught myself before I started to, god forbid, make art solely for a god damned algorhythm. I don't have many ideas yet but, I think I am going to resurrect my old art/music newsletter. It's a more direct connection to my tribe and it affords me the opportunity to get to know you all better.

I've also been working a lot on my other projects, the novel, the album and the collections of other work, it's all coming together nicely and my obsession with habit tracking has been extremely helpful. I am cautious though to not do too much. I have a slight habit of incrementally over loading and over working myself so I have some checks and balances in place to keep myself level. I have to remind myself that I CAN do it all I just cant do it all ALL AT ONCE! I once convinced myself I could write twelve 80,000 word books in a year. I mean I probably could but I'd have to quit things like my job, eating and going to the loo. Plus, I've learned working at that rate for that long usually means the work itself doesn't have time to become any good.

That's another thing about social media and art isnt' it? The constant promotion doesn't always give you the time you need away from the canvas. Or the time to actually make the thing you want to make. I have a lot to think about when it comes to sharing and the way I show up. But I also need to think about what I'm doing to engage in a way that effectively communicates the stories I want to tell. If you have any ideas I'm open to them. Blogging has always been a great way for me to connect but, these days it doesn't seem to have the same reach. Still, I'm here and I'll continue to be here until I figure this out and I want to bring you all along with me as I get this where it needs to be.

Thanks for tuning in

big Love

Ryan x

Howdy,

Sometimes I want to quit. I'm not ashamed to say it and I think it's actually healthy to acknowledge it. Now I know you might think I'm about to say something along the lines of “so long as you never actually do.” but no. Sometimes you need to quit. Sometimes you need to put your project, your goal down and never pick it back up again. When you realise something isn't for you, it's ok to let it go, grieve it and move on to the next thing.

To be honest this whole experiement of turning my art from hobby to business might not end as I want it. My goal is to give myself a year. To really try my best and throw some energy at it to see if anything bites. If after this year I'm not really any further along then I will change my mindset back to keeping art as a hobby, a passion project. I made the mistake of pushing way too hard once before. That was when I was persuing music. My ability to “push through” became extermely toxic and it ended up not only costing me my mental health but also my connection to creativity itself. I made a promise to myself then I would never do that again. I know how to work hard and I'm not afraid of that but, I'm not betraying myself ever again. When it's time to call it quits I am able to do that better now than I did back then.

It's healthy to have cut off points. To have spaces where you review and see if what you're going for is even what you want any more. It's ok if the answer is no. It's also ok if you do create success and it's not what you want. You are a grown up and you are allowed to walk away, change your mind and go in a new direction. Right now making art into a business is fun and I'm enjoying commissions, looking into selling more work and building a place where I might be able to find my creative tribe. I know that there will likely be times when I don't enjoy it too. The cut off point will come if and when I feel like this is taking more than I am willing to give. When it feels out of alignment for me, at my core, I am able to put it down.

Wanting to quit as a minor tantrum will happen and that's one thing. When you begin to behave in ways you otherwise wouldn't normally, or when you start to feel yourself in a space of constant reaction instead of productivity then it's time for a review. I've had mine recently and I'm still full steam ahead.

Check in with yourself.

Onward,

Ryan x

Howdy,

I am here at the end of the first quarter of the year figuring out what and where I want to do next. I get a little overwhelmed but not by the art itself but by the marketing. Some advice is that what I'm doing right here, right now, talking to you as if we know each other is a marketing sin! If I'm not “adding value” to your life then it's some how useless. To be honest I'm willing for it to be. Another train of thought is that I'm building a connection to you by opening part of my life up so that you can see yourself, find yourself and hopefully inspire yourself as I share what's happening in my creative life. I'm not sure what the “right” way is but when I'm unsure I always think that honesty is the best place to start.

For years art has always straddled this weird space between hobby and small business but this year I decided to really embrace the business aspect of it. I've set up a youtube channel, I'm way more consisent on my instagram and I upload regularly to my online store. There's still so much I am figuring out, like how to ship my bigger paintings and how to reach more people who might like my work. There's definitely more business happening right now and I kind of forgot how hard it is in the first year or so. I sometimes do slip back into “hobby” mode but keeping myself accountable has definitely helped. Also, I know my audience is tiny, but, for those of you who have reached out to show me some support I want you to know that I appreciate you and of course THANK YOU!

I think for the second quarter of the year I want to reach out more to other artists. I want to connect more and feel more like I am a part of a community. When I was making music I always found the lack of commradery really disheartening. I never understood the idea that helping someone else takes away from you. I still don't understand it, although these days I have more appropriate boundaries in place so that my helping others is not taken advantage of. One of my personal goals this year was to create and be open to more friendships and that I guess extends to community as a principle. Maybe I thought I was looking for more people to have coffee and adventures with but maybe I'm also looking for people to connect with creatively. I'll keep exploring, I'll keep learning and most importantly I will hold to the promise I made to myself which was to keep showing up for a full year to see what shakes loose from the universe!

Hope you're doing great!

Onward,

Big love,

Ryan x

www.ryanjamesartist.com