One of These Days I’m Going to Quit Procrastinating

Cartoon from Plesh Creative Group Design Library

At the opposite end of the spectrum from perseverance is procrastination. As much as perseverance can be an asset, procrastination is a deterrent to accomplishment. Careful, cautious consideration should not be misconstrued as procrastination.  

Acquiring my first art director’s position at age twenty-four was largely due to pro-action as fellow artists procrastinated about grasping an opportunity for advancement. As a designer at American Greetings in Cleveland, Ohio it was customary for artists and designers during periodic breaks to discuss art and happenings of the day. It was also a time when many would vent their frustrations of the job or talk of new opportunities in the creative field. 

On one such occasion I joined a discussion where a dozen artists were mulling over a classified ad in the Cleveland Plain Dealer indicating that a representative from Fairfield Publishing Company of Chicago, IL was in town in search of an art director. The conversation was such that everyone thought it an opportunity for growth. Some spoke of breaking away from the daily routine of being a “board artist”, a chance to be “the boss” or an opportunity to “make big bucks”. But they also expressed concern about relocation or “”what if the grass isn’t greener on the other side”.  And the conversation went on. I reviewed the ad and made a mental note of the phone number, strolled over to the lobby pay-phone (yes, this was pre cell phone era) and called for an interview. When I returned the group was still discussing the ad. It was kind of mass procrastination.

That very evening I met for an interview with Bob Reinschriber, executive VP of Fairfield Publishing and four weeks later I relocated to Chicago as their art director. Bob had visited four cities which housed the major greeting card companies at that time. I was fortunate to have been selected and at a young age presented the opportunity for growth and recognition in both the creative field and greeting card industry. The fateful decision to make that phone call set me on an exciting and lucrative course in creative management. 

I later found that not one in the coffee break group discussion applied for the position. The only other applicant from American Greetings was, believe it or not, our art director!

Two and a half years later Fairfield Publishing was purchased by American Greetings and I was offered an art directors position to return to AG. I was also recruited by Rust Craft Greetings Corporation in Dedham, MA.  I accepted the position at Rust Craft as creative director, which led to vice president of creative operations.

Several years later I visited Cleveland on a business trip and enjoyed having lunch with several of the artists who had been in on the discussion of the ad for the art directors position. Their conversation over lunch was much the same as it was years before. Their pattern of procrastination seemed to remain intact. 

I’d be remiss in not noting that some of the artists made a conscientious decision after careful consideration not to pursue the art directors position, or others like it, for a number of good reasons, including they simply were happy doing what they were doing.  Obviously that is not procrastination.

The Art of Perseverance

Cartoon from Plesh Creative Group Design Library

During my time as creative director/VP at Rust Craft Greetings in Dedham, MA we had a creative staff of over one hundred and twenty-five talented artists and writers. 

The procedure for screening job applicants involved one of the art directors interviewing the candidate including review of their portfolio. In cases where the art director felt the interviewee exceptional and merited hiring he/she would refer the candidate to me and ultimately the decision would be mine to make.

The corporate policy was such that when staffing was at full capacity new hirings were frozen. 

I recall one candidate clearly because of her perseverance. As a recent graduate of The Rhode Island School of Design she applied for a job as a designer - illustrator at a time when we were fully staffed. One of the art directors interviewed her and was sufficiently impressed to bring her to my attention even though we had no openings for the position. We informed her of our interest and that we would contact her when an opening arose.

One week later the art director informed me that Donna was back and again advised we had no openings. This routine followed the next week and the next. On the fourth visit she told the art director that everywhere she applied she found either that they required an experienced artist or had no openings. She was frustrated at having to work at a convenience store as she looked for a job in the art field and felt she was getting the “run around”. She pleaded with the art director as to how she could ever get the needed experience without an opportunity to work in her chosen field. She went on to say she’d work without pay just to get in the door and gain the needed experience. When he relayed this to me a decision was made to hire Donna and for the first and only time during my eight year tenure at Rust Craft were we “over-staffed” in the creative department . We did not, could not, take her up on her offer to work gratis. She was hired at the designers starting salary with benefits. Donna was hired not only because of her talent but because we were so impressed with her perseverance and desire to work at her chosen field.

About ten years later I founded my own business, Plesh Creative Group, Inc.  At that time I recruited select artists from the many I had worked with through previous years. I contacted Donna, who had since relocated to California and was enjoying success as an established designer. I offered her a freelance contract and, as you might guess, found her salary requirements well beyond my offer. We had a chuckle about that and wished each other well. 

I write this article to encourage young people starting out, and especially in these difficult times, to hold onto your dreams and strive to reach your goal. Along with the development of your skills learn the art of perseverance. Mastering the Art of Perseverance will serve you well, as it did Donna.

Poppies: A Favored Subject

Poppy Field    Jim Plesh   acrylic on masonite  48"x48"
private collection

Poppies have long been one of my favorite subjects for paintings. 

The symbolism associated with poppies is beauty, magic, consolation, fertility and eternal life. The Egyptians included poppies at funerals and in burial tombs. The Greeks used poppies in the shrines of Demeter, goddess of fertility, and Diana, goddess of the hunt. Poppies have long been used as a symbol of both sleep and death: sleep because of the opium extracted from them, and death because of the blood-red color they commonly display. A second interpretation of poppies in classical mythology is that the bright scarlet color signifies a promise of resurrection after death. In modern times, poppies have been associated with Flanders Fields, where they serve as an emblem of those who died in World War I.

A poppy is one of a group of flowering plants in the poppy family, many of which are grown in gardens for their colorfulness. Poppy flowers have four to six petals. Petals may be almost any color, and some have markings. Before blooming, the petals are crumpled in the bud, and as blooming finishes, the petals often lie flat before falling away. A whorl of stamens is in the center of the flower. All species of poppies are attractive, and most are cultivated as ornamental plants. A few species have other uses, principally as sources of drugs and foods. 

Part of my infatuation with poppies as a subject is their simplicity of beauty - crisp, clean and colorful, creating immediate and graphic recognition. While the poppy flower may have four to six petals, a simple splash of red or yellow with a spot of black is quickly recognized as the impression of a poppy. Such a beautiful and recognizable subject allows me to put the music on, take canvas, paints, brush and palette knife and create with spontaneous freedom. Whether a single poppy or a field of poppies, the creativity flows freely, allowing me to avoid unnecessary detail and definition; I can go beyond that, directly into the feeling, essence, simplicity and beauty of the subject, or model, if you will. The resulting work beckons the viewer’s interpretation beyond the recognizable obvious.

So You’re Not Going to Harvard?

photograph by Jim Plesh

My dad emigrated from Croatia many years ago at the age of 14. He worked in the steel mills of United States Steel’s American Bridge Company in Ambridge, PA, 18 miles outside of Pittsburgh. Until his retirement at age 65, he worked his whole life as a laborer, never achieving much of a formal education. However, he was wise and possessed strong common sense. In the small house where my parents, two brothers, two sisters and I lived, the mantra was that in the United States everyone had the opportunity to build a better life through education and hard work. Like so many parents, my mother and dad worked very hard so that we’d have that opportunity. 

From early childhood I knew I wanted to be an artist, and I pursued that goal. As a senior in high school I applied to and was accepted at two of what were then considered the best art schools in the country, Pratt Institute and the Art Students League of New York. Having applied and being accepted at both you can imagine my joy, excitement and anticipation of attending one of these prestigious institutions. But it was not to be. My dad pointed out that we could not afford the “whole package” and that it was best I pick any school in Pittsburgh, where I could live at home and bus to school. He said I had excellent choices, including Pitt, Carnegie Tech, Duquesne University, and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. If I applied and was accepted to one of these institutions, he and my mother would cover the tuition. 

I was very upset and pleaded to go to Pratt, my first choice. My father stuck to his guns and insisted that if he and my mother were to support my continued education, it would be through one of the Pittsburgh institutions. It was at that time, in his own brusque manner, that he shared some words of wisdom which altered my outlook—words which I want to share with our young people today. He said, “If you want to learn, you’ll learn. If you want to succeed, you’ll succeed, regardless of the school you go to.” He went on to say, “Even in the finest of schools, no professor is going to open his head and drop his brains into your head. You’re the one who has to seek and strive and learn and build your brain. And you can do that at any quality school if YOU put your mind to it. YOU are the one who will determine your future and successes—not a professor.” 

It was a little crude, but I understood the message my dad imparted and took it to heart. I went on to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Would I have had a better art education at Pratt Institute? Possibly. In fact, probably. But within ten years of graduating from the Art Institute, I was creative director of the Rust Craft Corporation in Dedham, MA, responsible for a staff of 125 creative personnel. One of the art directors reporting to me was a graduate of Pratt Institute. Three years later I was appointed Vice President and sat on the executive staff, along with two graduates of Harvard. It was then that I best understood the wisdom of a hardened steel worker with no formal education.

If you’re a young student and have the opportunity to study at Harvard or go to the likes of Pratt Institute, you’re obviously very bright and very fortunate. If you’re a young student attending a “lesser-rated” school, you too are bright and fortunate. You can seek, strive and learn—and enjoy every opportunity for success. No one but you determines the boundaries of your education and success, regardless of the school you attend. 

The Passion of Creativity

ADVERSARIES      Jim Plesh     acrylic on masonite

private collection: Barbara Perry

Occasionally I have a moment of revelation in which I connect with someone or something, an idea or a perceived notion, or even a work of art. Those occurrences may generate passion, motivating a response. Those are the moments I embrace abstract ideas and find the inspiration to create. Conversely, there are times I simply feel uninspired; something feels missing and I am unable to generate a passion for creativity. I find myself searching for inspiration in a book, a magazine or music. I often call on my bank of memories to stimulate creative mojo. Thus, even when not seemingly inspired, I find myself driven to seek inspiration. It is the creative mind within me—the essence of the creative personality—driving me on. The creative mind is never at rest; it refuses to simply sit still, complacent and accepting of the current situation. It is passionate. One might even question if such energy and desire cross the fine line between passion and obsession. Whether in painting, writing a blog or envisioning new possibilities, creativity will continually seek inspiration; the very process of    creativity will feed upon itself. Call it what you wish—passion or obsession.

Creating Naked Faces

Naked Faces     J. Plesh

acrylic on masonite      private collection

There are times my paintings evolve from a concept I originally envisioned to a finished work far removed from the original intent. I have no problem changing direction during the creative process. In fact, I enjoy the abstract uncertainties of this developmental process. Unlike the representational artist working from a photographic image or still life setup, my paintings evolve with a certain spontaneity and with total freedom of imagination - and yes, even accidental happenings.  Indeed, the painting becomes a creative journey with unplanned stops and sights, which sometimes lead to uncharted destinations.

When I first started the Naked Faces painting my vision and intention was to render three nuns walking. Stepping away from the painting periodically, as is my practice, to look and absorb and get deeper into the work, I saw not three faces but two breasts and a belly. With this vision I allowed creativity and exploration to change my direction and ultimate destination. I proceeded to add a head, arms and legs resulting in an expressionistic image of a nude. Upon inspection you will see faces in the breasts, the remnants of the start of my journey in the creation of a painting originally meant to depict three nuns.

Naked Faces is a perfect example of a journey changing direction midstream, taking me to uncharted territories. Such creative journeys should be embraced as they become explorations to new destinations and allow the imagination to soar.

The Art of Dance

ILLUSTRATION FROM PLESH CREATIVE GROUP

DESIGN LIBRARY  - art available for licensing

Imagine that displayed before you is a parade of colorful beauty meant to capture the mood and tingle the senses. You become swept away by the graceful movements and shapes that are meant to stir an emotion within you. Are you looking at a work of art? Indeed! But not art depicted with paint and canvas. This is the art of dance.

Like creating images on canvas dancing is an outlet used as a means to express our inner emotions. Drawing from our inner beat a dance performance includes the elements of a great painting, it has a style all its own that tells a story or shrouds the mind in mystery. 

The appreciation for dance has been passed down from generation to generation and culture to culture. Dance is an art form that uses bodily movement and creative costumes instead of paint and brush to convey feelings and excite the imagination.

The Great Chinese State Circus’ rendition of Pyotr Tchaikov’s, Swan Lake is a breathtaking example of the art of dance. The grace and splendor of the performers invokes awe and amazement in the viewer and inspires a moment that awakens the senses to the point of raising goose bumps on the skin.  To me this is art, as much so as the finest of paintings.

Jodi Hughey    for creativinsight

Participating in Art

art by Eugene Soleyev

from the Plesh Creative Group Design Library

the PCG library holds over 5,000 designs available for licensing

One way to enjoy life more fully is by not only appreciating art but by actively participating in an artistic endeavor.

Art is a form of personal expression. Many say through art what they can’t express with words. There are different forms of art. Personal expressions of art can come through dance, music, painting, sculpting and crafts.  Participation in an art allows you to express yourself creatively.

Creating and communicating through art broadens our imagination. It teaches us to take a more creative approach in our day to day endeavors including the solving of problems. Sometimes taking a purely academic approach to problem solving can be limiting, focusing purely on the rational. But when it comes to creative thinking there are no boundaries or rules -  you can be as imaginative and daring as you want.

Participating in an art form can also be an effective way to combat stress. Through art you can express the things you cannot say in words. Rather than keeping those feelings suppressed within you, art gives you the opportunity to let it out.

There are other positives I could point out but the bottom line is you don’t have to be a professional artist to be artistic or enjoy the benefits of creativity. Art is a part of our lives. We can choose to enjoy and appreciate art through observation  - or opt to participate, in some way, in it’s being.

Art In The Eye of The Beholder

Without Rhyme or Reason           J. Plesh
acrylic on canvas   36" x #6"

Imagination is the fuel for creating art. An artist uses this to give birth to an idea and express it through a painting, photograph, sculpture or any art form for that matter. The artist creates a piece with the intention to evoke an emotion in the beholder. Interpretation of the piece is not as straightforward as a sign post. Where one person may feel a connection with the artwork another may experience a total disconnect with it.

An appreciation for art begins with the understanding that art is a means to delve deeper into an object, a moment in time or an emotion and transform it into a unique creation.

As with beauty, art is in the eye of the beholder. Not all works will be perceived as the artist may have intended. That is acceptable. It is the intention of many artists to stir a feeling in the beholder allowing the viewer an opportunity to relate to the work in some form or another. An emotional stirring can be positive or negative. Only the beholder can determine how a piece of art affects them.  This is especially true with painters creating contemporary works in a less traditional, representational vein, delving into the more abstract genre.

Jim Plesh’s Without Rhyme or Reason painting is an example of abstract expressionism which presents a dramatic visual impact and allows, actually encourages, the viewer to interpret it’s meaning while enjoying the rendering of color and composition. The beauty of the painting and appreciation of it’s being lies ultimately in the eyes, and mind, of the beholder.

Jodi Hughey   for CreativeInsight

The Lesser Known Creative Genius of Sir Paul

Paul McCartney     BIG MOUNTAIN FACE

Sir James Paul McCartney, is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", McCartney gained worldwide fame as a member of The Beatles, alongside John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. McCartney and Lennon formed one of the most influential and successful songwriting partnerships and wrote some of the most popular songs in the history of rock music. After leaving The Beatles, McCartney launched a successful solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife, Linda Eastman and singer-songwriter Denny Laine. According to the BBC, his Beatles song “Yesterday” has been covered by over 2,200 artists — more than any other song in the history of recorded music. McCartney has composed film scores, classical and electronic music, and released a large catalogue of songs as a solo artist.

And with all of that said, I’ve never been a big fan of the Beatles or the music of McCartney, surely one of very few. But I am a huge fan of his fine art. Millions know and love his music, but I’d venture to say most do not know of or appreciate his outstanding works of fine art. I admire the creativity, freshness and spontaneity of his works. His oil and acrylic paintings are intense, colorful and full of life, revealing  McCartney's spirit and creative sophistication.

McCartney's love of painting surfaced after watching artist Willem D Kooning paint, in Kooning’s Long Island studio. McCartney took up painting in 1983. In 1999, he exhibited his paintings (featuring McCartney's portraits of John Lennon, Andy Warhol, and David Bowie) for the first time iin Siegen, Germany,  The first UK exhibition of McCartney's work was opened in Bristol, England with more than 50 paintings on display. McCartney had previously believed that "only people that had been to art school were allowed to paint", as Lennon had. He noted “I'm really excited about it. I didn't tell anybody I painted for 15 years but now I'm out of the closet."

With his music, fine art paintings and poetry, Paul McCartney is surely the epitome of creative genius.

excerpts from wikipedia

Lady in Red

Lady in Red    Jim Plesh

acrylic on canvas   36” x 48”
currently at Gallery 164, Bonita Springs, FL

As I’ve indicated in past articles, many of my paintings are inspired by remembered times and occasions.  Lady in Redis one such painting. 

Many years ago as a young man I was in the service and found myself stationed for a period of time at Fort Bliss, Texas. Fort Bliss is a very short distance from Juarez, Mexico and I,  like many stationed there, found my way on occasion to the the city of Juarez. The visits were colorful and sometimes crazy for young servicemen, and presented ample reference for creative inspiration. 

Lady in Red represents the many women who were in high supply there and in search of  the young soldier’s meager funds. The colorful dresses and sweet perfumes marked the streets, bars and cafes, where the wise treaded with caution and care. 

Remembering the sights and times spent in Texas and Juarez I rendered several works of art depicting those remembrances. The rain storm cloud seen across the sky many miles away. tumbleweed blowing around helter-skelter, the bull fights and yes, the ladies of Juarez, presented images to be captured on canvas.

Juarez II      Jim Plesh

acrylic on canvas  48” x 48”

private collection

I recently walked into the gallery where the Lady in Redpainting was on display. The attendant at the gallery alerted me to the fact that two women knowing that I was due to come in waited for over an hour to discuss the piece. When I explained the inspiration and meaning of the painting one woman spoke to the other saying “I knew it! You can see the sadness in the eyes and the feeling of despair in that young lady”.  She had waited an hour for confirmation of her interpretation of the art.  And she was pretty much right on.  

Incidentally, for the record, I never had any encounters with the lady in red, or her many associates. And I didn’t drink the water or eat the food in Juarez either!

The Art of The True Artist

Beyond the Future   Oil on Canvas  36” x 48”    Eugene Djolos Soleyev

Through his art, the artist allows the world to see, touch and feel who he is. A little frightening, isn’t it?  We cannot be free to be who we are if we are not willing to risk being who we are in front of others. 

It is so much easier to play it safe, to be part of the norm - to follow rather than lead. To think and do the traditional, go along with the establishment. Cater to the academia, please the juror. Entertain the audience. Be part of the ball game - the common condition called conforming. But the true artist must create. 

Freedom of expression and imagination, sacred and uncompromising, is the mandate of the artist. Create in the realm of the greatest pleasure and adventure. The true artist is gifted and must risk showing his gifts of creation without explanation or apology.  In the end, the art of being able to follow this need to create without fear and with a full desire for exploration is the art of the true artist.

Eugene Djolos Soleyev is one of the true artists I’ve been fortunate to know and work with. Eugene’s art brings truth to his vision and imagination without compromise.

Soleyev's art can be found in the Plesh Creative Group Design Library, and available for licensing.

www.pleshcreative.com