Photo taken in Florence, Italy
It is common to occasionally find yourself outside of the current and unable to make any progress. This is not the situation that I am currently facing despite the feelings of personal stagnation. In reality, I have been as productive if not more this past month as I have all year. The biggest challenge that I have to adapt to is waiting.
It has been over a month since I have submitted my application to the Florence Academy of Art and I have yet to hear back from them (very common and does not mean I did not get selected.) The truth is that it could still be an entire month before I hear back from them. I have always thought of myself a patient person and I practice it daily within my art however, this past month has truly tested me.
Perhaps the struggle of patience is intensified after seeing my peers in the rat race of application after application, essay after essay, college after college. The Florence Academy of Art is the only place I have applied to as of now. My goal is to wait until after I hear back from them and if I do not get selected to seek out other choices. Many deadlines for educational programs that I am exploring are not due until after I would have guaranteed conformation from the Florence Academy. There is no need to stress as I have a plan of action whether I get in or not at my disposal, I just have a hard to staying idle in this important factor in my life.
My phone is getting tired of opening my email several times a day hoping for conformation. I think my phone will be as relieved as I am when I hear from them.
Until that day, I am in artistic purgatory and I will have to endure some more for now.
Gates to Heaven
On another note, I have recently gotten into listening to audio books while painting. I am taking advantage of a special deal by audible that includes two free audio book and two free audible originals for just opening a free trial. I highly recommend looking into it as there are countless audio book, many are narrated by the author which is a pretty cool experience to have. The best part is that if you cancel the trial within the month, you can keep both audio book forever entirely for free.
I did not realize how much time I spend painting until I listened to a full book in a little over two weeks.
I highly recommend "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. Clear's narration of the book talks about the philosophy and psychology of habits while introducing tangible and concrete methods for building good ones/ destroying bad ones. This book has transformed the way I think of myself and allowed myself to already make progress in making my life more efficient.
I have also been listening to a lot of Jordan B. Peterson who shares my deep desire to learn more about the mysteries of the human mind and how people work. Peterson has a couple of audio books that go into depth of a lot of philosophy and deep concepts regarding humanity. Peterson is not for the beginning thinker and can be hard to understand if you have no prior grasp to philosophy. I do highly recommend listening to him via you tube if you are interested in these types of discussions.
This flood of new concepts and ideas that I have been exposed to has inspired me for a variety of different paintings that I want to manifest. As of now, I have one that was inspired by Peterson 75% complete and concepts for two others on the drawing board. I have taken great delight in painting more narrative pieces and am making the most of it as the next four years will be very structured.
I am excited to know that by the time of my next entry, I will know if my path will be continued in Florence or if my calling is elsewhere.
The Secret of Patience is to do something else in the meantime."
-Croft M. Pentz
Until next Month,
Best Regards,
Samuel Hoskins
