Robert Genn's Twice Weekly Letter
Insight and inspiration for your artistic career.

Dear Artist,

Readers' emails arrive here in Ireland on my Blackberry. These days, with the blessing of laid-back leprechauns, I'm reading every one. I sincerely appreciate your input and the confirmation that these letters are in some way affecting your life. "Reinforces what I'm doing," and "Needed to be reminded of that," are sentiments frequently expressed by readers.

I've always had the same idea as the motivational writer Richard Bach: "Learning is finding out what you already know." Time and again people write, "I knew that--thanks for reminding me."

Indeed, recent studies show that regular reminders, particularly by email, can change lives. According to a study published in the June issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine, simple reminders to eat more healthfully or increase physical activity had a significant effect on recipients' behavior. In one obesity study, 700 individuals who received regular email reminders of healthy lifestyle choices lost more weight than a similar non-emailed group.

So there's a purpose to these missives. Lone workers as we tend to be, the Twice-Weekly Letters may be simply a way to remind us we are not alone. Right now I'm hunkered down out of the wind in the dunes on Ballyness Bay, Donegal. The Blackberry sits on the side of the paint box, and some distant subscriber causes it to buzz every five minutes or so. It's not a distraction, it's a confirmation--the warm sharing that goes on within our worldwide Brotherhood and Sisterhood of Artists. Thank you.

Here in the painting department, it's the interminable struggle between lofty aspirations and the reality of my limitations. Blown sand also runs interference, but it could be anything--a shortage of white paint or the disappearance of a favourite brush. Right now there's only gritty stuff adding texture to the acrylics. "An inconvenience," said Confucius, "is an unrecognized opportunity." This could be my "sand period." Further, with travel, drying becomes a factor. I'm trying to find the "sweet spot" using Golden's slow-drying "Open" acrylics and the regular fast-drying ones. I know that you, too, are finding inconveniences that lead to opportunities. Thanks for reminding me.

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "As a doctor, I am convinced that most people know the healthier choice; they just need frequent reminders to make it." (Sanjay Gupta, MD)

Esoterica: In these letters we've often talked about multi-tasking. While writing this one I've painted two modest sketches. I'm not saying they're brilliant, but they are a record, and the results are in a way more casual and understated, having been painted while writing. We've included them at the top of the current clickback. Shoot them down if you like. For those of you who write informative, insightful and often amusing notes, please consider copying them into the "live comments" section on our clickbacks. That way, everyone can share them. Right now I'm going to have to get the sand out of this Blackberry.

If you would like to read more information related to the above letter please visit the Just a reminder clickback


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