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Artist’s life

The Rush, Stuart Bush Studio Blog

Wishing for dyslexia

Wishing for dyslexia I recently read a book by Malcolm Gladwell called David and Goliath. The theme of the book highlights how we are misled about the nature of our advantages and disadvantages.  Gladwell explains that it isn’t always correct our disadvantages preventing us from being successful in life.  “We have a definition in our heads of what an advantage is — and the definition isn’t right. And what happens as a result? It means that we make mistakes. It means that we misread battles between underdogs and giants. It means that we underestimate how much freedom there can be in what looks like a disadvantage.”   In chapter four, Gladwell starts… Read More »Wishing for dyslexia

©Stuart Bush, untitled photograph

A painters approach to street photography

I found the question of where to start as an artist after art school an easy one. I had a desire to capture something about now; the present moment in the city.  My camera seemed an obvious place to start. I picked up my camera and took pictures.  Cartier Bresson labelled it “the decisive moment.”  I wanted to capture a split second of an ever-changing mad rush.  By doing so, I found a way to make art; I discovered a painters approach to street photography. My walk with a camera started with no intention of where I was going; not in my steps and not in my art.  Each time I went out with… Read More »A painters approach to street photography

Dyslexia isn’t going to stop me

I avoided practising my reading and writing skills as I grew up. I easily slipped through the net due to changing schools several times. It took me a long time to read a book, however, I started to enjoy reading in my twenties. At 27 years old I was diagnosed with dyslexia. It took me a while to realise that dyslexia wasn’t going to stop me.   I didn’t enjoy writing before I had a blog. I always felt my writing was poor. The way I used to get my ideas down on paper was confused and in a jumble. In spite of that, I believed that my ideas and content were good. It used to… Read More »Dyslexia isn’t going to stop me

The art of being idle

Congratulations! You have just started reading a blog post that encourages you to be idle in order to improve your creative work.  So relax, put your feet up and read on to find out how being idle can be turned into the art of being idle.   Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America said, “It is the working man who is a happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man.” This quote reflects a common misunderstanding about the benefits of being busy versus the benefits of being idle. It is important to clear this problem up for us creative… Read More »The art of being idle

Increasing learning in the studio

A group of scientists recently looked into the most effective ways of learning. They suggested that long sessions and all-nighters don’t give us the best opportunity to learn.  After reading about this 12 months ago, I changed my weekly studio calendar.  I found from a simple change, there are advantages for developing your artistic practice and increasing learning in the studio.  I now visit my studio multiple times in a week and do 2-3 hours, I not only achieve more, I also learn more.     Related link to; ‘increasing your learning in the studio’ Youtube Video: Spaced repetition in learning theory   This is because our minds store information in many… Read More »Increasing learning in the studio

Stuart Bush Studio Blog, When it is advisable to wrong, My typical day as a painter

I wish I could paint every day

I wish I could paint every day… Every day I paint I have an adventure into the unknown.   Every day I am excited by the possibilities in the work.   Every day I paint I enjoy the production of novelty the most.   Every day I paint, I decide what I want to work on the night before.  My unconscious mind thinks and contemplates it overnight. The next day I effortlessly to know where to start.   Stuart Bush Studio Notes: paint every day Painting Freedom – Albert Oehlen review Every day I paint I don’t make it overly complicated.   Every day I paint my studio has to be… Read More »I wish I could paint every day

Places to go for inspiration

When I enter my studio I often have times when I need to be inspired.  No matter what l do l meet resistance. I walk around the room, or I sit feeling frustrated with a closed mind.  My mind doesn’t feel like being creative.  Fighting this situation never works. All that happens is that l waste the day. I have to get out.  I need to find a place to go to for inspiration.   Over time, l have learnt to embrace these moods and seek solace and inspiration elsewhere.  Near my studio, I have a lovely country walk.  Whatever the weather, I put my shoes on and head off.  … Read More »Places to go for inspiration

stuart bush studio, you don't understand me,

The benefits of adversity

The Benefits of Adversity Many children spend a lot of their time with their peers.  In my childhood, I changed schools five times. This meant l had to learn to start over again and again.  At the time I couldn’t see the benefits of adversity. I could only see the challenges of the upheavals.  Making friends and building strong relationships was a continual challenge.  It felt like before I knew it, I was moving again.   As I didn’t have easy and regular access to friends, I naturally was drawn to the easy path of finding things to do on my own. I didn’t spend my time playing sports.  I was… Read More »The benefits of adversity

Starting the day as an artist

What I struggle with as an artist – Starting the day On entering my studio, I often find myself in a low emotional state, where I am not in the mood to make work.  This often happens when I have rushed around to get the kids to school, tidied up and done some basic housework.  On those mornings I feel worn out before the day of work has started.  I am very conscious that I am tired and overwhelmed with life and it all pressures. However, I am also often determined to try to move out of this negative state of mind and get back to being productive. I have… Read More »Starting the day as an artist

Timeout from my art studio

After working too much I took some much needed time out.   As well as being an artist and working full time, in my ‘spare’ time l am also a RFU rugby coach for an under 10s junior rugby team.  Rugby has always been an important part of my life.  This year for our weekend away, our tour, we played a local team in Herefordshire, near Wales and we also went Paint Balling!   The rugby tour is an opportunity to provide memories that will last a lifetime.  It gives the young team and Coaches a chance to get away from home; to get to know each other and build… Read More »Timeout from my art studio