The Portfolio Project
I spend a lot of energy managing the mind game in this line of work. There are so many things to get snagged along the way and slow us down--performance issues, perfectionism, the complex relationship between art and commerce and the way you can read that sales sheet like it's measuring your whole worth. One thing that helps me keep things light and not too significant is to frame things in terms of a game that I'm currently playing. When Jen Lemen came to visit last week, we were both at the end of the games we'd been playing for the end of the year, and ready for something new. We came up with a 12-week action burst that would focus on daily production goals that will dramatically expand our body of work. This is a big game. What would your landscape look like, if 12 weeks from now you had 50 new paintings, or 100? If you had 50 new poems and short stories? What if they weren't all amazing--don't you think the odds are that plenty of them would be? That it would feel good to fish for the best from a vast ocean instead of a puddle of projects? Here's an excerpt of our conversation in which The Portfolio Project was born. (Watch my moves here--I'm just throwing this up here, even though it isn't perfect and even though I was fumbling through new software and couldn't get it 'just so'.) Anyone can play this game, at any time. But we're playing it now, and we're both "The More, The Merrier" kind of gals. Let us know if you're up for playing along.
Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 9:03AM | Share Article | 67 Comments | Permalink | in The Portfolio Project, creative work
Reader Comments (67)
oh, i admire you both so much.
hearing your voices together...
hearing jen lemen's voice for the very first time has left me sitting here in a puddle of tears.
i've been lamenting the end of a year in which i've done a lot of THINKING about a tiny little photography studio and shop of my very own. i'm so up for playing along ;-)
love and blessings to you both.
thank you for continually inspiring me.
xo
Oh. I am SO up for this game.
Really, really up. Not just up, but raring to go. I've been doing something sort of similar, although most of the work has been in my journal.
Time for me to step out of my journal and into the global marketplace.
You know, this is about taking over the world, don't you?
In only the best of ways, of course.
I think this is a wonderful idea. I am always looking for new inspiration new ways to get the work done, particularly as the new year rolls around.
I'll play.
The only thing better than a good game is a group game. Hooray! If you blog about this, leave us a link so we can follow YOUR Portfolio Project and cheer you on.
I love the idea of calling it a game. Anything else is too daunting, isn't it? This is just the sort of (fun) kick-in-the-pants I need, girlies. Count me in.
I'm in.
I'm so in.
I am playing. Photography is a great love and I am endlessly in my head about all of it...now I am going to take out my camera and takes zillions(maybe not that many)and then go fishing..maybe I will even post them to flickr
I am playing. Photography is a great love and I am endlessly in my head about all of it...now I am going to take out my camera and take zillions(maybe not that many)and then go fishing..maybe I will even post them to flickr
Love it!
That's how I've been painting for this upcoming show~ fast + dirty and most likely not showing most of it, but the spaghetti stickers :)
Would love to continue this way for 12 weeks!
Big love to you Jen + Jen,
Mati Rose
I've only just come across your blog, but what incredible timing. I really need this. I might just be the best procrastinator in the history of humankind and this will be so good for me. Especially in thinking of it as a game, not work, but a game. I'm in.
jen*
i deeply appreciate your voice...deeply, deeply, deeply...this project calls to me. exciting, inspiring & in communion with others! count me in.
xo,
gem
Oh, I'm definitely interested. Perhaps I'll set a goal of writing for 20 minutes at a set time every day, or submitting essays to say, five journals, or something along those lines.
http://withoutfilters.blogspot.com/2008/12/one-little-word.html" title="COURAGE" rel="nofollow"> I'm ready.
[...] catch up from the beginning, start here. To embed yesterday’s clip on your own blog, copy and paste this into your [...]
I'm in, too :) And, thanks.
[...] if you’re playing the Portfolio Project game, consider this the Game of the Week. Share and [...]
I am in... I will blog about it at my next chance... will start on it the Sunday after Christmas. My portfolio will all be business related: photography and journals.
I'm in!
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
I'm joining in. Thanks for the inspiration.
[...] here’s what I think my soulsiblings: if we are going to build tribes, launch book projects, fill our portfolios, have babies, beackon the lovely, and just generally make space to get things born, we’d better [...]
count me in!
[...] just today, I found a wonderful person/site and an idea: The Portfolio Project. A way to start the year creative. A way to build your body of work, to push yourself to just [...]
I'm SO in! I thought I wrote that here, but i can't remember where I put my comment (not unusual - I'd lose my noggin if it weren't attached..)
this is a wonderful, mind-opening idea!
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
[...] we are: super chilled and sleepy, thinking up The Portfolio Project okay, both of us more than a little sick, tying up loose ends before we start–a Happy New [...]
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
ya know, when momentum nudges she also sometimes pushes collectively...especially for good :) appreciate so much this project's concept...and knowing it's rooted in a deep pure friendship....what true love shine through...
playing along with....not sure what that looks like or means....for me it means on the page every day...online in my journal in my sketching..just no more thinking 'thou shalt go into writing mood now'..more like she breathes, she blogs :)
luvs and hugs, tre ;)
[...] are starting to get all cozy with me, hoping I’ll keep blogging instead of working on The Portfolio Project, so I better get these girls up with me to the Tower pronto! Sending this out to you, friends, with [...]
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
playing :D
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
[...] on #60 of 100 new designs as I play The Portfolio Project with my friend Jen Lee. At first, it took me a whole day to do one sketch. Then I realized I could [...]
I'm playing. As a matter of fact, this game has set me on fire creatively, so thank you for that. I'm going to churn out 100 poems, without so much of a hint of perfectionism or self-judgment. I'm writing for the sheer joy of writing.
I wrote five last night, and so far today I have written five more. It is the most freeing thing I've done in a long time.
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
Ah yes, thank you so much for this. Count me among the inspired! I gush and babble here: http://magicbeansworkshop.blogspot.com/2009/01/camp-magic-beans.html
[...] limerick if you have to–but I know you, Jen. You may feel this way now, but a month after the Portfolio Project is over you are going to call me and say, [in a surprised voice] ‘I have some really lovely [...]
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
[...] you stay in that place too long (because you’re, say, playing a game called the Portfolio Project, or something) you become like an old-fashioned scale with a rock on one side and nothing on the [...]
you are both so inspiring. this is a great concept, quantity over quality. and i've seen that same transformation with my writing. if i can just sit down and do it. hearing your voices and seeing the creation of this is so very inspiring for me to continue on. if not to play along, but to believe.
thank you.
So nice hearing your voices... Miss you xxox
[...] The Portfolio Project has launched me into a season that I try to avoid hanging out in too long–one that feels like winter to my spring-lovin’ soul. How about you? Are you walking a leg of the creative journey that you wish you could just turn away from already? What part pushes your buttons? What part is an invitation to expand your capacity? [...]
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
[...] can subscribe to the Portfolio Project podcast here. To start at the beginning of the project, go here. Share and [...]
I love the idea for the Portfolio Project. I just did 24 in 24 in October (create something -whether it be a painting, poem, story, etc - everyday for 24 days). I really enjoyed it although I didn't last all 24 days (I think I made it to 18). I'm gonna do this Portfolio Project and try to set a high goal.
I feel like I never write anymore. I'm waiting for inspiration that won't come until the pen in connected with the paper. So I'm doing it. I'll let you know how it goes. = ). And good luck with yours too. I enjoy this sort of thing, but in your other post you said it's frustrating you. Stick with it! It'll feel really good when it's over.