structuring your time

How do you play your cards? How do you structure a life's work? These artists have imposed their own rules on what future form their art will take. And they have lived within these terms. They have made a decision, and then remained true to it. Put like this, it sounds like a vow, and, in a way, it is. They have made a promise to themselves to restrict their curiosity.

The strengths grow clearer over time. Increased consistency equals greater sense of authenticity. Quality is guaranteed. It absolves the art of being judged by this year's fashionable critical criteria. The reviewers are preempted.

But initially, the self-imposed rule might seem rash, or even eccentric. It might involve turning your back on current art-world trends, and committing to a path that could seem at the time to be antagonistic to having an 'art career'. It might involve deciding that current art world debates are simply not pertinent to your investment.

An observer might think that what started out as a game of poker has turned out to be nothing but solitaire. But to the player, this solitaire is as risky as any game of poker.