O yes, I definitely experience this after a major project, especially when it's super intense in demands of time & creativity. I'm getting smarter about it, though. I now try to line up "something" for when a project is complete.. it can be as simple as a book to read.. allowing myself a day or two to wander around wondering what to do.. getting together with friends.. cleaning up the aftermath of the project..

It's the abrupt shift from such intense work, to what appears to be nothing that causes the blues, I think

Hi,

First of all thanks for engaging my thread, I actually feel that this is a legitimate issue for artists, as well as for the general public. When I first experienced it of course I tried to dismiss it as being overly sensitive, attached, but it's deeper. You really lose yourself when you're working against a deadline to create a labor of love, and of course it's never really finished! lol.

Luckily where I'm at today is that I've got this really cool dynamic going, a love/hate relationship with my angst. I despise angst. It's so depressing, and after a show you kinda creep back into your head with "shoulda/woulda/coulda" but a few years back I discovered channeling. I know utilize my angst as a battery, a nuclear core, because anxiety is in fact energy and when you can manage it, that energy can be quite useful in the creative process. So the moral of the story is though I miss the intensity of "getherdone," I'm moving forward towards the next challenge. As to setting up subsequent activities to supplement your need to remain at least mentally active, I actually did just that yesterday. I went "back inside" and spent some time in the studio, picking up a little project I'd set aside so that I could give my energy to the "big project."

My project:Of late I tend to work multimedia, so I produced a performance piece that consisted of live & recorded music (including my singing debut), spoken word and some original composition, all of which was the result of a collaboration, so I had to manage the cast as well as myself to make it happen. Those kinda projects are indeed immersion and I love it, truly-nothing like having talented and passionate people around you to support your creative aspirations!

C.

like they say in sex-think baseball "slide, slide..." no really. Life's a blast. You're a creative, dedicated artist. Take a swing at the ball, swing hard and blast that sucka deep, then take a nice run around the bases. Success is but a stepping stone in a path to a place yet unknown. Disappointment with perfection, or imperfection is like a mosquito, or a fly, harassing you. Swat that sucka.

you both sound pretty tough, seasoned. touche for now. we'll likely revisit the subject down the line. I do have 1 question:

in this specific instance, death = birth?

Well-guess what?

I just walked in the door from a major 3 day arts festival where I displayed and explained my opus of 2006 and you would not believe the letdown/burnout. I'm definitely glad to have it done but shoulda/woulda/coulda, ad neuseum.

Actually it's called life and us artistic types should realize that most of the general public couldn't hold a candle to a driven creative on a mission/bent. Give it up for showin up and deliverin!
C. D.

Actually,

I had a revelation this morning. As I drove back to my "real" job (believe me those are real letdown moments) I realized that the part about being relieved that the event is done is as much reality as the post partum aspect. This is due to the fact that since we seem to dwell in linear time, the buildup for any given event must be actualized by that event occurring and running it's course. Why? Well among other things assessment.

You really can't prove how well your logic and preparation actually work until you execute the program. As I returned to the reality of my day job I thought about my assumptions going in and what happened in real time and I clarified what worked and what didn't. Those moments can only happen after the fact. Maybe I'd have been a little less sad if I actualy sold something(lol), but the networking was inspiring-that's another thing you can't have if you don't actually make your project happen and people have the opportunity to check out your ideas and of course they get to meet you.

C. D.