Time Flies

When I was younger, I could get hundreds of things completed in a day.  Now if I complete 10 I feel like I've really been productive.  How could it possibly already be the last week of September?  I really, truly always intend to keep up with blogging, FB, Twitter and other social tasks, but most days, I'm really lucky if I get through reading and responding to all of my emails. 

What's on the plan today?  Return some phone calls, post some items to Craigslist (more art supplies that I'm destashing), return some emails, and write several proposals for teaching. 

Yawn.  I'm already exhausted just from that.

Incompletions

I hear on a regular basis, "You are so creative." And, not to be full of myself, but, it is true.  On the flip side of this is the fact that...I am so creative.  I have so many ideas, so many projects that I want to work on, so many things that interest me to try or explore in artwork, that I often have multiple incomplete projects.

Last week, as I was in the process of bringing yet more boxes to the new studio in the consolidation process, I discovered about 25 incomplete fused glass projects.  I also discovered several incomplete stained glass projects.  In my painting portfolio, I estimate I have about 50 incomplete paintings.  I have a series I'm working on related to what we see as beautiful that has 20 incomplete pieces.  And I have a list that is several pages of projects that I want to work on, a glass show where I plan to make completely new pieces, a bunch of completed paintings that are incomplete in the framing process, okay, so ....you get the picture.

It can be very difficult to be creative and to also finish projects.  From previous experience and various training I have received both in art and business, I know that incompletions are a road block.  They stymie creativity, they suck away vital energy.  I have a belief that each incompletion means that a part of my energy, my brain activity and my focus are attached to those incompletions.  Given all the artistic incompletions I have in my life, not to mention the household, the business details, the fix it up projects, the personal projects, the incomplete written stories, etc., I must be operating on about a 10th of my brain power and vital energy.  It seems no wonder, when I stop to use that 10 percent to think about it, that I am worn out, feel overwhelmed, feel....well, incomplete.

Other than the new glass projects for the art show in December, I am hereby vowing that I will NOT create any new artworks until I have either A) finished all the artistic incompletions or B) destroyed, altered or make the incomplete projects into "supplies" for new projects and let go of the idea that they would be complete in their current form or C) thrown out any that truly have no redeeming value other than as having been an outlet for a creative urge at some point.  It will take discipline.  It will take courage to look at each piece and determine whether or not it deserves to "live or die."  It will cause grief, as I tend to be quite sentimental about my artworks, even the "ugly" or the immature.  But, I know, it must be done.  If I am to be able to focus on teaching, proposals and new artworks, public artworks, and making a living doing art, then I must be brutally honest with myself and brutal with these creations.

Today is the day to begin.  Starting with getting the ATC cards mailed out from the show I curated.  That will be one check mark on the "done" column of my incompletions list...which incidentally, as I write this is now two full legal pad sheets long and still growing. YIPES. 

I highly recommend looking at your life and figuring out where your incompletions are, make a list, cull the ones you no longer have any joy or energy in completing and get rid of any paraphernalia related to those projects, and lighten up, enliven up and complete, complete, complete.

How to Multi-Task in the Studio

It seems like lately when I finally get to the studio (and this seems to take longer and longer every day as chores and taking care of household stuff, the dog, the cats, etc. seems to grow more demanding and time more fleeting)...I feel like I'm spinning in circles because there are so many tasks to work on, so many irons in the fire, all of them urgent or at least important.  So lately, since this is how it is happening, I let myself spin around the room.  Today for example, I quickly wrapped and packed up some glass for a customer and dropped it to the post office.  Got back and took pictures of artwork for several art shows, chatted with guests that stopped by my studio, packed up some artwork to take to a new art center this weekend, wire-wrapped and cleaned up several glass barrettes, gessoed some altered books, ground some glass cabochons, took photos for a glass article I'm writing for November, worked on some brainstorming for an upcoming art show I need some ideas for, and attended a meeting with seven other artists to brainstorm ways to promote the art center and our artworks. 

So my solution for multi-tasking?  Look around the room and see what needs to be done.  Do what can be done, leave what needs to dry to dry or cure to cure or cool to cool, let in-progress pieces simmer until the "next step" is revealed.  Don't sweat it.  Don't get overwhelmed.  Take time to really talk (and listen to) visitors, other artists and friends.  Spend time with those you love. 

It's all part of the whole and every thing I do today builds for the completion and successes for tomorrow.  Each piece is important, even if I only get a small part done at a time.

How to keep up with it all

Well, I've got three out of five studios consolidated--still have the collage/sewing space and the glass studio to move to my main studio space...so while I'm taking a pause to figure out HOW I'm going to get all the rest of what I have to fit in the already exploding at the seems new studio, I've been exploring Etsy and finally, finally, finally after two years as a member there, getting some items posted.  Now I'm feeling a little overwhelmed when I realize that it is yet another thing to keep up with.  What do I have to do, have a little morning or evening ritual where I a) check and respond to emails b) write my blog c) post items on Etsy and handle any transactions d) check my website and handle any transactions e) keep up with my facebook and f) tweet.  That takes up the morning hours at least.  And what happens if I don't have the TIME to take hours to do all of this?  How do I keep up, keep current and keep things fresh?  If I miss a day, does it become like a diet where it becomes a guilty thing and I avoid the exercise and eat the donut?  HELP.  I'm feeling so overwhelmed with the demands of our technology littered society and the networking opportunities.  When does anyone have time to do anything else, most importantly, actually speak live with other people and artisans?????  I'm going to sleep.  I just realized I can't face this now and since I've Etsy'd and blogged and checked my email, three out of six isn't bad.  That's operating at 50%.  *sigh*  Time to make the donuts.

Addicted to...

Ahhh, I have to come clean.  I'm terribly, horribly, completely addicted...to books.  And craft and supply stores.  And doing art.  I wish I could say that I have the self-control to stroll through a bookstore or craft store and exit with empty hands.  I wish I could even say that I have a "dime bag" habit.  But alas, it is a rare visit to either a book store or craft store where I do not walk out having paid at least $35 to $50 of my art earnings--usually so that I can learn some new technique or try out some new materials and mediums.

Today was no exception.  I have two new books--one on surface treatments for paintings and one on found object jewelry.  And I fear, my addiction may be spreading.  I was in the dollar store and came away with a bag of $13 worth of items that I will find useful for a) the next class I am teaching on the 12th and b) some of the aforementioned surface treatments I plan to try out.

It's become abundantly clear that I should not enter a book store or a craft shop without adult supervision and a cooler head that can be my co-dependent partner and talk me out of the danger zone. 

But, even with my addiction, I AM getting better.  Really.  I am.  I took back a book that was for an entirely new type of artwork that I don't do but think is really cool.  And exchanged it for the surface treatments book, of which I already do that type of artwork.  See?  That's progress...isn't it?

Productivity Every Day

It doesn't matter that I didn't do anything "artful" today (does creating marketing materials count?  It requires design elements and layout skills!)  I had a productive day.  I wrote two articles and the start of a third that are due by July 1st.  One is for ATCs Quarterly Fall Edition.  The second is for "Heart of Ohio" Magazine's Fall Edition.  And the third is for "Fired Arts & Crafts" September issue. (Speaking of which, I will be writing one article a month for the remainder of 2011 for Fired Arts & Crafts--and more to come in 2012.)

I posted advertising about the Children's Art Camp July 11 - 15, 2011.  I created new fliers to put out for Friday's Open Studio night.  I posted advertising AND made new fliers for the Tuesday Night Art Socials.

I set up new displays with the new slumped wine bottle that are enamel and airbrush painted (they look cool--I'll post pictures later).  And I updated my website some.

So the point here is that not EVERYTHING is going to be a priceless work of art (although I saw on Howard Finster's official website that they are even selling the RAGS that he used when he painted--they are beautiful and interesting and they framed them). Sometimes, it is just about being productive every day, whether it is a little task or a lot of them.  In building a career as a full time artist, it requires energy every day, focus every day and showing up...I showed up today.

What's Next?

Recovering from the successful opening of my solo art show "Recycled + Repurposed = Reincarnated" at the Oxford Community Art Center which stays on exhibit through August 5th, 2011.  Got a very nice write up in the Oxford Press.

This week I've had a hard time getting motivated.  I'm STILL trying to consolidate five studios into one and it is a very exhausting job.  Plus, I need more shelving.  Or I need to let go of some of the stuff I have to make room for everything.  It's tough to do...I always think "I'm gonna use that" but sometimes it takes years before I do and sometimes, NEVER use but can't get rid of it.

Yesterday I worked on some bottle cap jewelry--its not done.  Today I have to finish the two collaborative paintings that were started at Oxford Art and Wine Affair a few weeks ago--just have a little clean up/detail work to pull the two together.  Also going to work again on the bottle cap jewelry. 

I find my self asking, "What's Next?"  And I don't have an answer.  But I do find myself missing working on glass and missing painting.  There are always more proposals for teaching and shows, etc. to do and that interrupt the flow of creating.  I find I create in stops and starts and I am trying to balance out the teaching with the creating and also to not get sucked into the "crafty" side versus the artful side.

What really inspires me?  How can I keep that sense of connectedness ALL THE TIME which is what I draw upon for my creative expression....