It is full of boxes from my last show, the encaustic workshop I taught, and the return of supplies from my summer house. My husband has sneaked in a box he's making and my son thinks its a parking spot for his bike. I have to define my space it seems. Working three days a week further removes me from my art. It's a month since I painted. I have two new art books that I'm not reading which is very unusual .
Even blogging holds no interest right now.
How do I account for these unfocused actions? September is always a month of new beginnings for me , a time to reconsider the coming year. Yes, my year goes from September because of my many years in the classroom. I need to make the transition from the months at my summer studio into my real studio. I need to get my head around my new series. It's coming to me slowly as each new piece looks a little different in style. I need a block of work time. Hopefully it's coming soon. Perhaps a trip over the stairs to the studio would be a good start!
11 comments:
Margaret--From my perspective, your studio looks to be in good shape (I can actually see your floor).
Settling takes a while; I remember how it was when we had two places we called home. Hopefully, October will be better but blocks of time are hard to find.
My son from MD stored his fishing gear in my workshop, then had the nerve to ask why I needed so much stuff. (I put his tall fishing rods in a back corner; I'll watch him try to retrieve them when he visits!)
Don't trip. You'll post amazing work soon. Your mind is just gathering material.
Each time you hand falls to a task, I am sure something is happening to move you closer to the state where you will want to work.
That being said, I wish you would get going with that book on Canadian art and painting. I want to know more about it! ;o)
Margaret, I go through the same sort of "limbo" every year as I transition between homes. It's a little disconcerting at times, but now I recognize it as a normal transition that must occur. Enjoy your "down time." It's a good time to regroup and let seed of ideas grow in your head.
There must be something in the air, because I've seen that several of my art friends are going through similar limbos. No worries, though, even though you are not physically getting anything done, there are masterpieces percolating in your psyche - I just know it.
Happy Creating!
-Don
Margaret, I wish I could offer you advice, but I can't. How about solidarity then? I've been in the same place for about 2 months. I putter and move things about. But my house is still a mess, my studio is a mess and I am a mess.
This has happened before (although not for this long) and I'm sure it will happen again.
I would have a look at those books while drinking a favorite beverage. Perhaps some music.
My wise friends,
Thanks for your responses and support as I muddle through September. I'm cleaning my studio today so it's a start. I will photograph the first painting in my new series. Better days ahead.
Wow, everyone seems to be in the same head-space.
Personally I am in the puttering mode attempting to do many things at once such as unpacking boxes, scanning old negatives and photos, learning computer programs, washing book covers as I place them on shelves in my new abode. Paintings are screaming to get out of my brain, ooooh, so much to do to achieve semi-organization. Its all pretty exciting.
My sweetie just finished painting a room downstairs which will be my collage/printing studio. I moved in with him right before going on a month long photography excursion to the west coast so I'm also slowly sorting through and posting some images to my blog.
To top it off the warblers are migrating, the flowers are doing their final dance of life before the long sleep, inspiration abounds and ideas formulate while the paint and canvas wait.
have a sunny heartfelt day, hugs, Teresa
Margaret, so nice to check in after several months with much travel. Ditto to all the comments. We have these spaces in our lives.
Thanks so much for your explanation of your transfer process. Can you point me at a couple of your pieces where you used the transfers? I am fascinated.
Margaret, I do SO know how you feel! It's certainly a challenge to make seasonal transitions, especially when summer homes are involved. Life can get even more fragmented than our fast-moving routines already are.
For me, the challenge is to come to terms with competing interests: fiction writing, blogging, photography (both stock and art), and painting. And boating and nature hikes....and reading. :(
Sadly, I have done very little painting this year, haven't touched it for months, in fact.
So I share your conflict and empathize full well with your dismay. Just remember that the other side of the coin is a full life with much joy of creating!
my year goes from late august to late august! calendar confusion... looks like it's an occupational hazard for teachers. i hadn't even thought about it before i read your post!
i guess new beginnings always carry some turmoil; new schedules, a new season, settling down after a summer away from home... but it sounds to me that you'll figure it out!
Mary,
All my Reading a Garden pieces have lots of Photo transfers in them. Sometimes they are well hidden and sometimes more blatant. Look at them on the Leyton Gallery site which is on my side bar. I have my own way of integrating and then eroding them in various ways until I get them to look like my memory of the event, location. Many details are lost and lots added. My process is as much about how our memories operate as it is about the content itself.
Post a Comment