I realize that it's been a while since I've updated my blog and I do apologize. Life gets so crazy sometimes and real life has to take precedence over cyber life. One of those real life concerns is my little Maltese who's been a bit under the weather recently.
Plus, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. I seem to do that in the fall of the year since it's my least favorite season. I get very introspective and start to hunker down for the winter I know will be coming soon.
One thing I've been thinking about is my art and where I want to go with it. I received the following in my email a few days ago and have been thinking about what it says:
I give you my list
of 10 Things Artists Should Be Thankful For. Print this out, fold it up
and put in your wallet. Send it to your artist friends. Read it whenever you
feel all your work is for nothing and you are thinking maybe you should just
stop making art and grow up. Post it in your studio when
you are wondering what the heck you are going to do with all this work? But,
most of all…believe it. Remember, it is impossible to feel thankful and be
depressed at the same time.
1. I am thankful that I am not one of the
majority of people in this world that wakes up every morning, goes to a job they
hate, just to come home and do it all over again.
2. I am thankful that
when I am away from my studio, my ideas come with me, they keep me company
everywhere I go.
3. I am thankful for this passion that gives me so much
joy (and angst) but mostly joy.
4. I am thankful that when I have left
this earth, I will leave something meaningful behind.
5. I am thankful
that I have a mind that can not sleep, I will never be bored.
6. I am
thankful that there is a part of my life that nobody can control, except
me.
7. I am thankful that no one in the world can ever take this gift
from me.
8. I am thankful that I am brave, it takes courage to pursue my
gift.
9. I am thankful that I am never satisfied, it forces me to move
forward and grow.
10. I am thankful I discovered this list! Pass it
on.
Do you see the sentence I've highlighted in red? Why is it out of all the positive points in this, does this particular sentence jump out at me? I do look around my studio and wonder what to do with all my art. I also look at point #4 and remember a recent trip to the Goodwill store that I took with my daughter. As she looked at normally expensive name brand purses, I looked at the bin with all the frames and artwork. I was aghast at seeing really lovely original artwork being sold for a dollar or so.
Is this the "meaningful legacy" we're leaving behind?
I hope you all are cheered and encouraged with the above - I am and then again, I'm not.
6 comments:
Hugs to little CC! I hope she is feeling better soon.
I agree with all your Thankful things. I feel the same.
Hugs. so nice to be blogging with you again. xx
Hi Jan
Hope CiCi is feeling better - I'm sure she's getting the very best attention
I had trouble reading your points but I think you've changed the colour now? or maybe its just my computer. Anyway, it really is food for thought. I'm happy to be out of the 'rat race' and doing something I enjoy (most of the time):-)
That was me above - not typing well today!
Thanks for commenting, Dors and Sue!
Dors, I'm so glad you're back blogging also - it was fun reading your posts on the road though.
Sue, I did change the color as it was very hard to read and I'm not sure it's still not a little difficult.
I think I agree with you. I'm glad also not to be in the rat race but I would also like to sell some of the art I do other than commissions. I like the variety of different mediums, subjects, etc. but hate that the art just builds up. It was kind of shocking to see really nice paintings in the bin at the Goodwill store though. (The Goodwill store is a thrift shop like the one you and David help at but maybe not as classy as yours?) Oh, well, I really can't stop making it! And I guess the question is, do I want to enter the rat race to sell it. Probably not!
The vets are still trying to make a diagnoses on CiCi. She's acts fine though.
Commission work is very stressful but it is flattering when somebody likes your style enough to want you to portray their 'loved one'
I enjoy drawing non-commissioned subjects without having to please a client. But even when I'm free to select a subject that appeals to me I have to be honest and say I usually also keep in mind whether its likely to appeal to buyers or judges (in the case of exhibitions). I guess I'm not very good at this though as I have rather a lot of unsold original pics in my 'studio' :-)
Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery for CiCi
Jan!!
Hi! Yes, I'm still alive! LOL!
I love this list! Thanks for sharing.
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