Thursday + we're clipping along. These two paintings recently sold themselves to new homes. Freedom. So What. Out of the blue. It's always nice when a painting finds a forever home. It was kind of sad because we had them nicely hung with Here (my personal favourite) and now the artichoke is feeling lonely. The sale lead me on a sorting mission in my paintings studio where I have been trying to organize myself and making note of some interesting goals and truths:
- In 2008, after the birth of Pilot, I completed 213 pieces of art including several big pieces, several large commissions, client work, a whack of Tiny Art and a bunch of different projects for books and such. Most important to me is the painting called Little One that I later sold in a postpartum fog and have regretted it ever since.
- In 2009, after Penn's birth, I completed 96 paintings ranging from small to very big. I completed hundreds of custom YOU-ARE-AWESOME posters, mini print sets, a major art show and a few smaller personal art related projects including a baby book called Hello Baby.
- In 2010 I have completed only a handful of small art studies, ONE piece of Tiny Art, a large number of YOU-ARE-AWESOME posters, a live presentation on creativity and also a written and facilitated online class...
At first glance the 2010 pile bummed me out. Oh, I know all about the ebbs of creativity + life + time... There's a cycle. I get it. BUT THREE PIECES OF ART? Seriously? That is just plain bullshit. It's been a long time since I've felt my true centre like I do when I'm painting - just to paint**. For the most part, I have been enjoying what I've been up to: renovating (that is a bit of a lie), making small people, co-ordinating life, taking some pictures, creating a studio, etc, etc. But I am DEFINITELY disappointed in how I have let my schedule get messed with. It's not even worth TRYING to pretend otherwise. So I made a list - what do I enjoy most? What hours do I need? When am I productive? What can I let go of? What am I stuck on? What's effin' with my balance? What's the DEAL Barteski?? Decisions are never easy, but I am letting a couple of old things go to make room for new things (including a person)... Action instead of dissatisfaction.
Starting November 1 - YOU-ARE-AWESOME posters will no longer be available. Order them now or never. That project is the first to go. It's been fun.
**After these discoveries I hauled out a giant canvas and old crusty paints and started a painting. RUSTY. I put in my ear phones and cranked the tunes and actually forgot about the clock and the nanny-time and the TO-DO list and the messy studio and the emails. No plan. Just a running commentary in my brain and a revived commitment to paint at whatever cost. Who cares how it ends up! - it was a date with myself that reminded me that I am still here.
Today: We are getting ready to go on a speedy trip to Florida for Canadian Thanksgiving. I've known about this for months, but for some reason left everything until the last few days. Ridiculous. Hopefully, we will get our bags packed and our selves sorted today so that Friday will be stress-free. We're having another dinner party tonight so groceries are in order, too. And laughing. And connecting. And making memories in house90. I love that.
One cup of coffee and three cups of tea. (In order of importance!) GO!
