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I believe that art enriches and informs our lives everyday in many positive ways. Sharing those experiences, whether as an artist or as an appreciator, is part of the pleasure. I welcome your comments and hope you find something of value: a laugh, an insight, a new idea or just a happy moment. Enjoy art!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Caution: Work Zone

Have you ever thought about your work habits?  Artists have as many routines as
other professions and about as many "must have" quirks.
I confess that I "must have" several irons in the fire; that
is, I am happiest and most productive when I have more than one
project or painting, on deck.
I know others that absolutely will not start a new piece until the
previous one is signed and sealed.  But that is not me.  I bounce around from
piece to piece sometimes painting on as many as 4 or 5 a day.  Why?


I have found that when I hit a hard spot I need to leave the piece and let the brain
work on it away from the easel.  Consciously or sub-consciously I
solve the dilemna and
am restored and recharged when I return to the piece.
This is a current shot of my studio.
I count 5 pieces out and in progress.  Another reason I like this method
is that when I take a break I can sip some tea, sit in a chair
opposite of this "mess" and easily evaluate what needs to be done.
I can seperate the forest and trees so to speak.  A painting may be neglected for several days while
I contemplate what it needs.  Or it may fall together quickly.
Much like when I worked in an office and wrote ad copy, or organized events or
handled citizen inquiries. 
Are your work habits fairly consistent...do you know why?



3 comments:

  1. I LOVE that all of your pieces are "in a line". My works in progress are all over the house --- the loom in one room, the glass in another, tile work in yet another and all the sewing projects are well, wherever I worked on them last! And that doesn't count what I'm working on at the shoppe! I have to take a home/town tour to evaluate. How's that for consistent chaos! Ha! In warm weather everything goes back in my home studio again. THAT is my favorite!

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  2. Cindy, you are so lucky to have a spacious studio where you can have multiple pieces going on - I'm envious!

    The way my studio is, if I don't finish a painting, which definitely happens, it goes off the easel into a stack where I tend to forget about it. I'd love to be able to have a few pieces to dabble on when I hit an impasse with one.

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  3. This studio is like a galley kitchen, you can turn around and there is another counter...it's small but efficient and a dream come true!

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