Monday, April 9, 2012

Wise Soul and Scheduling Creativity...

I have been working on canvases to enter in my Etsy shop, which I finally launched last week! I cannot believe how nervous I was, or how incredibly simple the process actually turned out to be. Here is a 5" x 7" canvas panel I just finished and am listing this morning...
I am so pleased with the way my little owl turned out, and the colors just went together so nicely.
I have made the commitment to myself and my art to work on something everyday, and still find it difficult to get everything else done around the house. I told a friend over the weekend that I wished I were three people, because it seems like everything that needs to be done, can only be done by me, and cannot be hired out. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the weeds are growing. My next step is to make myself a schedule, with items listed such as "wash the dishes", "plant the lettuce", and "go make something in the studio"...Things like, "get some exercise" and "scrub the bathtub" aren't even in the running right now. I am still learning how to pace myself, and still get everything taken care of.
  The thing is, creativity is very difficult to control like that. Inspiration has no sense of timing, and my muse doesn't really care about dishes and laundry or whether there is food in the house. So I am perpetually dancing from one mundane project to another, then into my studio in a fever of ideas, then back out to a chore whose importance is increasingly difficult to remember. By dinner I am exhausted and have a dozen partially completed tasks, and nothing crossed off my list! Sigh...
Never the less, I am enjoying this creative journey I am on, and know I will learn a better way to organize and utilize my allotted time. Are you like me, scattered to all corners of your life, or are you one of those enviable people that "has it all together"? Got any secrets to share? Bring 'em on, maybe we can make something of this mess...
  By the way, it is Every Inchie Monday, with this weeks theme being simply "blue". Right away I started thinking of the pretty mountain blue birds that nest in my birdhouse out by the tool shed every year, and decided to depict one in my own little way..
Oh, that reminds me, I need to get that cleaned out, both the shed and the birdhouse...
The theme for this month's creative Every Day is "language" and I have a poem to share;


My Studio
by Sally Rose

Paint, brush, and canvas.
Paper and easel.
Inks, dyes, and crayons.
Pencils and pens.

Sewing machine, fabric,
thread, twine and string.
Unfinished projects, sparked ideas
that then sputtered.

Magazines and books,
clippings, sandpaper.
Glue, tape and staples,
frames, shelves and plans.

Some baskets to store things,
not nearly enough.
Bags, boxes and cabinets,
and piles of more stuff.

Snippets of floss,
bright colors spilling.
Buttons and ribbon and
“Where did that go?”

“I didn't know I had it!”
and, “Isn't this pretty?”
Files and magnets,
and needles and beads.

Lost orphans, found items
and stories to tell.
Inspiration bombarding,
and me with no helmet.
Not enough lifetime
to fully explore it.



Story of my creative life...until next time, enjoy!


26 comments:

  1. This is me to a tee, Sally! I think the trick is to make our lists so that they are broken down into smaller tasks, so that things can get crossed off, even if they are partial tasks...like prep 5x7 canvas, do back ground on 5x7 canvas, finish 5x7 canvas...I know it is a mind game, but I know for me, that act of being able to cross something off, no matter how small keeps me from feeling like I'm not accomplishing much.

    Another thing that helps is to periodically keep a running list of everything I accomplish in a day. It reminds me that I am NOT a slug, even if I don't easily SEE what I've done.

    LOVE the owl!

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    1. Sounds like you and I are cut from the same cloth, Janet. I also "reward myself" with crossing things off my list, I have even been know to add something I did to a list, just to have the sense of accomplishment I get from crossing it off...silly, I know, but it makes me feel better when I go back over my day. I found this quote that really resonates with me, and it just so happens to be by the MOST AMAZING comedienne of all time;

      "Before you go to bed, write down three "gratefuls" for the day and three "did wells" (they can even include something as simple as doing the laundry)-the results can be amazing!" -Carol Burnett

      I think she has something there...Thanks for your tips, Janet, I will focus on small steps and try to give myself an occasional pat on the back for deeds done...

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    2. OMG! I do the same thing (adding things I already did!) but I wasn't going to cop to that! Hahahaha!

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  2. your wise owl is very sweet and the colors are lovely together. congrats on your new shop! much success with it. I think three of me would be great too. So true how when you come out of the creativity storm you can't recall what important task to tackle and creativity does not to arrive when we ask it too. I sometimes use my studio as my "reward" to go to after I finish a couple other mundane tasks. I work best later in the day so that approach works well for me. Happy CED!

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    1. I try to reward myself with studio time, but it another place where I get lost, and when I finally come up for air, it is evening and there are no clean clothes...I work best in the morning hours, which of course can turn into an all day event! Thanks for the kind words on the subject of my new painting,Kristen and thank you for commenting. Have a great day!

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    2. enjoyed your poem! sounds like an inspiring place full of goodies and magic!!! thanks for taking a moment to visit and comment on my blog. many wishes for a great day!

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  3. Loving your owl...I think it is not the only wise one. Scheduling creativity is smart. I think it assures your muse that you will show up so that she knows where to find you. :)

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    1. I love that notion, collectingyourself! It gave me a great visual and a good chuckle. Maybe I should take it a step further and just make an appointment with her? :)

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  4. Your owl and bird are both lovely, I especially like the bird!
    Your verse exactly describes what my studio is like. Nice to know we probably all have too much 'stuff'
    :)
    xxx

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    1. Sue, I am sure that creative minds all do have the same issues in many ways. At least we can laugh at ourselves, and maybe share a few tricks as well!

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  5. Bravo to you ~ Wow! ~ love your owl and bird ~ so creative and colorful ~ thanks, namaste, ^_^

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    1. Thank you! I am often surprised by the color combinations that come out while I am painting. I try planning them ahead of time, but they usually just go their own way...but now I love the turquoise and gold! Have a great week.

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  6. Such a lovely little owl... i love that he looks "young" somehow. :-)
    Great work. Have a happy week! (with MUCH artwork & without too much housework!) xoxo

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    1. Thanks Pauline, glad you like the little guy...gal? Not sure, hmmm. I am more or less caught up on inside work, so today it is off to the garden. I am planting my greens and peas this week. My flower beds are a disaster from the winter! But it is a beautiful sunny day, so it should all be very inspiring! Have a good week, thanks for commenting.

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  7. Great inchie and wonderful poem!

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    1. Thanks Kris, glad you liked them. I hope other creative people read this and cut themselves some slack! :)

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  8. Lovely work, Sally ! Really nice job.

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    1. Thank you, rtquilter! Glad you like them. Have a good week!

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  9. Love your owl! I can so relate to this dilemma. Even though my kids are grown, I have a house, a husband, a barn, and elderly parents pulling on my time. I don't work well when everything is in chaos, and I don't have time to create and keep everything in order. What to do?

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    1. Oh Mary, I can so relate to what you are saying. My kids are grown and out, but in that in-between stage where they still take a lot of my time and mental energy. Then there is my husband, the house, the garden, pets, work and his parents. I sometimes think, left to my own devices I could be quite a good hermit! Probably a very good thing so many people still need me...
      I think scheduling and lists are about the only thing we can do, besides one other thing. Honor your creative gift by treating it as though it is just as important as any of the other priorities in your life. Don't just squeeze it in like a game of Scrabble, but schedule your time to included it, if not in your daily life, at least weekly. It is a gift, and deserves your respect and time...does that make any sense to you? Think about it. Thanks for sharing!

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  10. I love your brilliant blue inchie and your owl as well.

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    1. Thank you, Trillian! Had a tough time on this simple theme. But I do so love my little bluebirds!

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  11. Hello Sally Rose, Love your birds and your blues.

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