This is the fourth week of the studio remodel and I miss my studio! But you can see from the photos that progress is being made. Next the roof will be removed, the dormer built and a new roof put on. This whole “project” is a lot more involved than I thought it would be, but I suppose that’s the way every remodel goes. I am just happy we continue to make progress.
Not being able to paint has given my days a whole different rhythm. At least when I had a studio available I could go and paint if I wanted to, then if I procrastinated by doing something else, that “something else” was delicious in the way staying home on a snow day is, or a hurricane day here in Houston. Now my procrastination activities just feel like I’m wasting time.
The other thing I miss about painting is being able to continue an idea from one painting to another. When I paint there is some kind of continuous stream of thought going through all my paintings, they are connected. I’ll get excited about something and paint it, then decide it’s not quite right so I’ll paint the next painting and try to “fix” what I didn’t like before. Or I’ll love some part of a painting and want to take that into the next painting.
Once the studio remodel started, these unrealized ideas in my head just went round and round like mice on an exercise wheel, but now it’s been so long since I’ve painted (3 weeks) that the ideas are no longer even there, it’s like they’ve flown off that wheel and they’re scattered and gone. Maybe there are a few fragments of ideas left. That’s the part that I miss most, those ideas running through my head, always dreaming of the next painting.
It’s funny, I really wasn’t even aware that this connection between paintings was such a big part of the way I paint until now. Perhaps I’ve learned something new about my process that I can put to good use.
That is a thought provoking and dare I say, poetic post… Joan you really have a wonderful way with words. LOVE this post! and totally get it. Knowing your studio will be ready soon must be comforting, but it also puts you in limbo ’til you get it back! A while back I purposely quit making art and I can tell you for sure the project to project creativity (you so eloquently refer to) did eventually manifest in my new activities! It just took a different form. I’m so glad I got back to painting though, because honestly nothing beats it. Hang in there!!
Wow..
I didn’t realize that I had missed several of your posts until I made this visit. Sounds like you made a lot of contacts at your show and both you, your portraits and you pr materials looked great.
Even though you SAY you only made one sale, I’m sure that the exposure will generate more clients who will contact you.
GREAT JOB…. I know you will LOVE your new studio!! (don’t forget to get out of it once in a while too!)