A few days ago, I wrote a “true confessions” blog post about being a procrastinator - a not so nice trait that I recognize in myself as it’s happening but over which I feel powerless. A wise bloggie friend, Mary, of Bead Fluff, emailed me privately after reading my post along with a link to an article by Robert Genn that she had just read. Before I had even clicked on the link, I emailed her back to tell her about how until recently (maybe the last year or two) I hadn’t recognized this self destructive tendency in myself. Later on in the day, I read Robert Genn’s article about how often times, artists possess both the yin (female) and yang (male) tendencies which tend to balance each other out. In the article, Robert mentions that often times, many artists who go on to be quite well known are out of yin/yang sync (think Van Gogh, Basquiat et al), meaning that one or another of the traits dominates, creating a successful, yet poisonous imbalance.
The article gave me something to think about since I don’t exactly want to self destruct and am trying to build an art career. I know I recently wrote about becoming a “certified” teacher. I was most likely seduced by the notion of a monetary paycheck and a steady job. I don’t want just any job and left my last job because I was tired of being a monkey and unappreciated. I, along with a lot of other people/artists, am looking for career enhancing satisfaction, self fulfillment, and a longing that I can’t quite describe. Simply put, I am just looking to create a path for myself that is authentic and one I feel good about. I can still teach without going back to school by just doing it - see the going back to school part is the avoidance, ie. I’ll be happy when I do (fill in the blank). It’s easy to romanticize a paycheck when I have to make my pantry stretch for a few weeks and my family’s car experiences a major repair. But is money everything? If I decide to become a “certified” teacher, I want it to be for the right reasons… Boy oh boy, I feel a tangent coming on that I had better divert right this very minute. At any rate, suffice it to say, thank you *Mary* for your keen insight and wisdom - You’re an angel!
Speaking of angels, I had posted the above elliptical for sale on Craigslist Denver this past week, and woo hoo - a kindly gentleman took it off our hands this evening! I can’t believe how much space that netted my studio - Scratching my head in wonderment??? Next up is an upright piano which was my parent’s when I was growing up. I don’t exactly want to get rid of it, but no one in my immediate family is interested in playing the piano and there’s no space inside our small house either to store or display it. I’m thinking of donating it to someone who maybe can’t afford one, but who is passionate about playing piano. Once the piano is out of the picture, we’re going to begin insulating and dry walling my studio space so that I can work there year round. If you think going on vacation can stall my art making, imaging what a cold winter would do?? Desperately seeking balance….
Meanwhile, today marked the Josh and Gus Run for a Cause that benefits SUDC, or Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood - a cousin of SIDS. I donated the above piece to their silent auction and hope that the group raised a ton of money for research that can prevent future deaths. As a mom, I can only imagine what parents of SIDS or SUDC children are coping with!
So, after much rambling, I am signing off for today,
~Cynthia
Tags: josh and gus, life of an artist, porcelain bottle, wheel thrown pottery
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