Posts Tagged “anderson ranch arts center auction”

I finished painting the last porcelain box yesterday and left all 20 uncovered last night so that I can bisque fire them today. They are all more than leather hard by this stage and with our semi arid climate - they’ll be dry by the time I check on them later this morning. I’ll be glaze firing the lot of them on Thursday just in time for the Summer Art Market on Saturday and Sunday. I’ve been oddly calm the last couple of weeks - which is a sharp departure from the panic mode I normally find myself in right before a show. This happens mainly because I try to make too much too late and then end up having a lot of oops pieces because I didn’t allow sufficient time to dry etc.

As a departure from panic mode which is really rather unpleasant for my mental state as well as my family’s well being, I decided that I would make x amount of items by x date and that is all. It may mean that I won’t sell as much, but that’s okay. It’s better than putting schlock out into the world.

I used to compare my productivity levels to other peoples, and then had a sharp realization that I’m in a different place right now. I’m basically a stay at home mom who happens to have a ceramic studio at home. I’ve always fancied myself a “full time” artist, but the truth is I really work at it part time when I can steal a few moments. I haven’t kept a work log, but I know that when my daughter is in school (it’s summer break right now), I work about 5 hours a day - which translates into roughly 25 hours a week. Now that she’s home, I probably work just as much but at really odd times.

I know there will come a time (and it’s racing up to me fast) when my 10 year old will be a teen and will be less interested in my companionship. So, I’ve reminded myself to relax - enjoy the time I have with her because soon she’ll be out of the house. She’ll be 18 before I know it and I’ll be able to spend uninterrupted hours in the studio when that happens. I don’t want to miss anything right now! It’s a good exercise in being “present” and not wishing my life away too fast.

Meanwhile, I sent this porcelain hand-painted butterfly box to Anderson Ranch Arts Center for the annual auction taking place on August 9 this year. It wasn’t my first choice, but it does represent current work that I hope to continue exploring. I realized that I missed a few deadlines and needed to get something in the mail.

Have a great day everyone,

~Cynthia