Sculpting and Things that Get In The Way of Sculpting

A common lament among the artists I know is that they never have any time to do their art.  I really feel that way right now, and it hurts.

Yes, I recognize the argument that goes: "If it was important enough to you, you'd do it!" but I don't entirely buy it.

We all have things that legitimately get in the way of our work. Any work. A friend calls some of it "the overhead of life".  You know that stuff: bill paying, cleaning the kitchen, working for a living, and so on.  To that can be added legitimate chores - I'm thinking of things like fixing the car or the house - that may get put off for some time, but which eventually have to be dealt with.

If you're a sculptor and you lack a big indoor studio, then you (like me) get the additional burden of the weather.  I'm simply not going out to carve with my steel tools when it's raining, and if it's too cold or too hot I'm not happy either.

Past experience shows that my work suffers if I push too hard.  I need inspiration to get things done, and a to-do list a mile long does not leave me in the right frame of mind to create art.

The problem, of course, is in striking a balance.  It is easy to let piddly things get in the way of working, and get nothing done as a result.

Right now, as I come down from working way too hard for a living this last last year it is clear I need some recovery time before I can carve in any significant way.  The end of the year is always a train wreck of commitments and events, leaving little time to think.  Add to that a year's worth of deferred projects and it's clear it will be a while before I get back into the swing if things.

Still, it will happen. I can feel the creative juices starting to flow, and it is my plan to unleash them as soon as overdue projects, weather and time permit.  There will be posts and pictures here as that happens.

If you're a working artist, I hope you're in a better frame of mind right now.  Get out and create if you can.  We all know it's worth it.  I'll be joining you shortly.

Next session stone carving classes getting settled... maybe...

I have now heard from the PAL office that they are scheduling the next session.  We're still scheduled for Tuesday nights from 7:30 - 10pm, but I don't yet have dates or other specifics.  When I do, they will show up here.