I can never remember what I’ve actually been doing with my time. All I know is that I seem to always be busy. How does that happen? I don’t even know. Meetings, trips, emails, doctors, packaging art, errands, and organization. Why does everything take so long? And why can’t I find time to paint?
I got to paint a little this morning with my friend Teresa Watson. I usually go over to her studio on Wednesdays, and we hang out while we work on art. It’s nice, and it gets me out of my house. I’ve been VERY slowly working on one of my Discarded Snapshots pieces. It’s taking an extraordinary amount of time because I’m hardly working on it. I’ve been too busy with my To-Do list for my show, which is coming up super soon. I install it in about two weeks.
Is everything ready to go? Yes. Finally. Some little things need doing, but I can’t do them until a few days before the opening. Until then, I’ve been packing up a bunch of work to send to the Brooklyn gallery I’ve started working with. I packaged up thirty Artist’s books this week, as well as three oil paintings, and I’m sending them all out tomorrow. It was a lot of sweaty work. I’m no longer thirty-five or even forty-five. I tire easily.
Writing newsletters is more my speed, which I also did. I sent the most recent one out yesterday morning to remind people of my upcoming show and other goings-on.
And last week, I went to LA to see PJ Harvey at the Greek with Hannah. I also saw family, and we stayed at our regular place under the Hollywood sign. LA is different every time I go back, and not in a good way. It’s still “home,” but it makes me sad in all kinda ways. I long to return to my real home in Joshua Tree, yet I don’t want to leave. Maybe it reminds me that I’ve really left Los Angeles permanently, and that just doesn’t sit with me right.
I’ve been thinking about making portraits to go with my new Discarded Snapshots series, or rather, include them into the series. I can’t stop thinking about it. I think I can also do them a little faster between the photo scenes, and they might be a little more enjoyable to do for that fact. So, I’m going to try to start one after this one I’m working on now. Who knows? Maybe the most time-consuming parts are done, except for that donkey.
Now I have to run and eat something before therapy starts. If I’m not tired after that, maybe I can paint a little more.
I feel ya. When I used to paint and I did a couple shows I hated the amount of organization it takes. You spend most of your time doing that and not creating art. So it’s not your fault, you’re not a lazy bum, you’re overloaded with organizational right brained acclivity. It’s a different genre really. It’s very hard to create when you’re in the right brained activity. Right brain is analyzing and math stuff right? or is that left brained? I forget now due to brain for and old age. LOL But don’t beat yourself up. Wait until your show is over and then you can paint and create again. YOu’re doing fantastic based on your books and shows!! You are making your mark in the world as an artist for sure! I’m impressed.
Thank you, Rosemarie. It’s nice to hear that it’s not my fault. LOL! But you’re right; my brain is scattered in a lot of directions and it’s hard to change gears and suddenly be creative when there’s a lot of organizational shit to do. You said, “when I used to paint…” You don’t anymore?