Time Management: How do you do it?

Patricia Joyce · 08-30-2005, 04:48 PM

Thank you, Allan!

Kimberly Dow · 08-30-2005, 05:47 PM

You go girl.

My mother-in-law was a very talented artist. I say was because she stopped painting many times during her life because her husband was very demanding of her attention. She was raised in a different time where she believed you should always do what your husband wanted - even if it was not necessary. She would go to work with him, because he asked...just to keep him company. She raised 5 children. She worked in many different businesses with her husband over the years as well. Even if she wasn't needed - she went there because he wanted her to. Even if it was killing her, she went. He was extremely jealous of her art - HE wanted all of her attention. She hasn't painted now in over 12 years. She is still going to work with him and they are both very healthy and vibrant 84-year-olds. She had a real talent that she could have devloped to be outstanding. She doesn't seem overly bitter about it, but there is definitly regret there. I respect both of these folks more than I can say...but her life is my worst nightmare! She is also one of my biggest fans. No one wants to complain about the time I spend painting around her - she understands and is a great defender of mine. I've heard her lecturing family members who were taking up my time needlessly by dropping by and expecting me to drop what Im doing and cook for them....saying "For Kim, this is a CAREER!" Nothing like having a little 4'9" powehouse in your corner.

Patricia Joyce · 08-30-2005, 06:01 PM

That is a very bittersweet story, I feel bad for your mother-in-law but I am glad she is your advocate with your family. It helps so much. My 80 year old father paid for movers to move me to the apartment and he came over this weekend to see the place. He suffered a stroke in January and is in poor health, but he sat across from me and told me that NOW is the time to focus on my studio work, to paint and draw and allow no distractions to get in the way. I originally got Mondays off from my day job (I work Tues-Fri 10 hr days now) to nurse him back to health. Now that he is able to take care of himself he says, don't come over on Mondays, you should be in your studio all day!!!

And then the support we give each other, here is immeasurable.

Thanks, Kim.

Valerie Warner · 09-19-2005, 11:16 AM

This was/is a good thread.

I woke up this morning, tired from my weekend of hard work getting prints ready for a gallery I'm in so that I could have my week to paint. I was tired and not looking forward to my day, again, of preparing prints, invoices, etc.

After reading all the posts here, I'm inspired and heartwarmed for all of us artists and what we do to paint. We are a unique group in that we do what we love completely. All we do is in support of that or we are just bears.

(I paint bears)

Love to all, tears, joy, compassion, prayers, and most of thanks.

Back to the studio.

Val

Janet Kimantas · 09-20-2005, 08:01 PM

What a fascinating thread - I have read it two or three time already. I felt compelled to add my two cents worth as a result of reading Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own". I just knew there were a couple of quotes I could add-with vicarious sense of accomplishment-that would be entirely appropriate. Well, I couldn't find them. But the premise of her lecture is that in order to write, a woman needs money and a room of her own. Extrapolate to painting, and both men and women (although this thread has touched on the particular challenges of women in their pursuits) and that may be it in a nutshell (I'll get back to the nuts in a bit). Then Ms. Woolf spends the rest of her work in examining the lives of those who were driven to create without even her limited requirements. And the tests that they were subjected to as a matter of course. Welcome to the history of creating art.

Patricia Joyce · 09-21-2005, 03:05 PM

Janet,
I needed a book to read by my bed, so I ordered "A Room of One's Own" just now. thanks for the suggestion! I have been in my apartment almost a month and trying not to worry about paying the rent and the heating bills in the winter (gas costs are expected to rise 40 - 70% this winter and this is an old house). But I LOVE the space and every day I am more sure that I have done the right thing by living alone.

I have a quote on my bulletin board at work: "Do what you love, the money will follow" Marsha Senita

I just checked my list of potential clients and in the last three weeks I have heard from seven people who are interested in commissioning me to do a portrait for them. I just haven't gotten any of them to sign on the dotted line yet. But this is the most active interest I have ever gotten, so I am optimistic.

All the best
Pat

Janet Kimantas · 09-21-2005, 06:13 PM

Patricia,

Glad to help a fellow reader! I think you will like it. To comment briefly on your recently changed circumstance: I was married for 15 years to a man who didn't like to work. At anything: around the house, the yard, as an employee... I kept waiting for him to change, especially after two little kids arrived. But he didn't. You know, he always had the utmost respect for my art (it paid most of the bills), and my energy (I did often work at two or three different jobs). What he needled me with, his big huge bitter pill, was that I "loved" what I did. It was the ultimate insult to him, and also made me somehow unable to understand his ongoing predicament. The number I times I heard "You can never understand me, because you love your job" spat at me with venom. What was my job? Commercial and creative artist much of the time. Also bartender, waitress, cashier. I did them all, found the best in every situation and was happy. He never forgave me for it. My point? I think I lost it in the diatribe! Oh yeah, you can't change other people and frequently they are unable to change themselves. Find the good in everything, celebrate the small. You will be happy again.