I am cleaning up my studio today. And packing everything. Or throwing it away. Or donating it. Everything. As many of you know, I am moving across the country, to Washington state. And just in case such a drastic change is not enough to derail me, I have decided to take a break from painting.
The reason I am doing this is multi-pronged. I have earned the title of "Art Shark" because I have a tendency to paint nonstop. You know, like a shark that perpetually swims... This has generally been an effective and productive strategy for me, because it allows me to work through my problems, both artistically and personally.
And I plan to spend some time writing. I have neglected my writing for months. I have some ideas that I want to pursue. Maybe a collection of poems or a novel. I also have plans for my blog. It is my hope that it will become more of a daily journal and a means of maintaining contact with my friends. It has also become a place to post research and exploration. And I am always interested to hear what others think about my mental adventures.
I try to be a good business person and maintain accurate records of my art career. But sometimes I get so excited by an upcoming project that I forget to photograph or document a sale. The best I can estimate I have sold a little over 600 paintings in the last 17 years. (Please take into account that I was a late bloomer and didn't start painting until I was about 40 years old...) And it should not go without saying how much I appreciate my clients! Even though making money has never been my primary motivation for making art, if no one ever bought my art, I would probably become disillusioned and stop making it. And the income has certainly helped, especially since I retired from teaching!
If you would like to see a general retrospective of my work, in no particular order, click on the self portrait below:
As I open a new chapter in my life, I will close today's blog with this challenge.
"Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth."--Bradley Whitford