Early to rise..Late to the party
creating with continued intention
I am a so called morning person.. Sometimes reluctantly -as I typically have a cat yowling at the bedroom door at 4:45 am..How can it be that I continue to wake in the dark ? This is my special contemplative time. After the cats are tended to and the leaping hound gets her share -I settle in to some seriously strong coffee and let my thoughts randomly tumble out. I am wedged between a cat who requires constant stroking and a hound who stretches out to claim me and her sofa territory . The benefits to rising at this impossibly early hour are huge. Solitude ..Hearing the birds sing at their most choral intensity, sometimes a glorious sunrise and a fresh brain for planning my day and writing here. Solitude.
I started to dive into my art making in a serious way in my mid forties ; Balancing parenting and home and full time work yet feeling committed to making a go of my art practise and business . I had attended art college in my early 20’s so thought it was about time to commit to my career of choice . Times were different -as the internet had just started to become a place to announce one’s work- (dial up made picture loading a true exercise in patience ) and discussion boards /blogs were cultivating followers of like minds . The gallery route seemed to be the most logical route to pursue if one had the desire to sell, be seen and grow in reputation. Everything was rather tortoise paced . Applying to enter juried shows,exhibits required slides , formalish applications and patience.
I felt pleased at my terrier like pursuance of recognition and a place at the table with galleries, solo and group exhibits.
More than this was my absolute joy at returning to making art (in a whole new different way than I had been taught -we are talking the 70’s)
I somehow found a way to sneak art into my life again and it provided a reprieve from all the other pulls and responsibilities of my life . Making collage art pieces, sketchbooks, journals , assemblage , mail art , zines all became fascinating pursuits for me . This led into my later mixed media portrait paintings as a fusion of my illustrative and painterly style.
I started to sell online and in person. I attribute my prolific ,at times frenetic art making to renewed confidence in expanding my creative repertoire. Taking chances and risks from a base of making what I love.
I stayed up late-and slept in whenever I could.
earlier (20030 collage journal page
After many years re establishing myself as an artist and riding the then new wave of self marketing I am at a crossroads .
I have appreciated the opportunity to showcase my own work and I definitely feel that keeping supporters and patrons in the know has has been positive for the most part
It’s been a strange slide into becoming beholden to the grid ,and to constant posting (and trying not to scroll too much. What felt exciting and growth enhancing initially now feels a bit like “why?
(as mentioned before in my post “The Art of Connection” ..I wonder how important response via check marks are to me personally ) It’s certainly nice to know someone is looking.
I have hopes for a different kind of relationship with you , my readers.
I wonder as an artist in my 60’s if I will continue to pursue this route of engagement .
As some of you may know I have moved my class videos over to Youtube class playlist and am contemplating whether or not to keep my webpage heathermurray.net and relationship with Etsy my Etsy store . This has been part of the process of re-evaluation for me.
I recognise I have permitted myself finally more time to ponder. Do I wish to continuously go with the hustle and current expectations (real or imagined) of constant exposure ?
I am curious how many of you are discovering this as a period of transition . A time to re-evaluate and re-jig your art path ..
I suddenly feel appreciative of time afforded to me while conscious of how precious the moments are -and to work on developing further my creative side in a more private way. It seems important at this time to set a different pace that suits current energy level and ebb and flow.
If you have worked on developing your artist path later in life are you finding a balance between creating and promoting your work?
Do you find it easier or more challenging to navigate social media and other online tools -such as creating your own website/channel?
Perhaps you have a little more time to engage in creative activities you enjoy now. Perhaps you are at peace with the process of making art again-or still?
My forties/fifties offered me enhanced ability to develop and create and somehow fit the rest of life in too. It was lovely yet at times exhausting.
Rising early now gives me tons of energy early in the day ..which is of course on a downward slide later.
I have to go with it. ;-)
It’s kind of exciting to take time to contemplate ,imagine and take stock of what’s next..
Please feel free to comment on your current approach to balancing making with marketing -and what has become important to you in this time. I welcome your thoughts :-)
I retired a couple of years ago and only now am I settling in to making art every day with the goal of improving my skills as well as expressing myself. I have sold a few pieces in the past but I have decided to forgo the exhibition route because I just don’t have the energy to pursue it. That may change at some point but for now it is enough to immerse myself in the play of mark making.
Thank you Heather. Your beautiful writing is a lovely way to get into the art of my day. As you well know, I am currently attempting to integrate art into my daily life - in a very different way. As an art teacher, I would always be on the lookout for what might spark joy for my students. It has been a long year of moving away from looking through the eyes of others - to looking through my own eyes. What sparks joy for me? You are so right - solitude and slowing down are key. The exploration is delicious and I look forward to figuring my next steps of art making out in the world.