Skip to main content

So what do you do?

      So what do you do when you are an artist and you find yourself away from your work, your home, your husband, your cats and your art studio for several weeks because you are called upon to care for a loved one who is recovering from surgery? When you are not making money or going to work, but being a caregiver for someone you dearly love, someone who is not in a dire life and death state, but who needs you all the same.





5 things to do while care - giving

1. Be the best caregiver you can be. Everything else can and will wait. Being the best means getting enough calories, sleep, and exercise so you can give of yourself. And lots of coffee. 

2. Re-discover blogging. Need ideas? 
Here's enough to keep you blogging til the cows come home:
http://thecolorist.blogspot.com/2011/09/101-artists-blog-topics.html

3. Spend time drawing every day. Drawing could be doodling while on the phone, doing quick sketches for that collage you've always wanted to do, or simply recording what you see in your daily life. Who cares what it is, just draw!





For a great example of an artist that spends time daily with her sketchbook, visit

pencilandleaf.blogspot.com

4. Plan. Could be a financial plan, vacation plan, or a calendar of juried art shows you plan to attend. Write it down. There is something powerful about committing your plan to paper. 

5. Replace old stale thought patterns with fresh, new and sparkling ones. Where, you may ask, do I find such thoughts? Why, the fountain of truth, of course! 

Here's where to find new sparkling thoughts


Remember: You are giving and this is a temporary situation. You will look back at this and thank God that you could be there and not lose your mind in the process. 

Comments

  1. Ah, so this is what you have been up to! I've been wondering...

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Winter Work

        Now that my show season is over, it's time for what I lovingly call winter work. Winter work is studio time. It's when I light the fire in the wood stove and sit down at the drawing table and/or easel, both of which are pulled close to the wood stove. It's winter work because when the weather cools off and the leaves fall, the studio is the most inviting place in my life. The warmth of the fire and the smell of the wood and the blank slate on the easel are what inspire and motivate me to work.        At one of my shows I bought this glorious coffee mug from Paige @rockbottomceramics. It sits on top of the woodstove and keeps the coffee warm for hours.  It's a studio staple.     There is purposely a blank canvas on the easel, or in this case, a smooth panel which will eventually be gessoed and painted with an expression of light through leaves. The blank canvas is self care. It's a sign of hope for my future. What will go on ...

Up and Running

 Show season is up and running! Next up: One of my favorites, the Crosby Festival of the Arts. It will be held in the beautiful Toledo Botanical Garden June 28-30. I'll be in booth 178 - the Purple Zone- which is where I've been located before.       One thing I love about this event is the location. M y booth is situated close to the herb garden, which is laid out on an inviting pathway, full of life and color. I look forward to taking photos of the gardens, which will eventually find their way into my art. Here's some from last year:      I'm excited to return to the event with my mixed media collage paintings. I've been at work on some new pieces, which will also be available.  Here's a sneak peek at the latest work:        I'm still aiming to capture that path of light through leaves.  I combine paint, papers, ink, wax resist, linocut printing, colored pencils and canvas. My aim is to combine these various ma...

Show Season preparations begin

    It's March, and that means one thing: TIME TO PREPARE FOR SHOW SEASON!    That's right, it's about to get crazy around here. And I mean that in a good way. I've been waiting for show season to start ever since it ended back in November. Even with all the work, all the energy, all the artistic endeavors, all the money and time invested, and all the headaches that come along with it, I am nonetheless excited and ready. So call me crazy, I can take it. And please come see me and hopefully add to your collection of my work.  Here's my booth in the process of getting set up in my yard.            I know it's only March 13th, and my first show isn't for two months. But here's the deal. Right now it's a gorgeous sunny and 70 degrees here in Indiana, so I absolutely HAVE TO be outside. It's been a long winter, and even though this is only "fake spring," I'll take it. Also, I have intended to give my booth an update and take care of...