Refilling the pool.

14
Nov

It just happens. Even if I try to stop it.

My creativity pool empties.

This could be attributed to a couple of things — the after effects of a big show, cold weather, the lack of sunlight we in northern climates face. Is it because I push so hard to get ready for the Greyhounds Reach the Beach event in October? Or much needed rest after the long drive to get from North Dakota to Delaware and back? Or is because I came back to demands from my library job? Maybe it is the weather…

Evidentally I’m not the only one.

Whatever the cause, I can’t seem to do much in the studio. And I’ve tried. I cleaned and reorganized the studio. Ordered glazes and other materials. Started on a coffee table commission. Bought a new sketchbook for the new year. Thought about what pieces I’ll enter in the Art Show at the Dog Show. Added a few things to my etsy store and worked on a shopping cart system for this website — both need more work.

I need to get going. I know it. My email inbox is full of unanswered questions. Can I ship sculptures to Belgium? What is the postage on the sterling pendant to Switzerland? Do you have any memory boxes/urns in stock? And I’ve been promising — for weeks — more pieces in the etsy store.

Then there are my goals — go through the tile designs and decide which to retire, another sterling pendant design by January, get working on the Dakota Creative Connections grant, register for a workshop, test those glazes, photograph the new tile designs. Come on, Sarah, get going!

Anybody else feel this way?

Category : Art making

Comments

Robin November 14, 2008

Absolutely…. Must be the time of year…the weather or something.
I just fueled a completely new project yesterday and it kind of got me going on things (even things I have been trying to do before but just couldn’t get it in gear).
Something will happen, Sarah, and it will pass. Just start with a single thing and maybe some of the others will take off! Hugs!

Tania November 14, 2008

You must be having a SOWS: start-of-winter-slump. Last March I experienced a very similar feeling, and when I did some poking about the Internet, discovered that a number of artists were experiencing similar feelings http://www.tanianault.ca/thescratchboard/2008/03/23/misery-loves-company/ and one had even named it the EOWS: end-of-winter-slump. I took some advice I’d been given by another artist and used the “down” time to beef up on my reference photos. Relaxing, yet still art-related.

Tania November 14, 2008

Oh, where are my manners?! Lovely work - elegant with a sense of humour (the bunny masqarade greyhound) and what a well-laid out site, too.

Cris Fulton November 14, 2008

Hey,

You’re not a factory, you know. When the well runs dry, let it fill up again. It will, somehow, but please give yourself some down time.

Robin W November 15, 2008

You need a vacation…..from everything.
You push so hard and expect so much from yourself and -gosh-you’re only one woman!
Stop putting so much pressure on yourself…..
You are the most talented lady I know….
Watch your dogs, look at your photos.
There’s a hundred sculptures there.
Make a list of all the things you HAVE to do….
Tick them off one at a time as you can….whenever….
Hey…call if you need us, ok????
We’ll come!! we’ll help you make some decisions!