For Ourselves-nurturing the artist within

I just found a new blog that I just love. http://rebirthworkshops.com/blog/

These 2 photographers/writers also write about the life of a photographer incorporating small video clips that really make the experience and read well worth the extra few minutes. I am thinking about adding on some short clips too. One of their clips is about taking time for yourself; something we all need to be more proactive about!  I have work in every area of my studio that needs attention. Bookkeeping, one on one marketing calls, some promo postcards, that tax file (groan), a new still life waiting for attention, and printing for a new art show coming up in a week! I am not so sure that fun can be placed with all of these tasks, but thus is the life of a self made artist. I am passionate about photography, and even more so, when I am buried in my studio creating. A lot more goes into the entire process than just the creating aspect. As I have said, talent is the basic ingredient for success and fortunately we all have talents that fuel us. When our fuel force is down or slow because of whatever reason, we need to take time to reboot. With so much to do, how can we make this kind of time?

I ask myself this question all the time. With a household to run on a trim budget, errands, kids, the daily chores, my business laundry lists to to do's, and personal creation time, I am always challenged by time. Only a Mary Popins could zen me away! I have found that my productivity and multitasking abilities are infused by taking a break to walk, photograph, paint, or meditate. If I take an extra 30 minutes for myself, I am more relaxed and ready to face all the things needed to be done in a day. More importantly, I feel more comfortable rather than inadequate accomplishing only a few things over a hundred. So, today, I took 30 minutes for meditating. Emails, paperwork, and some phone calls later, I still have some printing to fit in, but overall I have already had a productive day.

Life Distractions

Admittly, I am distracted by a WalMart deveopment in my neighborhood. I am all for cleaning up a blighted corner, but not if the choice is poor growth management. I am confused about why my city council felt it necessary to speed through the paper work process for approval. Who gets a bonus for this? Yes, who is getting a kick back for this development? The other three strip plazas one of which has over 200 vacant units of store front and the other two have large scale supermarkets less than 2 miles away.  This choice is shameful. Worst of all, I am allowing my emotional reaction to effect my productivity. I am hoping that by sharing this speed bump in my road that I can return to my world of marketing, updating my websites, and actually photographing.

I began to battle this distraction by writing; for a more calming meditative moment, I painted with watercolors. I have lost that center balance. My normal 15 minutes in the morning needed something more intense. This morning I have returned to writing admitting that this bump in the road is really bothering me.  Why do those that claim they represent us or our best interests make wrong choices? What is it that motivates the self fulfilling greed that prompts these paradoxical choices? Is it the remaining good ole' boy group or my idealism that proper representation actually means constituents are represented? I could eat the other half of the brownies I made last night. No wonder my undergrad college history professor drank vodka from a flask. History repeating over and over broke his heart.

So, when we love something that melds or just evolves, the metamorphosis can be disappointing. I am disappointed that "the elders" who are maintaining watch over the community have become what those before them declared opposition to. Each politician claims to be better than the past, but really just ends up being the same. Our children will learn this disappointment soon enough for they will be responsible for the consequences of our poor decisions. I am disheartened by the shadowy future my son must prepare to battle. I want to skate away with Joni Mitchell on her pond; I want to hide in an artist colony protected from all that is tainted and non-art; I want my mother.

Perhaps, that is the lesson learned: the people that we share life with that makes any road traveled worth it. I will think about this some more and. for now, call some friends that make me smile.

Marketing and Strategizing for 2010

My quiet times seem to come when South Florida becomes cold. I always joke that I hibernate in the summer time, but this winter I am retreating from cooler weather. With business is a strange space, I have been pro-actively engaging in face to face marketing techniques to stimulate print sales and interest. I ignore some of the desire to hibernate. As my blog may be quiet these days, I am out there in the flow talking and displaying like a personal advertisement. South Florida is not a mecca of galleries; therefore, my target audience is geared more towards conservation works, local municipalities, groups, and those that continue to have support through the not so great economy.

Do I sound like an artist or a business person? Is there a line that is drawn between the two?
My personal feeling is this is a grey zone in which the talent and drive are balanced by the business side. I will continue to discuss this topic as I am rewriting my own business plan. For now, I need a cup of coffee.