It seems that change has not been so great for my little operation. after downsizing from my xtra large live work space, ( 2650 sq. ft. was just too much to take care of!!!!), pairing down the studio, apartment and life in general to the bare necessities, i have run into a lot of snags.
I have been on a mission as of late to find a balance between my work and real life. This really means that I would like to see my friends and family on a more regular basis, as well as be able to do some of the things that i used to enjoy pre-business ownership. relocating your studio and entire life in one fell swoop is quite an undertaking, I had multiple shows lined up that month and wanted to have enough work to sustain me while I tried to get settled. then came surgery..... a little unexpected delay in my plans, 2 weeks of hell to be exact!
I thought I had it all figured out, until I was ready to start firing work again , and realized that my kilns were just not quite doing what they were supposed to. Ceramics being the inexact science that it is, I set off to testing. One was simple, an element needs replacing, and I ordered the parts... the other, well, after replacing multiple parts, I realized that the sinking feeling in my gut was right. when I had my new studio wired, they gave me the wrong voltage. So here I am, 6 weeks after I made my move, and I still am not operating at full capacity. It will all be fixed by the conclusion of next weekend, but boy, its been interesting.
I have learned that though I may crave a predictable and somewhat less demanding schedule, I must be happy with cutting out of the studio at dinner time a mere 2-3 nights a week, a day off is a wonderful luxury, and that the world will not end if I decide that I am tired and need a moment to catch my breath.
I have really been soul searching lately, wondering if you really can have it all, and I say , hell, I might as well try. It may not be the easiest profession, and there may be times when I have to go back to my beloved 80 hour week for a time, but dammit, I am gonna enjoy my life.
5 comments:
I've been searching for balance too..
I think that time management is the bane of most potters. The reason why they succeed and the reason they often fail. When I got married last year my wife helped me organize my time, studio and production schedule so that I had more time "off" while we were still busy doing family things..running back and forth to her old house, many weekend trips and about 3 weeks off for our wedding and honeymoon. It still seemed busy, but in reality I had just exchanged one set of duties for a more pleasurable set. This year I've enjoyed much more time off and have been way ahead on production..only a little bit of rushing and usually by choice.
All that said.. take time off, it is refreshing and when you make stuff stay focused and work smart, and in quantity, not hard. If you can get ahead of your demands for finished work life becomes so much sweeter.
I hear ya Heather, I've been looking for it, too. You're not alone in the quest.
SOOOO not alone.
I have a few additional thoughts.
1. We all have different additional commitments in our lives out side of our work/art. Whether it's another Job:full or part time... Caregiving.. Children... We have other things... Not the revered Male artists of yester-year who could do whatever they wanted when ever they wanted, Women and Men both have additional commitments..
This will always be a struggle. We need to accept that.
2. If WE accept that...I at least continue to tell myself, I have to have a general plan but each day brings different unexpected challenges and I almost need to have that big picture plan BUT break up each day into small chunks: 1-2 hours... working to FOCUS and BE in the moment of what I am doing to truly appreciate it all.
A little example of how this became clear to me this past week was when I get a call from my son to pick him up from school... he didn't feel well. And so it goes... no controlling that. No controlling my husband coming down with a cold today...where my time to throw never happened..There are bigger issues but I won't go on...
3.The most important thing is within reason... try and appreciate the moments. OR the moments in between the moments... because as intense as the clay part of our lives can be(if we let it...) You actually can't take your bisque and glazes with you in the end...
There is a yearly cycle to the selling of ceramic art. Certain times of the year when sales are slower is when you need to kick it into high gear producing the product you know will sell later in the year. The stuff you always wished you had more of when November and December roll around. Don’t get stuck without an item that is popular. If you get an order for 50 make 100 and stock 50. Clay is cheap and time is expensive so make sure your per item time is where you think it is including trim, glaze, and fire times. Always remember that its twice as hard as a regular job so you have to love it twice as much.
-Andrew
I am slowly but surely getting back into the groove.
This is a very busy time of year, and hopefully I can hang on to my hat, so-to speak.
thanks for all of the suggestions.
I am learning how to let it go , I just can't work sometimes, and thats ok!!! I am still getting it done, just not at the constant breakneck pace.
It is so nice to see the sunset and decide that I am going to sit and watch it instead of hiding in the studio trying to make just a few more pieces..
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