Success - More Than a Destination
First - The Trees
(scroll down below the pictures if you just want to read about art and success)
As my long time readers know, I recently moved and am remodeling and putting an addition on my house to add a studio. So in addition to my normal art writing, this blog will, at times, resemble an episode of This Old House because I’m really excited about the work so I’m going to write about it.
The remodel will be starting very soon so first step was to get some trees out of the way.
In area #1 (as marked on the first photo) were 2 cedar trees much much too close to the foundation. They made a mess, not so sad to see them gone.
Area #2 is my beautiful crab apple tree in the backyard (pictured above) that I talk about often. It too had to go, as the new studio will be sitting smack dab on top of it. It took me over a month to admit this was a reality. My builder was patient with me as I finally came to terms with losing the tree. It was simply too close to the house and there was no way to keep the tree and still do an addition. They guys that cut it down said it needed to go even with no addition, so that made me feel a bit better. They also said it was one of the most beautiful crab apple trees they had seen.
Area #3 was another large crab apple wedged between my house and the neighbors. It was ruining my driveway with it’s roots. Again, much to close to the house, and it was already rotting and was dropping limbs when I cut it down.
The trees are now gone as seen above. My yard feels HUGE and full of possibility. It’s exciting. And much less sad than I anticipated. I can’t wait for the remodel to begin!
Lesson learned - those cute little trees that we all plant in our yards. They eventually end up as really big trees. So best not to put them very close to the house or the next home owner will have to pay big $ to have them chopped down.
Success - A State of Being
In my last two blog posts I wrote about
- why I want to know my definition of success
and
- what being a successful artist meant to me.
In both of these posts I wrote about success as a destination. Success defined as a set of goals to be achieved. I’m a big believer in planning out the future and working on the those goals so I stand by that definition of success. It helps to define what actions I should take.
But success is more than that. When I wrote the first post about why I wanted to know my definition for success, I was thinking about putting in "so I will know when I have made it" as one of the reasons. But it didn’t feel right. I couldn’t find any words to say this that didn’t rub me the wrong way.
That is because I consider myself a successful artist today, even without reaching those goals. I’m so ecstatically thrilled every day I wake up and think "I get to make art today". No amount of external recognition or achievement is better than this feeling.
I’m so fortunate to have found something in my life I am so passionate about and love doing so much. Even the marketing stuff is really growing on me and I get excited about it.
The process of being an artist is the best part of being an artist. Even if I never reach the goals I set out in the last post, I will always consider myself a successful artist by the sheer fact that I am one.
Although honestly, I’m pretty sure I will reach all of those goals, and it will be a fairly effortless process because I find all of this to be pure fun. I don’t feel I’m grasping or desperate, it’s just total joy each day to wake up and think about what I can do to move my career forward.
For me, success is both a destination and a journey and I wouldn’t want to give up either.
Posted by Lisa in: Intent
Tagged: art career, definition of success, goals, marketing, remodel, studio, success
Cheryl Collins said,
September 25, 2008 @ 10:58 pm
Thanks for your continuing reflections on what success means. One of the textile artists I study with, Claire Benn, says that the journey is the point which is an important counterbalnce for me as I have been through the british academic sausage machine which is all about getting the letters after your name and it can be hard to let go of that mentality. I guess it goes back to the question ‘Why am I doing this?’ and the answer is both ‘ because it makes me happy to create’ and ‘ because I want to stretch myself as far as I can go’. I look forward to seeing the details of your remodelling- as someone who lives in tied accommodation I love to get a vicarious thrill watching people develop their property. As for the trees, a neighbour had to cut down a beautiful tree that was just in the wrong place and I suggested planting a beautiful tree somewhere suitable as a counterbalance- maybe there is somewhere on your proerty this will work and will enhance everything else you are doing?
paula said,
September 26, 2008 @ 3:51 am
cool to see the beginnings of this artistic project…bummer about the trees but maybe it’s time for xeroscaping :) (probably spelled that wrong)
i cannot wait for you to have your studio, i know how important that is. i applaud your gusto!
PaMdora said,
September 26, 2008 @ 5:45 am
Lisa, I think you’re a success because you know that you are an artist and know what you want to make, and know why you get up each morning. That’s huge, there’s a bunch of people out there who never get to that point (and I’m talking about a lot of fields, not just art). But artist is kind of different from some professions, because art is more of a lifestyle and way of thinking than a job. IMHO anyway.
I don’t know all the answers to your questions about success, but I was thinking the other day that this museum signed a contract with me to show a quilt I hadn’t even made yet, so that feels a little like a measure of success. Now gotta get back to work! It’s be fun to follow your consturction blog, looking forward to it!
pam
Daniel Sroka said,
September 26, 2008 @ 6:39 am
“The process of being an artist is the best part of being an artist.” This is what I mean when I say my goal is to make a living through my creativity. I don’t care about fame, or getting some sort of street cred as an “artist”. I just want to be creative, make stuff, and find a way to make a living through this so I can keep on doing this. If I manage that, I am a success.
Lisa Call said,
September 26, 2008 @ 6:54 am
Cheryl - thanks for sharing your experience. And yes - next spring I’ll be planting replacement trees!
Paula - I think xeriscaping is a great idea.
Daniel - ISince I don’t make a living from my creativity today, I don’t feel it is necessary to do so to be a successful artist. Just making the art is enough. Money or recognition is not necessary.
Laura Tyler said,
September 26, 2008 @ 8:04 am
Lisa,
I LOVED reading about your joy here. It’s beautiful. Congratulations and best to you!
Laura
Miles said,
September 26, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
Very interesting read. I personally don’t believe in “success” (or “failure” for that matter) in quantifiable terms or measured goals or anything like that. To me, one cannot have success without having had failure- and I hate the concept of failure with a deep, in-grown passion. Therefore, I make no goals and can never be disappointed by my inability to achieve them. Is that success or failure? I tend to think of it as neither. I just try to “be”. I create things that other people call “art” and I’m always amazed at how well they can be received.
Yours is the kind of passion I can appreciate but have never experienced. It’s interesting to read about others’ perspectives on being an artist. Thank you for sharing them!!
BTW: I came across your blog through Studio 78.
Lisa Call said,
September 27, 2008 @ 10:38 pm
Thank you Laura.
Miles - thanks for sharing your thoughts and welcome to my blog.
cynthia said,
September 28, 2008 @ 9:15 am
WOw - what a difference taking down the trees makes. The good news is that you can replant some trees after the remodel is finished and you’ll do it smartly.
Sheila said,
September 29, 2008 @ 6:43 pm
My but you’re exposed now! I’m guessing the air-conditioning will be even more important with no big trees shading the house. If the big maple in front of my place ever goes, I will be seriously cooking in here.