Lisa Call

Structures #53    ©2006    41" x 66"

Busy

The last few months I have been doing a bunch of art marketing work. All of the art and scrum stuff really helped me get focused and motivated on that part of my art business. It feels great to feel all the resulting forward momentum. I’m in love with my art career and know it is going to work out great.

Previously I would often find myself busy doing stuff but not really accomplishing much. Doing things isn’t very productive if they aren’t the right things to be doing. I’d fall in the trap of filling up my time with activity that doesn’t move me closer to my bigger vision.

Space

I’ve also taken a lot of time off to relaxed recently. Spending time in the mountains with Jim and not doing art stuff. Long hikes, excellent meals, fun conversations. I could lose myself in doing nothing. It creates a space in my life that I treasure and Jim is wonderful.

Unfortunately with all this space and all the activity around the art career something had to give. And that thing was creating art. Yes I’m actively working in my studio each day but an hour a day only adds up to 7 hours a week. With the weekend away for my show I’ll end this week at 4 hours of studio time. Not much after years of working 20 hours a week on my art. I can feel my inner artist screaming "I want to make more art!"

As I work towards turning the art career into the main source of money in my life I know that means I will have less time to make art. Now that it is happening I’m feeling a bit of rebellion, which is probably natural. I need to process it and make sure it’s all going in a direction I’m okay with.

Balance

Basically I’m in search of balance. Course aren’t we all. I’m not one that believes that balance means that every day or week or month I’ve got it mastered and everything falls into place perfectly. I do think there is an ebb and flow to activities, but something has triggered my "you are out of balance" meter and I’m finding myself a bit on edge and in need of adjustment.

As a start, this morning I went and had acupuncture, which I absolutely love and find it does wonders to restore my sense of well being. Not to mention the huge physical benefits.

Next step in understanding my needs is to take nothing with me to distract me from myself on my trip to Ohio this weekend. I usually have a list of todos when I go away. I can’t help it sometimes. I’m a 3 on the enneagram and my natural state is that of doing and achieving. But even I can get sick of myself and all my activity sometimes.

So this trip there will be no quilts that need beads or other stitching. No papers to shuffle or magazines to get through. No todo lists to make or organize.

I am bringing one book with me to read, I Will Not Die an Unlived Life: Reclaiming Purpose and Passion by Dawna Markova, and my journal.

For those not familiar with this book it starts with this poem by Dawna Markova:

I will not die an unlived life.
I will not live in fear
of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days,
to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid,
more accessible,
to loosen my heart
until it becomes a wing,
a torch, a promise.
I choose to risk my significance;
to live so that which came to me as seed
goes to the next as blossom
and that which came to me as blossom,
goes on as fruit.

I’m looking forward to seeing where I find myself at the end of the weekend. I don’t think I’ll have a lot of time to be alone, as there are many friends to see and the museum show opening, but instead of thinking I need to do something in the down time, I plan on doing very little so I come home rested and ready to get back to life with a better sense of what I want next

Structures #53 at the Butler

The above piece will also be in the Butler Museum show that opens this weekend. This is one of the first pieces I made with the very thin lines and it’s still one of my favorites. I will be on an airplane flying to Ohio to see it at the Butler Museum around the time this post appears on my blog. Can’t wait to see it in the museum!

And a Clock

As a final note, artist Paula McCullough from self taught artist is doing a fun promotion for her first 10 piece edition of her found object clocks. She’s got an ebay auction going with a chat box on her blog to follow along. Lots of fun to interact with an artist in this way. Check it out!

Paula’s Art Clock Auction

Paula’s blog is one of the first blogs I read when I see she has a new post. Her writing is wonderful and her honesty about her life as an artist is refreshing and informative. I always come away with something to think about after reading her posts.

OC#9 ©2007 David Castle 12"x12"

Self Care

Lately I have been practicing abundant self care. I believe this is an important element to holding intent. Self love and self care are super important pieces to living the life I want. When I set an intent or a goal I find it easier to hold that intent or complete that goal if I am at peace with myself.

Here are some things I’ve done in the last month as part of my self care:

• Start acupuncture. I’ve thought out this many times but I wasn’t on first name terms with needles so I was never willing to take the leap. Then Alyson Stanfield posted a referral for an acupuncturist and I took this as a sign it was time to become buddies with the needles. I had my second treatment today with Renae Einspahr and I’m hooked. Good thing my insurance pays for this cause I can see it a frequent element of my self care.
• Buy art I love. I’ve always wanted to purchase some of David Castle’s art and now the piece above is part of my collection. I love his work. You can read about how he makes these amazing water media pieces on his blog.
• Drinking plenty of water is something I have to work at, it doesn’t come naturally for me yet. I’m working on adding this to my daily ritual as I feel tons better when I’m well hydrated.
• I decided to celebrate my sense of well being today by buying myself a big box of my favorite chocolates. Yum. Why wait for someone else to pamper me when I can pamper myself. Expecting someone else to treat me better than I treat myself is a recipe for unhappiness.
• It doesn’t matter what I’m doing or what the weather is like, I always feel happier if I’ve been outside for a while. I would like to fit a walk into my life every day and I’m working up to that goal. Last friday the sun had the first hint of heat in it peaking through the bite of the cold wind and on saturday it was down right warm. It felt incredible.
• My cats are really missing my kids. [they are in Europe with their father for 3 months. Two down, 1 more to go. The cats aren't the only ones missing them.] I’m spending much more time each day sitting and petting my cats. They are so excited to have me SIT DOWN. They have an internal radar for this activity and come running. "ohmygawd - she’s sat down and it’s not in front of the computer or sewing machine - quick jump in her lap!". Not only do the cats love it but slowing down like this has brought a lot of inner peace for me.

 
How do you practice self care?

Related Posts

Transitioning and Intent
Holding Intent - Part I [Realistic Goals]
Holding Intent - Part II [Excuses]
Holding Intent - Part III [Focus]
Holding Intent - Part IV [Enough Time]

 
[I said I'd talk about fear this time but I didn't want to go there tonight as the acupuncture and chocolate have lulled me into peacefulness. Next time.]