Lisa Call

Page From My Sketchbook Used to Track Studio Time (click to see larger image)

Tracking Studio Time

I wasn’t planning on writing tonight but I want to write this down while I still remember the thoughts I had today thinking about the post I wrote last night and some of the comments that were left.

I mentioned several times on my blog that I track my studio time. The posts I wrote early in 2008 ( This One and Another One ) are very interesting reads.

These posts indicate a change I made in tracking studio time. I went from being very systematic about it, to taking a more laid back approach. It was all part of the search for who I wanted to be.

I’ve since decided that is a bunch of crap-ola. Yep – I’m going back to a definite plan for how much work I want to get down in my studio.

It Didn’t Work

I discovered that trying to take the "Oh, It doesn’t matter, I’m more floaty and creative if I don’t put rules around it" approach to studio time resulted in my getting significantly less done.

In Jan-Mar of 2008, right after I devised that crazy scheme, I did basically nothing in my studio. My kids were in Europe – I was home alone – there were no excuses or distractions. It was simply me being less systematic. As a result I would often say "I’m tired" or "I don’t feel like it" and stuff like "I’ll do it tomorrow".

None of that stuff really results in things getting done. Instead it’s a good way to get nothing done but have a lot of lofty reasons for why I didn’t.

Like "self care is just so much more important than making art". Hm – NOT! Making art is the #1 thing I say I want to spend my time doing. Not avoid doing.

Why Does A System Work?

So I’ve thought a lot about why my old way of doing things, with rules and precise tracking, worked and I think the answer is it is basically the same thing as setting a timer.

There has been tons written about boosting productivity by using a timers (check out these google results). I think my old plan was essentially that. I timed myself.

When I walked into the studio I trained myself to look and the clock. That was it – timer was running. I didn’t stop working until the time was a even increment of 15 minutes. And then I wrote it down.

Because the timer was running I wasn’t tempted to run off and do other stuff, like check email or do my laundry.

When I left my studio the timer was off – I wasn’t racking up minutes. So I’d hurry back to get the timer going again.

I know this sounds kinda crazy but after seeing it in action and reading all the timer and productivity stuff (my favorite person that write about this is Christine Kane) I’m convinced – it really works. And not just for studio stuff. I now use a timer for my writing and planning art business stuff now also.

I have been spending 15 minutes each morning entering addresses into my snail mail mailing list. Fifteen minutes isn’t a lot but over time it adds up and with no big drama effort, I’m going to have the last 18 months of avoiding this task whipped into shape.

Going with No Goals

In my attempt to be more floaty I also gave up setting goals for how many hours I would spend in my studio each week. I decided to just let it happen. As I mentioned – it didn’t.

What happened is the emotional side of me got all excited and it had a field day. Woohoo – we get to run the show and stop her from doing what she wants.

I only made art when I felt like it. Or when I magically had time.

Okay – really – I work full time as a software engineer. I’m a single mom every other week with 2 teenagers constantly wanting stuff. I own my home, have to pay the bills and do all those house things that need done. There is the yard (okay there was the yard – it’s now dirt). Family, friends, quack quack quack.

I don’t have time to put in 20 hours a week in my studio so of course if I give myself an out I’m going to take it. There weren’t any goals so it didn’t matter. No disappointment so why bother doing it.

Thumbs Up To Goals

So forget that no goals thing. I’m now setting my goal to 15 hours a week. I’m making it lower than before because I also plan on doing a lot more art business stuff than I used to.

By setting goals I have something to aim for. I may not always make that goal but by identifying it and writing it down I have a much better chance of making my goal than without writing it down.

By setting goals I am no longer giving the emotional side of me free reign to do what I want. I get scared or worried or anything about what I’m working on. Great – recognize the feelings – but I’m not going to let it stop me from pushing forward.

Eventually those feelings realize they aren’t in control and they get a little less loud.

By setting goals and being systematic I’m significantly more creative and make much more art than when I’m all new-agey. Trying to be like those non-driven people I sometimes think I should be like, who always seem more creative and spontaneous and fun, didn’t work for me at all.

I need structure and systems for my creativity to work.

Everything is Great

The last few days have been a whirlwind of activity at my house. Making art, making progress on my new website and then today building a webpage for a holiday art sale I’m participating in with a few other artists (more on that when it’s all ready).

There is much progress on my house also. As of today there are foundation walls out back and it’s really defining the space quite nicely. I can really get a feel for the size and shape of things and I’m thrilled. The studio is about 2/3rds the size of my last studio and that’s about perfect for now. It either needed to be twice as big or it needed to be exactly the size I’m building it. I love when things work out exactly right.

Basically everything is going really wonderful right now and I’ve been in a great mood recently.

Nothing to Say

Problem is I can think of nothing to blog about. Actually that isn’t true. I can think of nothing to blog about that won’t take a really long time to write and I don’t feel like doing that right now. All my time is currently going into creative pursuits like web design and art making and writing clever comments on my construction photos. So I think my brain is on empty when it comes to write a blog post.

I find it goes in cycles. When I’m not doing so much of other things, I have creativity left over to blog. When things kick into high gear in all the other areas, I’m a little less motivation to blog.

Or maybe it’s the excitement of the pumper truck. Isn’t it the coolest thing? Lots more photos on smugmug of the foundation walls:

Yesterday (putting up the forms): November 4 Construction Photos

Today (pouring the concrete): November 5 Construction Photos

Or honestly – maybe I just ate too much Halloween candy to have anything intelligent to say.

Markings #14    ©2007    35"x37"

Relaxed Creativity

I’ve posted this piece a few times on my blog but after it was hung in the Macky Gallery I realized I had it crooked online. The above image is how it should hang.

This piece is one of those pieces that just came together magically for me. I was relaxed and working intuitively and didn’t get bogged down or uptight. Working free like this is such a huge gift and the more I work the more often it happens.

This piece came out far from square. Actually pretty much none of my work is square. It’s flat, other than the natural draping of the fabric and some of the natural effects that occur from heavy surface stitching, and all my work is meticulously constructed but I don’t worry about straight edges or 90 degree corners. I let the piece take it’s natural shape. I love not being confined to rectangular canvas.

This piece decided to be a trapezoid and it’s awesome. It has a sense of ease that is very freeing for me.

I can’t force this type of loose and free work. As soon as I try I get very uptight and my work looks rigid and forced. I find the best way to reach this type of relaxation is to show up in the studio every day and just work. The worries and structure melt away and fun creativity appears.

 
Surface Stitching Detail. If you click to see the larger image you can see the variety of thread colors I use.