Lisa Call

Scrum It Is

I’ve decided after my last post on my Scrum Master training, and the positive response and my interest in the subject, to do a series of posts about scrum and the aspects I think are relevant to my art business.

Although scrum is a project management process for groups, and a lot of the focus of the process is on group dynamics, there are other parts of scrum that are quite useful for an artist maintaining a solo art business.

Today I’m starting with a concept that will fit into the larger framework of scrum later. But I want to just introduce it today as it feels like a good place to start (maybe because I feel I’m spinning my wheels some and not completing anything).

Quality and Done

One of the things scrum does an excellent job addressing in the software development cycle, is the issue of quality. Writing really good software takes time. Unfortunately time is something that there is generally not enough of during a development cycle. The result is almost always a compromise on the quality of the software.

Scrum addresses this by focusing a lot on the definition of Done and declaring that a feature is not to be delivered to customers unless it absolutely meets the definition of Done. Absolutely no exceptions are allowed if one truly follows the scrum model. In software this is difficult because management wants what they want by the date they want it. So to implement scrum correctly requires buy in from upper management.

For an artist we only need ourselves to buy into this. I know I’ve been bitten a few times by saying that a bunch of artwork was done when really it wasn’t. Then show deadlines approach and I end up having to stay up late to actually finish the art (add hanging sleeves or finish bindings, etc). Or I’ll ship some art out the door without the proper images in my database. The work sells and then I never get the images and when needed later I’m out of luck.

I’ve informally worked on defining what it means for my art to be done over the past years (from creating it, to the hanging sleeves, to logging it in the database and photographing it) but I never finished. Now I’m going to formalize this with a definition of what it means for a textile painting to be done, then I’ll hang it on the wall and remember my agreement with myself as to what this means and I’ll ensure that all artwork is completely done before dropping it from my

Business Done

I think this has a lot of relevance for the business side of art also. Many a project gets started but it never gets finished. I just move on to something else. Leaving behind many "gee - I should finish that" ideas and projects that pull me back in as I didn’t tie up all the lose ends.

Certainly blogging and other ongoing tasks like updating mailing lists and writing newsletters are never done. But each of these has a discrete component that does have a definite start and ending. I am going to work on focusing on my art business projects with more thought on completing the projects in their entirety before moving on to something else. And again thinking about what it means for these things to be done.

The sense of accomplishment that comes when something can be marked off a list and declared truly done is great. And I need to find that a bit more often.

The House Remodel

After a month+ of work, I decided to scrap the remodel plans. I had been concerned they were going to be too expensive and yesterday I got the first hint of numbers and it confirmed I was right. I had hoped I could turn this house into my dream home/studio/kitchen but the neighborhood and my checkbook can’t support the cost of doing that.

So after an afternoon/evening of sadness I got over it and went back to basics. Why did I move to Denver? What were the goals? I’ve decided while I might love this house and neighborhood this is not the right time in my life to build my dream home. Instead it’s time to live as cheaply as possible so I can retire as soon as possible. This was about downsizing, not dream home.

Although as much as I love this house, I can’t live in it for 6 years as is. First there are all the fixer-upper things that need to be fixed - like mold, electrical, quack quack. Then there is the issue of lack of studio space. My previous dream home list "must have" list included more bathrooms, a study, a bigger kitchen, master bedroom, and of course the 600 sq ft studio.

The new "must have", I really am downsizing, list:

• A studio with room for my 2 tables and some floor space - probably under 300 sq ft
• A second bathroom - but just a powder room - after flushing my cell phone down the toilet yesterday I decided this was really important. The kids and I will still share the single bathroom with a shower.
• A laundry room - again a bit of a luxury - but having the washing machine in my kitchen and dryer in the garage isn’t great for resale
• Fix the broken/hazardous stuff
• Add insulation and replace all window for energy efficiency
• Remodel the existing kitchen and bathroom with very simple features
• An air conditioner (I’m not crazy Alyson!)

So still a big project and certainly costly, but not ginormous and too expensive. The result should be a house that fits wonderfully into my neighborhood and is a cozy, happy place to live.

The Great Big Dream

Yesterday I went through a bit of mourning over the dream home that isn’t going to happen. I loved the floor plan we came up with and it would have be really wonderful. But I’m not giving up the dream. I’m just recognizing now is not the time for that particular dream to come to life. I’m not going to stop believing I can build my dream studio - cause I know it’ll happen eventually - when the time is right.

The river at the Bend of Ivy Lodge at the Great Big Dreams Retreat - 2007

 
I got back from the Great Big Dreams Retreat today. What an incredible experience. I learned much, listened to much, thought much, laughed much and found this to be one of the most rewarding weekends I’ve spent in a long time.

I’m now enrolled in Christine’s Great Big Dreams e-seminar to continue following the path I started this week. The money I’m spending on this retreat and seminar is usually earmarked for an art workshop but I’ve decided this a much better use of money right now. I’ve felt a need for a change for a while and instead of ignoring it and continuing on as usual I’ve stopped and listened and now I am doing something to make sure the change happens.

My art is super important and I know it will continue along fine without additional instruction at this time. It’s time to get help on the bigger picture - me.

 
This year I’ve decided to list my accomplishments for 2007 without comparing them line by line to the list of goals I set at the beginning of the year (art making goals - business goals). I stopped worrying about my specific goals part way through the year because of my dad’s illness and my preference to spend as much time as possible with him.

My accomplishments/gratitudes for 2007, and in keeping with my plan of taking a more holistic view of my life they are not restricted to just art.

1. I worked in my studio around 865 hours this year - over 16 hours a week on average.
2. I complete the 13 major pieces started prior to 2007 in my Structures and Markings series: Structures #47, Structures #48, Structures #49, Structures #50, Structures #65, Markings #4, Markings #5, Markings #6, Markings #7, Markings #8, Markings #9, Markings #10, Markings #14. No more piles of unfinished work from years past to sap my energy!
3. I completed 6 new major pieces in my structures and markings series: Structures #66, Structures #67, Structures #68, Structures #74, Markings #15, Markings #16.
4. I started 4 additional major pieces in the Nancy Crow workshop that I will complete in early 2008: Structures #72, Structures #73, Markings #17, Markings #18.
5. I challenged myself to do some smaller work and completed 23 pieces: Structures #69, Structures #70, Structures #71, Structures #75 - Structures #94
6. I kept my art business records up to date each month and will be able to hand my paperwork over to my accountant as soon as I receive all the forms from banks and employers and such.
7. I wrote 150 blog posts about my art and being an artist.
8. I updated my computer system with more memory and an external hard drive and avoided having to spend thousands to buy a new machine for a few more years.
9. I sent out 2 postcards to my mailing list.
10. I started an email mailing list that I will use in 2008 for my studio newsletter.
11. I was asked to curate a show at the Lux Center for the Arts in conjunction with my solo show coming up in April.
12. I sent out many solo show proposals.
13. My work was included in the Blogger Show so I had my first piece included in a show in a New York City gallery.
14. I did a minor update to my website midway through the year.
15. I got to display my work at a Ferrari dealership
16. I came very close a few times to getting my email queue down to 0.
17. I have learned to love my day job instead of spending 8 hours a day wishing I were in my studio instead. My life is now more peaceful.
18. I entered 7 juried shows and was accepted into the Visions Quilt Art Gallery Member show, Artist as Quiltmaker at FAVA, the Arvada Center Holiday Art Show, Materials Hard and Soft, and Art Quilt Elements.
19. I completed Matisse The Master, by Hilary Spurling and A Woman On Paper by Anita Pollitzer and have started a biography on Picasso.
20. I listened to many good books on tape, too numerous to list. My favorite by far was Eat, Pray, Love. Reading this book was a large factor in taking charge of my life to make it what I dream it to be.
21. I traded artwork with Tracy Helgeson and then received one of her Pay It Forward pieces. I’m thrilled to own 2 of her pieces now.
22. I gave away 3 small pieces of art via my blog.
23. I stopped complaining about what the art quilt world was doing.
24. I helped my daughter’s class make quilts for their teacher and the silent auction fund raiser.
25. I made a commitment to go complaint free.
26. I helped my daughter make quillows and pillows to sell for her class project. She came close to selling out her booth and grossed over $300. I earned about $100 of it as her employee, which I spent buying things from the other kids in her class.
27. I put aside money each month to purchase art and bought a few small pieces from artists who’s work I admire.
28. I made 3 artist trading cards and sold 2 of them. This one is still for sale Sold.
29. I got to see my piece, Structures #36, hanging at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design a few days ago.
30. I took the big step and put my work up for sale online, on my blog, my etsy shop, guild.com and my cafepress shop. From this I learned more about how I want to sell and market my work and what feels authentic to me.
31. I won the Lydia S. Golomb Memorial Award for Outstanding Use of Traditional Materials at Fiberart International.
32. I took a 2 week workshop with Nancy Crow and spent 2 amazing weeks completely immersed in my art.
33. As the year came to a close I returned to yoga, hiking and searching for the truth of what I want from this life.
34. I maintained a gratitude journal for a good part of the year.
35. I continued to build my investments focusing on my plans for retiring early.
36. I canned 2 batches of homemade salsa with tomatoes from my garden.
37. I went to Kansas to help my mother say goodbye to her husband, a really cool guy.
38. I spent more time with my family this year than I have in a long time. It’s been wonderful, even if not always in the best of circumstances. I appreciate my relationship with my mother, sister, brother and Shirley and am lucky to have them in my life.
39. I was able to say goodbye to my father in a comforting and loving way before he died and have no regrets. This was the hardest thing I did this year and I am very thankful for the friends and family that were there for me.
40. I left a long term relationship that was not working out, which took a lot of strength and courage as there were some good parts, but the bad was no longer acceptable.

 
Thank you to each of you that read my blog, whether you comment or not. I appreciate the support and kind comments so many of you have left over the years.

Happy New Year everyone. May the year bring you everything you dream of and more.

Monday I decided to take the 21 day challenge.

No complaints, criticisms or gossiping for 21 days. In a row. I complain, I start over. According to the new book based on the Complaint Free World it might take me from 4-8 months to accomplish this goal.

Monday went pretty well for my first day.

And then tuesday morning I got an email I’ve been hoping I get for the last few months. Back in October I tried to sign up for Christine Kane’s Great Big Dreams Retreat but it filled up as I was working through the registration process. I was bummed but I asked to be put on the wait list.

Sure enough, I got an email from Christine there was an opening for exactly what I had hoped for. I just bought my airline tickets and I’ll be headed to North Carolina at the end of this month.

I post a lot about my goals for my art career in my blog and in other places I track other goals in my life - financial, personal, family, etc. My desire for 2008 is to take a more holistic approach to my life and to think about how all of it ties together and make broader plans for how I will fulfill my own great big dreams.

I’m looking forward to starting down this path in a few weeks with Christine as I love her blog and her outlook on life.