Change comes and goes through all of our lives. Seasons, time, children growing up, getting old......the list is endless. Some feels good and others not so good. I think the quote for sound of music describes to me how change can work positively live
'when the lord closes a door somewhere he opens a window'
. For me this is the only way to move forward. Positively viewing change no matter how difficult it is.
This week I sent my 18 year old off to university in Palmerston North. This is a 6 1/2 drive away from where we live. It was so hard to leave her there and I felt a door close in my face. I can see some windows opening now though. I can see that I have done a great job in preparing her for university and she will be fine. I can see possibilities of a little more time for myself and for my younger children at home. With that little more time I am hoping to get more art done as well.
I am struggling though with using this time. I just want to go to sleep or curl up on the couch with a book. I think the major issue is interuptions. Even with this new time interruption's still come so often that I lose momentum and therefore stop doing work in my studio. I also am struggling with direction at the moment. I really don't know where to go and what I want to achieve.
Maybe my cat has the best idea.....curling up in a bag of stuffing and sleeping. Do you think the kids would find me!
Sam in a bag of stuffing
Fast asleep
He's hiding in here!
Look how high up he is....
It's a shame sleeping doesn't solve all problems.
So I want to ask you all how do you cope with a loss of momentum? What do you do when you are in a rut? What goals do you have? Please can you leave a comment below if you have any ideas. Could you please ask around through your communities online and invite others onto my blog to help answer this question?
I look forward to hearing your ideas.
It may be a door closing for you but it certainly is an exciting one opening for your daughter. I remember going to that same city 49 years ago to Teachers' Training college. They were wonderful amazing years. I especially enjoyed doing my main study in art with 2 amazingly talented artists/ lecturers.
ReplyDeleteOne never loses that artistic bent; just maybe it gets channelled in a different direction. Over the years I have painted, made prints in various ways/forms; had a big rest from it and am now back using it in quilts and mixed media wall hangings.
With all your wonderful sketches I would be going back through them and searching the possibilities for extending the ones you think could be a theme and start experimenting.
I have seen your work at Calico Christmas so know you have loads of talent and a great eye for colour.
I wish you luck. ( Maybe you do need an extra sleep...your body may be trying to tell you something ).
I like to pull out all my UFOs/WIP's (whatever you want to call them) and look at them, sort through them, have a cull, make a list and usually by the end of it I have some inspiration to work on one.
ReplyDeleteMelody Johnson says, "Go Back to Basics" when she has a slump. She pulls out her sketchbook and has a flick through.
Maybe take a class or an online course? Get out a book from the library on a completely different medium?
Or maybe you need a creative holiday? Refresh and recharge.
Good luck.
Oh I wish I knew the answer to that question! I have been in a creative rut for a few years now. I'm not a creative person, but I used to be able to express myself well through words. Now I seem unable to even do that and it is so frustrating! I am discovering, however, that when the rest of my life is in order, I can focus better on my writing.
ReplyDeleteThankyou all so much for the push I needed :) You have been my motivation this week.
ReplyDeleteSleeping does help! When I wake up at 3am I always have good ideas!
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