Between the holidays, solo exhibitions, and my day job custom picture framing, I've fallen a bit behind. I'm not referring to my artistic pursuits ... far from it! I've been as productive as ever! It's just that my blogging has fallen behind. So today, I'm determined to catch up! This is the second of several posts featuring new artwork made in late December or earlier this month.
Lots of people ask in person and on social media, "Susan, do you ever sleep?" They are constantly amazed that I manage to finish so many artworks. Well, the answer to this silly question is obvious: Of course I sleep! In fact, I sleep an average of eight+ hours each and every night. My productivity comes from two important factors.
First, my husband Steve takes care of the cooking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, bill paying, and outside lawn work. By day, we work together in our custom picture framing shop, Mouse House. It is the first floor of our downtown, historic house. As a result, if I'm not working on a client's order, I'm totally involved with my artwork. Steve takes care of everything else.
Second, I plan in advance ... not "long term" planning but short term realization of the hours during which I will be sitting in our cargo van or in front of the television or at my local auction house. I make sure I have small portable projects planned and ready in advance. Such is this small, Found Object Mandala. I stitched it at Bill Mishoe's auction when watching the remains of other people's lives go up for bidding. It is just small enough to fit into a bag. Basically, I waste very little time. Why waste time when I can be stitching!
I also am a plan-ahead-for-waiting around times, but I usually have a knitting project or personal embroidery project for carrying along. Your post makes me think maybe I need to have some handwork on art quilts to carry along- I might get more art quilts done that way!
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