Feeding your artistic soul

I've been so out of sync with my artist side the past month. I couldn't figure out why I wasn't able to relax or be happy. Of course the pressures of daily life can be part of it, but they're always there, then I realized I've been showing everyone else how to do art and forgot to do my own. With a to-do list a mile long, I sat at the breakfast table, picked up a pencil and a sheet of sketch paper,then began drawing. An hour and a half later the to-do list was still not started, I had the energy to face it. I had forgotten the importance of feeding my soul. My soul needs to be nourished, it's not a hobby, it's a true force within that requires fulfillment or the rest of my life becomes flat. When I'm not fulfilled the people around me suffer too. Now when I look out at the world I see can see the light again.

Becoming Mother

Becoming Mother The moment you become aware there is a life building in your womb you lose your heart, you become a different person. Your heart is no longer your own. Protective, nurturing instincts never known to exist become your life. New and vintage parts come together to create this mother. The heart is placed near her womb~where it now lives. Hope for her child. Pendant measures 2 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches copper chain approximately 20 inches original design, one of a kind jewelry SRAJD self representing artist jewelry designer

I've been reduced to a bag woman

Okay, I'm a professional artist, translation:  people are now paying me enough for my art, jewelry and handbags to support myself- but isn't that why I got married>?  His money supports us, mine is whatever money or on responsible days~my retirement fund!  Even though I have 4 online stores and I work as an art teacher part time, even  sell my jewelry wholesale now!!!  I am still the maid, cook, chauffeur, care giver, dog walker, poop picker upper!, laundress etc, you can fill in the rest as I'm sure you have your list!  Popping a tube of paint is directly causes a  "Mary, ..."  or the phone rings..."Mom..." or someone stops by because I'm not working, can't be- I'm at home. 

 

I read a great article about creative people, we're disorganized, scattered, etc!  No I'm not, I just have to fit it in between the 90 other demands of the day.  My husband asked at breakfast why I was soldering on the kitchen counter?  Uh, last night  they all wanted a big dinner- soldering had to be done, can't I do that while I watch a vat of spaghetti sauce simmer?  Made perfect sense to me!  I didn't get any flux in the pan!

 

By working like this  I  am still able to cook, clean, be healthy in my home-if you don't clean that mold will kill you!...hmmm, wonder what kind of medium I could mix it with to make...I digress.  I’m always multi tasking, just  moving the art with me.  I've become a bag woman!  I have great tote bags, saved over the years from every charity, club or wherever they seem to come from, now I have a new GREEN stash of grocery totes to pull into service.  All  the bags have glue, scissors, thread, needles, yarn, crochet hook, knitting needles and about four ongoing projects.  When I leave a room, a bag goes with me, when I go in the car, sometimes two bags go with me.  I am never without my projects now.  I went on vacation one time and forgot a bag and had to go to the store just so I could have some art supplies with me.  I wouldn’t be comfortable otherwise.  Now before I go I pack the art supplies a week in advance, my clothes an hour before I leave for the plane.  I have my priorities right!  Gotta go, which bag will I take with me?