The laundry won

“I’ve seen women insist on cleaning everything in the house before they could sit down to write… and you know it’s a funny thing about housecleaning… it never comes to an end. Perfect way to stop a woman. A woman must be careful to not allow over-responsibility (or over-respectabilty) to steal her necessary creative rests, riffs, and raptures. She simply must put her foot down and say no to half of what she believes she “should” be doing. Art is not meant to be created in stolen moments only.”
― Clarissa Pinkola Estés

I have to admit, that laundry and the rest of life got the better of me this weekend. Friday started out on a downhill slide and a combination of housework, marches, and other “shoulds” got the better of me artistically.

Saturday I did sit down and do some value studies (trying to take advice) but the critics in my head were simply too much.

In other downer news, I submitted two paintings for the Emerald Art Center exhibition (the one that “Scent of Season” got in last year), but I got word on Friday that neither got in. I can’t claim to be hugely surprised, but my ego could have used the boost.

I have to admit the next few weekends will be artistically dicey. While I don’t have much going on next weekend, I am committed to driving up to Canby on Saturday and taking down my show at the Canby Library. Feel free to save me the trip and buy that piece of art that you’ve been craving! I’ve already had one sale from this show… just 15 more and I won’t have to make the trip!

The following weekend is the Watercolor Society of Oregon spring show where “Should the Turkey Cross the Road” will be exhibited.

I’ll also be doing some traveling around the state for my “real” job, so I’ll commit to reference photos. I’ll even try for some sketches… but probably not a lot of painting. Then for a few weeks it’s all nose work, all the time.

All of this is in addition to my normal roster of things. Is it any wonder I’m not getting things done?

I’m definitely missing that “put my foot down” spirit.