Career Change is Hard

What do you have to do to completely change your career in LinkedIn?

No that's a serious question and for some strange reason I am not able to present that question to the universe that is LinkedIn.

Did I tell you? I'm retiring. Well Not really.  I'm retiring from corporate life in order to pursue, for the first time in my life, a career actually doing something I love to do. Be an Artist.

For the benefits of those privy to a certain count-down clock that I have been toting around for the past year Or those who attended my 365 Days Until count down announcement aka 1/2 Birthday party. It seems the powers that be did not think I should continue on the corporate path another day. And so with very little fan fair we are embarking on our next great adventure. And I am oddly calm about the whole thing.

In fact I'm ecstatic.

But in the meantime I just wanted to say Hello World.  I'm free for lunch or coffee/tea.

What Are You Thinking About Today?

London's National Museum
June 2018

Do my interests and my art clash?

Does my embracing of mixed media as my art form preclude all forms of my art that smack of craftiness?

Where is the line drawn between something being a work of art and not a craft project? 

Am I embracing a new profession or just expanding my hobby to “earn a little money”?

This past year, I started taking a number of online courses proposing to show me how to turn my art into a career or how to attract patrons for my art. In truth, these very courses are a means to an income. They are rarely free classes. Now before you say anything, I am a proponent of people making a living for themselves. And I also believe that many people will gain much needed, new knowledge from taking their classes. They confirmed my sense that I create art not because I want to make a living with my art.  But I want to make art because of my health.

But is it art?

Sometimes I have to take a break from sculpting and pick up a pencil to just draw or paint for a time. Other times my hand is drawn to the yarn and I create a creature of fiber, sewing together fiber bits to dress many of my creations. I do not see a conflict with moving my muse along like that. Some might call it multi-tasking my art. Which is partially true. I often have partially completed projects in the works in each or any of these methods. A piece has to sit and cure or just the right part is needed to complete another part. Often my energy levels dictate which method my time is spent with. A flare that limits the movement of my upper arms or strength can impede a lot of my favorite methods. Travel and temperatures have hampered my choices of material. Scheduling is another consideration. I may need a whole 8-hour creative day for project X but only have a few minutes a day for projects J thru K.

Somebody had to do that at least once.

Don’t even talk to me about my website. Time spent researching and editing the tools and building my page were kind of creative yet they do not feel like my art to me. Intellectually I know the time was spent to benefit my art, still, I feel guilty for the time lost to painting or drawing. Actually, I feel guilty a lot. Guilty for trying too hard, guilty for not trying hard enough. Guilty for having to give up my planned art part of the day or moment because I have to collapse in bed for now. Don't worry I've got this whole guilt thing under control. Sort of. Maybe...

That felt good. Don’t get me wrong I’m not unhappy with the process. In fact, I am energized by it. But that is another Blog. 

It was a lovely view

P.S. Inserted a few interesting pictures from Our UK Trip. 

Street Art in the UK

I promised that when I returned from our Bucket List trip to the UK, I would be sharing my discoveries and inspirations on these pages.

The first bit I want to share is a collection of street art that my husband and I photographed through-out the UK. Some in Dublin. Quite a few in Glasgow, London, Cardiff, and Aberystwyth. This is not necessarily art in the sense that it is gallery quality but art in that moved me and made me think about the subject.

Much of this art was created as social statements. Like Meek’s “Begging for Change”. Originally placed in Melbourne, Australia. Meek utilizes the same stencil graphic style as Banksy along with strong social justice themes.

Glasgow is awash in street art. Much of it the work of the street artist known as Smug. Such as the modern day portrait of Glasgow’s patron saint, Mungo.

In addition to Smug’s work, Bobby McNamara aka Rogue-One colored the walls with floating cars and splashing Olympic swimmers. All with common spray paint.

London’s art is mostly restricted to galleries, however, Sometimes like New York City, an anonymous artist’s work inspires the average passerby to stop and admire or ponder their message.

It would be easy to discount some of the art as an advertisement if it were not for the creative flair. A barbershop in Dublin decorated with a whimsical caricature of the barber.

Was this fellow a political statement or random decoration.

Then there is this building. Painted by James Earley, the Blooms Hotel in Temple Bar is a remarkable Joycean style work.

There were numerous examples that one might classify as commercial.  But that is another blog.
Coming Soon!