the art manifesto: part 5

This part of my artist #manifesto is almost as hard as the fourth (welcoming children), but here goes: 5/7 - CREATE CLEAR BOUNDARIES

In order to create effectively and joyfully, I have to understand where my work begins and where I end. It's impossible not to infuse my work with who I am, but it's paramount that I remember that I am not my work. Establishing this boundary enables me to consider criticism, to evaluate, and to be more deeply honest with myself about where I feel vulnerable in my artmaking.

Knowing where my art ends means I must also remember the things I will not sacrifice for my art. These are: my health, my marriage, and my children. The rhythm and balance between the elements can be in flux, but these must always be protected.

a textile piece

Creating boundaries around my health, marriage, and children effectively happens when I communicate needs, expectations, and policies directly and concisely to others, whether I'm dealing with family, clients, colleagues, friends, customers, or anyone else. It also means that use my wisdom to choose my words, timing, and inner circle with care.

Since the internet is forever (and not truly private) I use social media with these boundaries and the good of my family in mind. My particular policies are free to change as my life & technology change, but they remain under that umbrella.

the art manifesto: part 4

One of the trickiest parts of my art #manifesto is this: 4/7 - WELCOME YOUR CHILDREN

No matter the stage of parenting or artmaking, I choose to find ways to welcome my children's presence, seeing them as assets, teachers, and my greatest creative project. My children benefit from seeing what I do; it enables them to envision their own careers and paths through life. And I benefit from the presence of my children; they are an external force that pushes me to do the things that truly matter.

my children draw

The rules: keep your children safe, give them ways to be involved (or not) as they choose. Let them be as they are; do not fight against their natures or needs, but remember that they are not in command. This is a delicate and ever-changing terrain to navigate.

Work and life (children) are not separate things. They are dance partners that together create a beautiful spectacle when moving in rhythm, and then appear as one.

the art manifesto: part 3

The art manifesto, continued: 3/7 - PROTECT & ENHANCE YOUR PHYSICAL SPACE

I'm a particular & territorial person, which does not bode well for many reasons, and can be very ill-suited to parenting young children. But I know that underneath my fierce personal tendency for spatial control lies this truth: you need to protect your creative space.

When you shape a space and make it sacred, you open up TIME as well--time for the particular activity around which that space is shaped. For any creative workspace, one should make it so little else besides your work happens in that space. And it should feel easy and pleasant--beautiful and at the ready (even if "ready" means "messy"). That way, coming to that place becomes an automatic trigger to creatively engage.

a view of my desk space

So while your creative workspace matters deeply, it does not matter what size or shape or particular location it takes. I started working on my bed in my room, long ago. Then I had a desk (and would spread out on the floor or bed). Then, two desks. My space could contract or grow in the future for a variety of reasons, but the key is this: I have a space.

And so I protect my space; I stake it as mine and reserve it for my work. And I enhance my space: I resourcefully surround myself with the setup and the tools I need easily at hand.

the art manifesto: part 2

My artist manifesto continues, with the second line explained:

2/7 - ONE DAILY FOCUS

"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." -- Stephen Covey

In ordering each day, I must determine a single main focus (in line with my vision board--the messy coagulation you see above) and allow that to govern my choices for what deserves my attention. This could be a single task, organizing a project, or even focusing on tackling the small neglected things that pile up.

This is the thing I find the most difficult. It is not hard to work; it is hard to work on what really matters. It helps to put the hardest things first. It helps to be a realist and allow extra time for things that I find difficult to estimate (whether because it's a minefield of problems or there's a learning curve to overcome.

Big moves are made slowly, with small, deliberate steps. This is what I try to keep in mind most; it's not the completion of the thing, or the quantity of progress, but that a single daily focus keeps the forward momentum going.

the art manifesto: part 1

A little while ago I shared my manifesto for my 3-year Artist Residency in Motherhood, posted to my studio wall. I was asked to elaborate a bit, and so I'll give you a little of my thinking for each of its 7 parts. I'd love to hear more of your thoughts, or what you find fascinating.

1/7 - RHYTHM OF WORK

As an artist, I need a deep & regular rhythm of work--a daily, weekly, and seasonal pattern to follow.

I want my daily pattern to always include my core work: free, focused creation and exploration. It allows space for rest, space to let ideas stew, and ample buffer time to complete tasks.

My weekly pattern follows my family's fluctuations, allowing me to be more available as the need arises. Again, buffer time is critical to account for emergencies and the extra push that work can require.

To account for the seasons, I plan my year ahead, make a budget, and map out projects, all with my overall goals in mind, but especially keeping in mind what I want my daily life to look like. If the overall goals create a stressful everyday life, that does me a disservice. But if the overall goals are not ambitious and exciting, my work becomes aimless.

And as with everything, this requires attentiveness to the changing of the seasons and shifts in work in order to adapt and avoid stagnation.