Distraction by Definition

dis·trac·tion 1. The act of distracting or the condition of being distracted. (See going to work at the business and not doing Artwork) 2. Something, especially an amusement, that distracts.  (see #1) 3. Extreme mental or emotional disturbance; obsession: loved the puppy to distraction. (Not there yet, let's hope it doesn't come to that!).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

O Studio, Studio! Wherefore Art Thou Studio?

"When are you going to get to work?"
Zoe, Studio Dog Extraordinaire

As you can see this is not a photo of the finished painting from the residency that I have been promising for several days. It is instead the boxes of supplies and gear from the residency, that remain unpacked.

So what gives?

I was spoiled by my residency studio. It was large and airy with good company:

"The Caribbean Vacation of Studios". 

Now I feel closed in and uncertain about where to land.

I have this space which includes my office and those naggy life things like files and bills and other major distractions. Or I have an unfinished location above the garage where the temperature is now a balmy 32 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Humm. My plan is to land here in the office/studio and then plan my next move....as you can see my faithful "Studio Dog" Grandma Zoe doesn't really care as long as "her" chair is part of the mix.

Busyness Withdrawl

Definition for busyness:

the state of being or appearing to be actively engaged in an activity;  "they manifested all the busyness of a pack of beavers"... wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

I find myself here on my 5th day of the residency pondering the state of my busyness or current lack of busyness. I've always been a high producing individual. One that survives on lists, targets, goals and other needed tools in life. I'm the go-to-girl for completion.

So here I am, finding myself, well, not so busy.

I'm working hard on my art, yes, but something is happening. I can actually have two consecutive thoughts on one subject without being interrupted....I can actually "think" about art for as long as I want!

But in the back of my mind is the pesky thought, that there is something I need to be doing, you know something on a list, except that the only list I have is the name of artists I want to research while I am here.

Oh! Yesterday I did have an art supply list, but I don't think that actually counts. It was not a detailed "to-do" list with indents for subtopics and boxes to check off when the task was complete. (Sorry to say this is true). It was just a list on a scrap of paper, maybe even the back of a receipt. Hummm. 

Possibly in a few days the guilt of unbusyness will subside and I can really relax into this new state. Until then I'll keep thinking there must be something I forgot to do...maybe it will come to me.

Creative Thinking-Finding the Switch

Red Cartoon -copyright Kim Kissinger Marino 2012

Over the years one of my biggest challenges as an artist is not the physical execution of the work, but developing the ability to switch gears from my work-a-day world thinking to creative thinking. 

Day to day I am on the go, running projects in many diverse areas.  

NOTE: I wear my badge of "over-busy" proudly.

But in my art I strive to concentrate on one thing-

no multitasking, 

no multi-managing, 

no multi-overthinking. 

This is challenging for me. 

I find myself thinking about those pesky bills and our business and car maintenance and dog grooming and dental appointments and, and, and...like all of us the list goes on.

During this upcoming residency I am looking for my "Off" switch. 

Or maybe it is my Creative "On" switch. 

I will be posting more on this in the upcoming weeks.

Stay tuned.