A bit of a grind...

Sometimes this creative life feels really hard...so much work to be done but nothing coming to fruition.  Varnishing, wiring, preparing canvases, documentation, and yet, nothing new to share.  My body is aching as the past two weeks have been quite physically demanding and though I am extremely happy to do it I do wish I had one small new piece to be able to say, 'Yes, this is done'.

Don't get me wrong, I love what I do.  But I used to begin and finish one piece at a time or on occasion two, and it felt like I accomplished something.  Now, though, with this method of working each layer takes time to dry so I must be patient and wait.  I'm glad that this week I do have something to show for the work, nothing complete but rather several canvases of varying sizes that are almost ready to take to the next level.  It's time to begin adding images which makes me very glad. 

Typically I wire each piece as I complete it - I didn't with the 52 WEEKS PROJECT (I hung the project in my studio using thumb tacks, hadn't documented it or varnished it at that point) as I was completing work for exhibits and magazine articles at the same time and now the finishing of these 52 pieces has been rather taxing.  By Sunday everything should be done (whew!) and though I have a Jr Artist's Workshop at the library on Saturday I'm confident that it will be complete. 

I have to say thank you for all the emails, comments, messages and words of encouragement throughout not only the 52 WEEKS PROJECT but through this daily grind.  Honestly, just like any job sometimes things in my line of work can become a little discouraging, and there are those aspects of the work that I don't look forward to but which have to be done, so I am grateful for the kindness along this journey.  I hope I don't sound like I'm complaining, because believe me, I love what I do and wouldn't trade it for anything.  And, practicing patience is a very good thing for me.