I don't like to rush. I like leisurely breakfasts. I meander in gardens. I poke along in bookstores. I dawdle over drinks. I travel like a turtle stopping to look at everything twice. I was like this when I was a kid too - my grandmother, said at least once a day “come on!” with her “don't mess with me" eyebrows.
In my professional life I don't wait until the last minute to do stuff. Procrastination only means I'd have to hurry later. I'd rather avoid hurrying so if stuff's gotta be done by a deadline I start right away and work slowly and steadily until it's done. I don't do frantic, I do focus. I do marathon-like dogged persistence. This approach to time use gives me much more leisure - and fun - over the duration of long projects.
I've been working for just over one year towards my upcoming fine art exhibit at Caplan Art Designs which opens October 5th. There are 23 paintings and 2 sculptures created by me as part of a series I've titled “Figures Of Speech”. As you read this all of the fine art has been finished. The things still to be done are: the delivery of everything to the Gallery, all of “the shouting" (as I call exhibit promotions) and going to the opening event (Oct 5!).
Somewhat ironically the last painting I did for this series is titled “Ducks In A Row”.
Here's a video of me in the process of working on getting those ducks in a row.
In the video below I tell what inspired my “Ducks In A Row" painting (hint, it's the way I play dominoes during family gatherings and something my nephew said.) https://youtube.com/shorts/YhaPIxynZnM?si=R0fsAo3TFyS_erCX
So even though everything for my exhibit is finished I still check and double check everything - and probably will check it all 16 more times - before delivering it all to the Caplan Art Designs Gallery. www.caplanartdesigns.com My scrupulous checking includes the art, the exhibit paperwork and all of the social media materials the Gallery will need from me. Here's what my studio looks like with all of my art in boxes ready for delivery. Yep, can't walk around in here anymore… 🤣
Delivery day is already scheduled so my studio won't look like this for long… but even though the days feel slightly more hectic my breakfast sketchbook time is sacred. No matter what else is happening in a day - I'm doodling in my sketchbook during a leisurely breakfast. Seriously, do not mess with my breakfast time or there will be eyebrows! I am my grandmother's granddaughter! Drawing and painting little things in the mornings is my lifeline. Really. Seriously. 🤨
Anyhoo, here's a few recent breakfast sketckbook pages and tiny artworks that happened come heck or high water.
I hope your eyebrows are smooth, that your ducks are cooperating and that your weekend is as lovely as a tree.
I'm the same way - I need to work slowly and steadily towards what's due next week or month. I wake early and spend half an hour doodling, making lists and writing over coffee.
Many, many moons ago I took up rowing. I left after a season because I couldn't handle the stress of having to rush as soon as I got up. I would lay awake at 3am thinking, "what if I miss my alarm and let down the team?!"
My mornings are much more enjoyable now.
Good luck at your show!
Ducks in a row is brilliant and just showed my wife who asked if we can buy them as prints? I was thinking the same thing. So sweet and we love our kayaking, boats and of course ducks!