Time for Creating

I have started reading "Creative Time and Space - Making Room for Making Art" by Rice Freeman-Zachery. It is a book about how several successful artists find time to make their art and get everything else done also.

 It has taken me quite awhile to say that I am an Artist.   I didn't feel worthy of the title  but now I am proud to say that yes, I am an Artist!  And I am taking a huge step forward in my creative journey and will be doing my art full time, well mostly full time. (I have another obligation to take care of also, but that is another story).  Safe to say, the majority of my time will be working on my jewelry and making beads.  

I have read lots of business books and how to sell, keep records, track stuff, yada, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah.  I am not saying that it was not worth reading but I feel that things such as that are not what I was looking for.  People that make their living by making and creating things are much different than say a distributor of finished goods, or someone who provides a service.  The mindset is completely different.  There is a flow to creativity and sometimes it is hard to get in the flow and most of the time when you are in the flow, you don't want to get out, no matter if your kids need to eat or you have to pay some bills, do laundry, or pick your son up from soccer.

It has been extremely helpful to me to read how the artists in this book handle their schedules, creative process and concept of time.   Lisa Lichtenfels, a fabric sculptor, said that she has noticed that if her friends are creative types, they can go for long amounts of time without talking and then when they do see each other again, it is like no time has passed.  However,  her friends who are not creative types,  are hurt if she doesn't keep in touch with them regularly.  I thought that was so interesting.  As I think about my friends and family members for that matter, this is so true.  Humm, this explains so much!

I am not done with the book yet.  I am reading it slowly, taking in all the nuggets of insight and inspiration.    I just started following Rice's blog, Notes from the Voodoo Cafe.  She is quite the character but has loads of info and fun stuff.    Also check out Lisa Lichenfels figures, they are nothing short of amazing!