We all drag our feet sometimes.  We can even get sick from such stress. Our muscles tighten and cramp,  we become unstable and unhappy when the odds are against us. It's normal to need help along the way in meeting the challenge. Whether it be a cup of coffee or a good friend to talk to, success doesn't happen due to your efforts alone. Your network of caring people have aided in the process.  Some of us learn to deal with feeling overwhelmed and exausted by inventing ways to cope. We imagine a new stronger and better self.  We shed our old skin and feel refreshed. This is part of the human condition.  Resilience is learned; some argue it's genetic. Is it?

Today I woke up feeling rebirth. Although tired, I felt ready for the day. My list of things to do felt like a small pile of feathers.The daunting task of house maintanance, studio work, home life and car issues have piled high.  These things keep existing whether I like it or not. They have no pity on how I feel nor do they care if I am tired and put them off. They exist in my own head, they are goals I think of to make me feel successful.  Does success come from accomplishing your goals or is it recognition for those goals you have completed? Is it self satisfaction? Is it connected to self drive?

I got a lot done today. I'm working on these forms that are influenced by land formations and icebergs. Its like taking a two mile x two mile piece of earth and shrinking it so we can see it in its entirety. You can walk around it and look at the cross sections of earth from different angles. Earlier in this blog I talked about the time it takes to make friends and get connected, I think the same is true for making art, it takes time. It's not like art work just appears after you touch the materials. A thought process is present and ideas develop and change. Research is conducted and learning happens.  For me not every project is the same so there is always a learning curve.These experiences allow me to scaffold ideas and knowledge  in future projects. I keep adding to the skill set. This keeps me excited about the work I do.

In the last couple weeks I was beginning to think that I will be in the vacuum of my studio making work for a couple years. It's been hard to meet new people with similar interest. After going to an art opening this weekend it was very clear that I will not be in a vacuum after all.  I've been to several openings and it took me about a year to figure out that you must keep attending social events even if you are tired. You may miss the greatest event if you take a rain check. Between home life studio work and keeping all facets of life intact the clouds have parted and  the sun is showing its face.

I had several conversations with local artists about their work and was inspired by the energy in the space. A wide variety of work was displayed. A large sculpture commanded attention in the center of the space as it towered in the air. I thought objects make people talk. This experience created a reflective tunnel in my thought process. This place and what's in it is influential. We all strive for a connection with others; it is what makes us feel a part of something that provides support and growth.  Some places help this happen better than others. This place was open and moldable by the crowd. 

I decided today is the day I will start sharing my experiences. 

I begin with what I know best. My path to creating art has always been based on inquiry. While in my studio today I was thinking of all the individuals I know that practice and live art.  I wondered how they are doing and if they are going through similar challenges as I  go through. What solutions do they use for distraction or loneliness. Yes loneliness! I am in a space with the things I make and the tools I use to make these objects.  It is a place of creation. I get to play Dr. frankenstein while the rest of the world is working hard in a 9-5pm or living life, which in itself is hard enough. Make no assumptions making objects is difficult.
I guess this loneliness comes with the territory of moving from one state to another.  The search for an art community or a few friends in the place I have chosen to call home takes time.  The last time we moved it nearly took a year in a half to get set up(studio) and make a hand full of friends. Two years to enjoy this life and now back to square one. I guess you can sense the frustration in that. 

My solution to deal with this is to get out into the community as much as possible. Go to art related events and openings. Maybe I can meet people that way. Slow but "baby steps" as they say. I know what this means now, as we have a ten month old and she is beginning to stand from crawling. All so slow but fast if you look at the big picture.

I sift through names and faces of artist in my head while making numerous cuts on a piece of teak using the bandsaw. The music I have playing in the studio fades and Andres Chaparro comes to mind. I went to his art opening Thursday july 11, 2013 and was transported into his world at least for a few minutes. His paintings are vibrant and musical. Everything about them speaks of the inspiration of music and how music enters the physical world. I could feel the brush strokes and movement Andres took to manipulate the material.  It was an intense energy carefully channeled into overlaying colors and marks.  The natural sense of chaos is evident.  Although there were other topics intertwined in the anatomy of the paintings I could feel the music in my head.  This was a wonderful experience.  I spoke with Andres briefly and had to wrap up my visit as my wife, daughter and dog were in the car parked half a block from the gallery.  Our daughter was sleeping and we chose not to disturb her sleep. She needed the rest as we were visiting family and she stayed awake the whole entire time.

Experiences inspire me to move forward in my pursuit to make things and live an enriching life.  I realize I have to keep having more healthy experiences. I imagine an unhealthy experience can delay the feeling of accomplishment or success even if in the end it makes you stronger. This is all in the timeline of we call life.  I hope you have a wonderful experience today.