Rule no.12 resonates loudly for me as I take apart the accumulations of a studio I've worked in for 10 years to move to a new one - what remains relevant? why did I keep this? who was the person who made this? where is she now? - all buzzing around my head. Thanks for the great food for thought this morning.
Hi Hilary, Thank you so much for commenting. I love your sensibility with watercolor. Rich. Exciting about your move. It takes a while to reestablish, get your new rhythm and feel of the new space. But it brings some fresh air and fresh new approaches. I wish you all the best with that transition.
It freaks me out to move my studio which I did about a year ago. It took three big moving trucks. and about 6 movers and they were worn out by the end of it. And I didn't move most of my archives that is under the main house an hour away which could be at least another truck full. It took me more than a month of working everyday to organize and pack up the studio and now more than a year later I have still not unpacked everything (especially my library which is all in boxes in a closet) and things are continuing to accumulate. The only place I keep it organized is digitally on my computer.
"But the secret is to think of it all, a whole lifetime’s worth, as a single work. Where does everything fit? How does everything relate to each other? How has the trail developed?" This was great, full of sage advice! I shall be reminding myself of this when I try to get too much done too quickly. Accumulation requires some patience, does it not?
Thanks for commenting Jeffrey! (I don't get many comments for some reason.)
It is all about patience and believe me I have spent a lot of years developing it. At this point I am thinking of it as a strategic approach, to not work in sprints but more like a lifelong marathon runner not really a marathon runner - forget running - a lifelong walk about, a saunter with the knowing that accumulation will do the trick all by itself. It is trustworthy. You don't have to overwork it. Which means you can be more contemplative, more internally peaceful and just move along at a slow steady constant speed and never burn yourself out and still be always at work without rushing.
This really opens some new conceptual vistas because you can take your time, think it over, spend a lot of time working things out, develop skills and be willing to take on potentially massive lifelong endeavors. I think about it as thinking in museum time that projects across centuries instead of seasons.
'strategic patience' Yes, that is an interesting thought. I know when I was younger I wanted to build, build, build. But then you get worn out. Then I thought 'Wait a minute, I can't keep this pace up - going to have to change my rhythm or something. Maybe it is just enthusiasm driven by impatience. In the early years it is hard to realize that you can go slower if you are willing to commit to the long run and have faith that there will be a long run. Now I say; 'If you have to keep a to-do list you are doing too much.' But some would say that is a little extreme in the other direction. haha
Rule no.12 resonates loudly for me as I take apart the accumulations of a studio I've worked in for 10 years to move to a new one - what remains relevant? why did I keep this? who was the person who made this? where is she now? - all buzzing around my head. Thanks for the great food for thought this morning.
Hi Hilary, Thank you so much for commenting. I love your sensibility with watercolor. Rich. Exciting about your move. It takes a while to reestablish, get your new rhythm and feel of the new space. But it brings some fresh air and fresh new approaches. I wish you all the best with that transition.
It freaks me out to move my studio which I did about a year ago. It took three big moving trucks. and about 6 movers and they were worn out by the end of it. And I didn't move most of my archives that is under the main house an hour away which could be at least another truck full. It took me more than a month of working everyday to organize and pack up the studio and now more than a year later I have still not unpacked everything (especially my library which is all in boxes in a closet) and things are continuing to accumulate. The only place I keep it organized is digitally on my computer.
Wow Cecil! Your move sounds epic. I appreciate how discombobulating it can be. Looking forward to tidy clutter and joyful messes in the New Year!
"But the secret is to think of it all, a whole lifetime’s worth, as a single work. Where does everything fit? How does everything relate to each other? How has the trail developed?" This was great, full of sage advice! I shall be reminding myself of this when I try to get too much done too quickly. Accumulation requires some patience, does it not?
Thanks for commenting Jeffrey! (I don't get many comments for some reason.)
It is all about patience and believe me I have spent a lot of years developing it. At this point I am thinking of it as a strategic approach, to not work in sprints but more like a lifelong marathon runner not really a marathon runner - forget running - a lifelong walk about, a saunter with the knowing that accumulation will do the trick all by itself. It is trustworthy. You don't have to overwork it. Which means you can be more contemplative, more internally peaceful and just move along at a slow steady constant speed and never burn yourself out and still be always at work without rushing.
This really opens some new conceptual vistas because you can take your time, think it over, spend a lot of time working things out, develop skills and be willing to take on potentially massive lifelong endeavors. I think about it as thinking in museum time that projects across centuries instead of seasons.
"Museum time" is great. And you make an excellent case for strategic patience.
'strategic patience' Yes, that is an interesting thought. I know when I was younger I wanted to build, build, build. But then you get worn out. Then I thought 'Wait a minute, I can't keep this pace up - going to have to change my rhythm or something. Maybe it is just enthusiasm driven by impatience. In the early years it is hard to realize that you can go slower if you are willing to commit to the long run and have faith that there will be a long run. Now I say; 'If you have to keep a to-do list you are doing too much.' But some would say that is a little extreme in the other direction. haha