Inspiration and self support

17 August, 2007
I have had an inspiring time lately talking to a few different friends, all in their own little businesses working in the arts or healing.
It is one thing to have a passion, then you need to put the efforts in to let it flow and be comfortable with using it.
Then it is a big leap to let it support you- yes I mean not being a starving artist, but a happy and prosperous artist.

There is something in one that tends to switch on and say you can’t be that committed if you are worrying about the business side of it.
I wonder how those world class athletes feel when they are doing product endorsements? That is necessary to give them the finances to have the time to keep training and achieving, it is necessary! Bottom line.
Well the same to be a successful artist and the ones I talk to who are well known and have a life not just a subsistence do need to allocate time to work their business, as well as look after there home, see friends etc- it is part of life.

I am working on feeling OK with acknowledging those aspects of my life.
I put a lot of effort into my exhibition work, a lot of effort into my teaching work and a lot of effort into my tours and it is Ok for all to be rewarding both emotionally and financially.

This letter is a real get it off your chest type thing isn’t it?
When you are getting used to something new it is important for you to share it with supportive people to let it sink in.
As you blossom as an artist and step into it more it is important to share your work with constructive people. [ those that say yes without thinking and those that are just to negative are neither beneficial- for different reasons. Both are hard to believe though]

I have just come across 2 very inspiring books
World Textiles- John Gillows- eye candy and informative…so many places to visit! Is how it strikes me and I can’t wait to see all those things in situ. One of my life’s goals actually India, sub Sahara- Africa, morocco are highest on the list at this moment.

The Artist’s Way Julia Cameron would be one of the most useful gifts you could give yourself as an artist or even if you just want to live life more creatively.
Do get it and really work at her suggestions, I have done some of these things for years others a new but I can see their worth.
Unlock those creative energies! And enjoy!

out to the studio

I have been mulling over a new series of work for some time, had 90% of

what I wanted in my mind but just could not find the twist to make it feel right.

I was very inspired by Dixie Brown, a lady I met in San Francisco and her response to the war on terror- her bombs were very elegant but also very directly speaking of her concerns, yet they had a beauty and humor in their production.

I try to speak of the Earth in my work, my concerns for its state, the fact we all share the same back yard which is Mother Earth... after meeting Dixie I wanted to do a series that spoke more directly....
I liked the feel of the last series I did[ the pic above is a whole heap of the pieces before framing] they record places I have visited- I was trying to give an overall impression of the same but different. When we realise that about the world- WE ARE ALL THE SAME INSIDE it is just our outward circumstances that vary it is easier to think of pulling together rather than fracturing into parts.
lofty ideals, how to subtly but strongly put it into my work? the agony of trying to sort it through [ a good stretch really trying to unearth a new approach...it is so easy to stay in what you have done before]
you have to draw people in to look, think, feel. I don't think standing on a soap box and shouting is the way to get people to sit back and think and make the subtle shifts underlying the major changes we [as a whole earth] need.
yeh it is off to the studio!

a big week end

7 August, 2007

my garden has been silently working away while I was travelling and we have a winter's worth of beautiful sweet pumpkins- our skin is going orange! as everything has pumpkin in it.

Had a great weekend, I was a student in someone else’s class.
This was quiet a novelty as I have rarely ever had the chance to take classes.
The teacher was an English woman Jean Draper, wonderful lady.
The class was a master class focusing on the line and tying it to a journey.
I think that was what caught my eye, and I remember seeing some of her work in England last year, being taken with the surface and texture.
Her subject matter revolves around the landscape, as does mine and I found it most interesting to have the chance of some insight into someone else’s way of seeing.
Her background is in embroidery and her use, love and mastery of stitch drives her work. It was great to hear her talk of her process.

Part of the class was focusing on the participant’s own work and where you need to go with you work and encouragement to get on with it. I have hit a little lull just of late, finished lots of projects and been caught up in the office with my tours but really with art the important thing is to do it, to do it and to keep doing it.
Thank you Jean for reminding me.

The chance to interact with others- get out of the house is always a blessing. I had some wonderful conversations with many in my big week end.

One conversation brought to mind lessons that have kept coming up for me lately. Sometimes you are not quiet sure what you are doing but have a strong feeling of which direction you need to head.

So you need to forget the doubts and head off in that direction AS IF YOU KNEW WHAT YOU ARE DOING and let the Universe [ God, synchronicity…] take care of the details. It all will become obvious in time.

I must admit that is mostly how I work.... I think about what I want to say, how to pick up the mood but have no idea of how it will look and just have to start laying it out and improvizing as I go. mostly OK but some days nerve wracking!

That's life though isn't it?

someone was just asking where I am teaching but they did not leave an email- please go to the Calendar page on my website http://www.fionawright.com/ for the latest of that type of thing... I will be adding a few more venues in San Diego, California soon as well....