Trying to earn money is such damned hard work. After two successive projects, and eighty odd people exposed to a full blast of creativity, I am certainly financially healthier (albeit in two months time when the cheques come through) however physically, I am totally shattered. Life seems to be a constant swing between less paid work, more studio work and more paid work, less studio work with a bank balance like a rollercoaster to prove it (although with mostly downs that’s not a great analogy). With four children, no family around and a husband out of the house between seven and it 8.30 at night – well, I’m pooped. I always know when I’ve stretched myself too far because it ends in tears. Feeble I know, it’s not for any reason other than fatigue, but eventually I will have a little bubble. Anyway – i’m not there yet so I’ll stop moaning.
nice things – studio work has really taken on a new phase for me and when I look back over the three years in which have returned to making and exhibiting, I can see so clearly the natural development that has brought me to where I am now. Whereas initially it was one piece slowly followed by another, the studio is now full of evolving bits of work, some which will develop into large pieces some which will feed into others and all of which are immeshed together in an ongoing exploritory practice. I’m happy with that. I’m very sluggish to apply for opportunities at the moment I know but that is partly because I’m enjoying working so much and partly because I want to concentrate on developing the opportunity in 2012. It’s always nice when people contact me though and proposed opportunities from curators pop up now on then and keep me going. Years ago, without an online presence, contacts like this would have been impossible, so for artists outside the main cities and unable to network at art events etc due to family commitments, the internet has been a complete lifesaver.
