Approaching the Finish Line

I'm a solid week back into school. This weekend is my 30th Birthday. Our house and studio is reaching a 50% completion status and life is quite good. Fall has always been a gentle time for me. Especially now that I teach; life in the fall seems so generous, so full of potential, so optimistic. Maybe its just that the oppressive heat is lifting?
This will be my third year with some of my students. It has been genuinely rewarding to watch them mature artistically (and emotionally - at least most of them ;) There is a curious feeling that is settling into my gut. Like a pot simmering. My students are getting ready to fly the coop. I am embarking on my KTIP so that I can continue teaching in KY. Mitch and I are nearing our studio and house deadlines. Something big awaits us.
This will be a year full of tight deadlines, sometimes uncomfortable challenges, and back breaking work but the final pay off promises to be so sweet. For all of us.

summertime

I've been working so hard for so long that I've forgotten to have any fun.
Its not all bad though! Working on our house is immensely rewarding and I can't wait to get my studio set up in it!
Its been a grueling 2 years. After moving to Paducah, I immediately took a job teaching high school.
You're probably thinking "gross"... It's not. Its more enriching and empowering than I could have ever imagined. The kids I work for are fantastic. Teaching has given me more time to research, read, grow, and learn. It has however robbed me of time to make.
Aside from a handful of lucky commissioned pieces (you know who you are :) I've been fairly absent from my bench.
Maybe its leftover scorn from grad school? Maybe I'm just turned off by the cost of metal?
Maybe its that I get all of the problem solving I need building a house, studio, and pre-college arts program?!
Not to mention that I also volunteer with the Paducah Arts Alliance; orchestrating the artist in residency program.

I have been fantasizing about hitting metal with a hammer lately.
Summer has brought me some solitude - an opportunity to listen to my thoughts as they race by.
My goal is to spend Friday hitting metal with a hammer.
Wish me luck!

masks I love

sick nasty = I love this

new and not always welcome

We close on our house Tuesday next week. Its very exciting. We have had some serious trials with this one so far. Fingers crossed that the closing will actually happen! I want to take the chain saw and start clearing the property surrounding the house. I want to nest!
Unfortunately all of this newness comes with added responsibilities. I have not applied for any juried shows this year and I've just barely been able to keep up with the invitational shows that I've been participating in. Being the only visual art teacher at my school means the entire health of the program rests on me. That's a huge responsibility (which I like) but it is very time consuming. My dad's health being so poor doesn't necessarily take up time but I do feel emotionally drained. Add to that a new house that is in complete disrepair (no electricity, plumbing and some of its exterior walls missing!) I'm excited and FREAKED!
I suppose that this is the way life is...

My teaching experience at Arrowmont

Although it was a very brief weekend the cold connection workshop at Arrowmont went swimmingly.
My students were eager and enthusiastic learners. It was such a positive experience! Mitch was my assistant and did a perfect job. He was completely helpful. He even managed to snap a few pics in between all of the running around I had him doing.
He also drove the entire way there and back. It was the first time we've spent more than 2 or 3 hours together in months. It was a fantastic, relaxing and fulfilling weekend.
check it out!

the lovely assistant

The number of obligations that I have in the upcoming months has taken a toll. I am exhausted.
I have finally hired an assistant to come and work with me in my studio. So far its been great. My only issue stems
from not having adequate time to schedule and not having a consistent schedule.

I have two pretty major works due to different shows and I'm definitely in need of some inspiration. No time for a trip to shoot images or draw...
Lately I've been revisiting my old sketch books and the works of some of my favorite artists: Lee Bontecou and Albert Paley.

How can I reenergize and find inspiration despite the fact that I barely have time to shower regularly ? Hopefully this weekend I will be able to carve out some time to work.

adventures

labor day weekend was full of adventure. Mitch and I drove to a wedding of two of our close friends from college. We went and visited his parents and grandparents in Vicksburg and Louisiana, too. We spent a lot of time talking out our ideas for the future while we drove the 7 hours (each way)
I did drop off work at the Attic Gallery in Vicksburg and have big plans for the upcoming weekend.
Of note: I hired a production assistant to help me in my studio twice a week. So far so good!