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Art and kids don't mix - or do they? I'm always wondering why and or how I can keep the balance between art and motherhood. Most days, if I'm being really honest, there is very little art making when I compare it to the time that I need to spend with my family. I have two kids under the age of four, obviously they need a lot from me right now and they are home 90% of the time, (99% feels more accurate). So how do I get anything done? Well here are 5 things that have been working for me lately. 
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Ice and snow. This has been a busy winter for mother nature here in southeast Idaho and I really do feel like I moved to the north pole. Several feet of snow, cold wind blowing snow drifts everywhere, temperatures in the -20's, and icicles as tall as me in some places. This little Nevada girl is not sure what to think.  It's always exciting to start out the new year with a clean slate, but sometimes that clean slate can feel a little daunting or even overwhelming. How can you fix that? Well, I happen to have a suggestion.  There are a lot of things I’ve learned over the years about goals. I like thinking about and setting goals because something about that process makes me feel productive and inspired. BUT, I also set goals that are way too ambitious, and I often achieve things that I didn’t set out to do. Things that are nowhere near any goal that I have set, but opportunities come up, things change, and I’m somewhere new. What should be the point of setting goals? Even now I look back at the goals I set for last year and I think, well, I achieved 1 out of 6 goals. Does that make me a failure or did I waste my time creating goals in the first place? The process looks different for everyone, but here are 3 elements I make part of my goal setting every year.  I'm currently sitting in my car watching the sunset, listening to a song called, Watching the Storm by U137, and feeling all the feels. Although I don't like sitting in my car, it is fall and I don't want to sit outside in the chilled air. I think I have enjoyed this fall more than any others I can remember in the past.  The question that is always in the back of my mind when I create art is, what is this for? Who does this help? Will it make a difference to anyone else or is this just a self-gratifying hobby that I have? I don't make political statements with my work. I don't have religious calls to action. I don't have a 'cause' that I am trying to advocate. My work is abstract; how does this help anyone? Not everyone is concerned about the impact their work has and they can be completely satisfied knowing that they are doing something for themselves and enjoying their time. Why is this not the case for me? I don't have a complete answer yet, however, I found part of an answer recently.  It has been a long time since I have sat down and had time to write. I've been LOVING this summer, probably because last summer I had a tiny human that needed me and I wasn't able to enjoy my summer so this year, oh man, we have been doing all of the things! So I sit here with time and think, what do I write about? What do you want to know, what do I want to share? A part of me has been un-inspired the past few months. I'm in a lull. They happen to all artists and so as I'm in this moment I've been asking myself the question, 'Why does inspiration matter?' Here are several things that came to mind.  Things that I'm NOT good at: Networking Keeping in touch with people Trying new things Being social in a large group, or sometimes even at all Can you relate to any of these?  Let's be honest. My process is a little all over the place. Am I painting? Am I collaging? What's with all the scraps everywhere? What about the photography stuff? What are you doing with your life Amy!?! It's fine. Here's what I know has been working for me so far.  |
Oh Hey! it's me, AmyThese are stories about my art, experiences I've had in my career, and some other fun stuff too. I will probably overshare, sometimes I can't help it. Enjoy! Archives
January 2023
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