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Monday, June 6, 2011

Sculpture and Rest

Making sculpture is physically demanding, marketing sculpture is even harder on both body and soul.

That's why it's really good for an artist to be able to STOP and REST.
Stop for at least two or three days. Alone if possible.
Herm at Hearst Castle. Being there in the evening is like stepping into a Maxfield Parrish painting.
        Tell everyone you have important appointments (with yourself!) and then keep them.
Adelman Peony Gardens
 HIDE -either in your studio or out in the big world where no one knows where you are.

Do as little as possible.......take long walks.................draw and read.......rest.....rest....rest.
Do no production, marketing, tweeting, Facebooking, networking, phone calls, mailings, etc.
Stop doing all those necessary things that can also make you feel crazy and overwhelmed.
Schreiners Iris Gardens
Stop long enough to connect with the joy and excitement you get from creating for your own pleasure.

When you're connected with that spirit it's much easier to keep everything else in perspective, You can connect with others because you're connected with why you make your art. 
Walking in from the beach at Cape Cod.
 (I speak from personal experience.)

6 comments:

Jennifer Tetlow said...

Brilliant post! I am going to print it and put it up somewhere so I see it often as a reminder! Hit a real nerve here!

patrickgracewood said...

Thank you, Jennifer.

I try to keep things on topic: sculpture, but that subject keeps EXPANDING.

When you are doing what you love it can easily morph to become NO place to rest, working ALL the time.

Inspiration literally means breathing in a relaxed mode. We need to practice that too!

JoAnnA said...

I couldn't agree more, and this right now is exactly my problem. Switching off! You clearly understand the creative condition.. its OK to not be entirely revolving around Sculpture ..we are greater than the sum of our parts afterall :D Stay True JO*

Beatriz Cunha said...

wonderful! I totally agree...

Chris said...

Excellent post. I just started reading a book about silence and solitude. fb sucks me into its vortex as well as checking emails and blog reading. Even the background noise of radio and tv. We really do need time alone...to rest. Thank you!

Sherrie York said...

Amen.