year end art goals…

A funny thing happened on the piece I have been working on for the past month or so. Originally I sketched an idea and  made a pattern using the overhead projector.  Then one day after sewing one too many curved seams it took a  literal 90 degree turn!   Obviously the muse wanted something else to happen here.

I designed it on the bias for several days and was within 20% of completion when I looked at it from across the room and thought nope, that’s not what I want!   I am usually very spontaneous in design so this conundrum has been a bit entertaining although I think this piece has been a metaphor for my emotional process these past six months.

So I returned to my original sketch but instead of following the template precisely I went off again from the original sketch!  The piece is now fully designed and ready to stitch which is going to be a bear so I plan to take my time. I can’t show you the work just yet because it is for an exhibit but this image is a piece of the 2nd version which I am not using this time. In the meantime multiple ideas for new work have been stacking up. I am anxious to get on with it!

And I have been considering my art goals for 2013…something I do every year end. Strangely I have only a couple goals, nothing too dramatic which I feel is okay.  I have been working really hard the past five years and this year brought so much life change that  the left brain may need to just coast for a while and let the muse take hold.

There is however a hankering to do two tasks which I know will consume my time if I let them so I may work on those on a limited basis.   One is to continue downsizing possessions getting rid of things we absolutely do not use.  We need to continue this ‘cleansing’ while we are still flexible enough to get stuff out to the car and off to charity.   The other  is to sort and digitize all photographs, slides and the file of wedding invitations, birth announcements, death notices etc.  All that important genealogy work!  When these two tasks are done I envision immense energy flowing through the studio.

Happy New Year!