[MD] sideways drifting

[MarshaV]

Margaret,

Letting go has become a way of life.  Experience has become much 
lighter and interesting as I disentangle from a static 
point-of-view.  With each letting go, gifts have come from surprising 
directions.  It was a conscious decision to let go of work and 
friends and family to paint, but then I'm at that stage in life where 
I should be encouraged to withdraw from those things.  Painting has 
become a wonderful teacher, and I often feel like I'm riding on a 
butterfly.  But, of course, not always.

I did not move towards art until later in life.  I wish it had been 
there to help me better experience my children.  I think it is 
wonderful that it's there for you now.

Thank you for writing a very thoughtful post.

Marsha





At 12:49 AM 5/18/2006, you wrote:
>Marsha,
>
>Sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you
>on this.
>
>I'm very intrigued (and impressed, actually)
>at the 'taking them to the Goodwill' part.
>
>In fact, I've been mulling over this for the past
>few weeks.
>
>The process of being able to completely let go
>of the work. This is something.
>What a fantastic concept.
>
>It's really funny, somebody told me not 6 months
>ago what a fantastic piece of art they found at the
>Goodwill and I even heard someone mention
>that an artist we both know (who sells her work
>regularly) saw one of her own pieces at the Goodwill
>(I guess it was a bit of a shock for her at the
>time).
>
>Yes (about collage). I do work with it some.
>I work in different mediums - watercolor,
>pen & ink, layering, deconstructing.
>Lately, I've been mostly interested in using
>collage and assemblage to create
>sculptural still-lifes that I then
>photograph, using the light as a pen
>in a way. The photographic process
>is really the main mechanism for
>the communication.
>
>I don't work at mass producing work for the
>purpose of selling as much as I can for a profit,
>but the way I think of it is that I enjoy
>being able to spend as much time making money
>in ways that I find enjoyable - so if I can
>sell the work that I'm really inspired to create,
>then it buys me more time to do more of the same.
>
>Since I'm not wealthy, I have to pay the bills
>somehow.
>
>Being self-employed doing computer
>services (networking, repair, support, etc.)
>and artwork, I try to buy as much
>of my own free time as possible so that
>I can create more art and spend as much time
>as possible with friends and working on
>special projects (that may or may not
>be profitable) that I find important.
>
>I could spend a lot more time at the consulting
>and make a much bigger profit and not do as much
>art.
>
>Instead I try to strike a balance that generally
>leaves me just a razor's edge (or a disabilty)
>away from being homeless. I make just what I need...
>and actually, I do get to spend a lot of my time
>at the art.
>
>To me, art, work and friends
>are all one and the same. I cannot separate
>any of them into different boxes. I am fortunate
>that I enjoy every one of my computer clients
>very much. I'm fortunate that I get work from
>word of mouth and networking and much of it
>involves creative thought and I almost never
>have to spend a moment being around anyone with
>whom I don't get along.
>
>This freedom is why I enjoy trying to sell
>my artwork.
>
>BUT, I also wrangle with the
>notion that I can just 'let go of it',
>in the sense that you do - just be into the process
>of it and not always thinking about how I can
>make my next creative endeavor pay the cable bill.
>
>Thanks for the VERY thought provoking stimulus.
>
>
>Margaret