I was starting to plan out a production schedule for the paper and iron bowls, based on having figured out how many days it will take to complete the coats of paint and varnish. (In case you're curious, the base coats, acrylic coloring, and clear varnish will take 6 weeks - or if I really push and do 2 sessions/day when weather permits, 4 weeks. That includes 2 one-week drying periods.)
I began to wonder if I was on the right track. So I paid another visit to my Dream Studio, where I consulted my 80-year-old Self as usual.
Visit:
Cathy (C): I'm in conflict about whether or not to aim at doing groups of paper and iron bowls in two-month periods. It looks as if it can be done - but 2 1/2 to 3 months would be more comfortable. Basically it's a question of whether or not to push myself some, to get more pieces done in a year.
Older Cathy (OC): Why do you want to get more pieces done in a year?
C: Well, the more I can do, the better my chances of earning a living this way.
OC: Bad idea. Wrong motive.
C: OK. Now that I say it that way, I see that it's not a good idea. So do I set any production goals at all? Think in terms of groups?
OC: For organizing your space and knowing how long drying areas will be occupied, what you're doing is fine. Right now your drying space is your limiting factor. It's the push to work faster that I question.
What I'd like to see is for you to work in such a way that you feel the most possible joy and delight and excitement. If you do that, then timing and quantity will take care of themselves.
C: OK. May I ask one other thing?
OC: Of course.
C: Last night I dreamed that I was fired from my job. In the dream my job seemed to be a combination of odd things - making databases for clients, teaching large art workshops on digital art, etc. I was fired when I told our boss that I sometimes felt paranoid - that he seemed to pay attention only to the employees who were his relatives, his cousins. He just went "hmph" and fired me. Today when I look at how long my bowl sculptures take to make, it seems impossible that I can just do these and earn a living - not for another four or five years if then. My question is -is it totally foolish and absurd to think I can do art fulltime now?
OC: It's a good idea to do it.
C: Make doing art full out my primary focus? Even without financial security doing it?
OC: You can be so irritating at times! Yes! Yes! Yes! How definite do I have to be?
C: I think I've got it.
OC: I hope so!
C: OK. Doing art fulltime, full out - yes. OK. Thanks!
9:49:04 PM 
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