Yesterday as I turned the lights off and walked out of my studio I thought to myself ‘Would I accomplish more if I could focus on one thing at a time?’

Most people would answer yes to that question, I know my parents would (I used to drive them nuts). At present there are 10 canvases started in my studio, 2 sketches for the printmaking I plan to do next weekend, a half made artist book that requires 26 tiny pen and ink drawings and needs to be finished by the end of September; I am also working on my novel and yes the picture books (4-5 of them) are still in my sights and well there’s the blog too…

Rachelle Gardener is an American Literary Agent and I follow her blog, this morning I laughed when I read the short but sweet words, ‘What’s on your Sticky Notes?’ Her biggest day to day difficulty is the sheer number of things that need to get done. She says sometimes her to do list is so long, she gets paralyzed. So she has a sticky note right by her computer. It says:

One thing at at time.
First things first.
Start now.

Good for her, I think in a way in a way I am too scared to attack my projects in that way. Each of my projects can only be tackled by ME; no one else can help because each project is a part of me and my imagination. There is also so much to do, so little time to do it, I’m not getting any younger, and any other cliché I can come up with.

To be more organized and pull off the impossible I have started working from a calendar with a list of deadlines. This has helped me focus on the more ‘urgent’ pieces. I am working with two types of deadlines, the real ones and the ones set by me for myself; so far this is working well. Mind you as disorganised as I can be I have never not got something finished on time.

However I still have a studio overflowing with projects… so… if you come for a visit just call out over the loud music to get my attention.

Cheers

Jacque

Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)

When an artist or writer is finished working on a project and reveals it to the public eye for the first time, it is like showing off a new baby. It is something precious; it is a part of them.
For many artistic people these projects have been a part of their lives, holding their attention for months if not years.

It’s a funny thing, unlike the human baby, multiple of these babies can be carried together, at the same time, floating around in the same womb but they are birthed individually, months and years apart.

As I have mentioned in previous posts I am working on several picture books, a novel, two non-fiction books and I manage to keep several galleries full of art work. Most times I don’t know if I’m Arthur or Martha. I have to keep an up to date calendar full of deadlines, writers’ festivals, art competitions and exhibitions and of course workshops I either attend or hold. Occasionally I have managed to give birth to twins.

Speaking of children, my parents are visiting at the moment. I love having them, but they can be a little distracting to my work, even when they try not to be. In fact the more they try to be helpful the more distracting they can be. I told my Mother the other day – ‘Even if I am sitting still with a far away look in my eyes … I am working’. She thought I was kidding. I have resigned myself to enjoy and make the most of what time they can spend with me and my children and catch up when they head home.

So I will stay pregnant with my projects for a little longer. I hope I don’t get too many stretch marks.

cheers

Jacque

Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)

Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Vestibulum tortor quam, feugiat vitae, ultricies eget, tempor sit amet, ante. Donec eu libero sit amet quam egestas semper. Aenean ultricies mi vitae est. Mauris placerat eleifend leo. Quisque sit amet est et sapien ullamcorper pharetra. Vestibulum erat wisi, condimentum sed, commodo vitae, ornare sit amet, wisi. Aenean fermentum, elit eget tincidunt condimentum, eros ipsum rutrum orci, sagittis tempus lacus enim ac dui. Donec non enim in turpis pulvinar facilisis. Ut felis.

Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Vestibulum tortor quam, feugiat vitae, ultricies eget, tempor sit amet, ante. Donec eu libero sit amet quam egestas semper. Aenean ultricies mi vitae est. Mauris placerat eleifend leo. Quisque sit amet est et sapien ullamcorper pharetra. Vestibulum erat wisi, condimentum sed, commodo vitae, ornare sit amet, wisi. Aenean fermentum, elit eget tincidunt condimentum, eros ipsum rutrum orci, sagittis tempus lacus enim ac dui. Donec non enim in turpis pulvinar facilisis. Ut felis.

Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Vestibulum tortor quam, feugiat vitae, ultricies eget, tempor sit amet, ante. Donec eu libero sit amet quam egestas semper. Aenean ultricies mi vitae est. Mauris placerat eleifend leo. Quisque sit amet est et sapien ullamcorper pharetra. Vestibulum erat wisi, condimentum sed, commodo vitae, ornare sit amet, wisi. Aenean fermentum, elit eget tincidunt condimentum, eros ipsum rutrum orci, sagittis tempus lacus enim ac dui. Donec non enim in turpis pulvinar facilisis. Ut felis.

Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)

How excited do get when you happen across something you find irresistible?

Everyone must have something they get excited about surely. Weather it’s the latest fast motorcar, favorite sporting team, a stash of chocolate, a fishing tackle store or a yearly sale. I surprised myself yesterday and it wasn’t till I was lying in bed last night did I understand what had happened.

I came across a new store, nothing too exciting there. Though, as soon as I looked in the window I caught my breath, I think I was almost shaking … could that be what quivering with desire is? Now don’t you get too excited, it may not be what you think.

My response to what this store held was powerful. Other than the quivering, I found myself driven to enter the store in a special way … I made sure I slowly entered through the centre of the doorway, I even had my hands splayed out as if to reach out and encompass all the store had to offer. I was absorbing all that was around me drinking it in trying not to miss anything. The customers already in the store were my instant enemies (they had better not take what I want). After I was inside, I systematically covered the store; I didn’t want to overlook anything.

This reaction was something I had no control over. It has happened before, in my defense, not very often. Sure I have been happy and even excited before to enter a similar shop, why this reaction this time, I’m not sure.

Do you want to know what was in this store that got me so worked up? Yes? OK. I’ll tell you … it was paper. Yup, that’s right paper. I have a paper fetish… it doesn’t matter what kind really. Anything that can be used to draw on, write on, use for art projects, fold, can do it for me. If it comes in the form of a decorated note pad or a novel for me to enjoy all the better. I have a collection of pens and pencils too. I have a gorgeous blown glass pen bought in Rome, all the way through to very well used lead pencil (actually graphite) that could be one of the first made by Faber Castell.

In fact if I opened up my collection for sale – eek don’t even think that – ah, I just can’t go on. Scrub out that last line … let’s just say I love my pencils and paper and leave it at that shall we.

Cheers

Jacque

Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)