I’ve been reading everyone’s time plans for their art during this project. They range from 1.5 hours a day to 6 hours, from early in the morning to late at night. Some people were quite specific, and some were vague.
Turquoise Window World by Suzanne Edminster, 24″ x 24″, acrylic on canvas. This is my idea of kairos time, the time when two worlds intersect.
I’m a lark, an early bird, a biological gift or curse, depending upon whom you ask. My own art time will run from around 6AM to 10AM, followed by a swimming lesson in the neighborhood pool. Here’s my newest idea. If I wish to “earn” more time, I will go back to the studio after that. If I do more hours, I’ll credit them up until I reach 8 hours, then I’d like to take a day off to go into San Francisco for a gallery and museum day, or into Berkeley for art supplies, books, and to visit my friend. That’s my plan.
We chose this logo of a spiral clock to represent infinitely expanding time, Kairos or Caerus time, which is sacred time: time for our art. Still, this time exists in a structure of the everyday. The other kind of time is Chronos, or Saturnian time, limits and boundaries. The two coexist, two templates placed over each other, two movies run in the same theater of our lives. Is the show a comedy or tragedy? Probably a bit of both.
Thanks to Karina Nishi Marcus, I found an excellent book on time. It’s called Creating Time: Using Creativity to Reinvent the Clock and Reclaim Your Life, by Marney K. Makridakis. Her idea is that we actually create time, or our experience of time, which is the same thing. Brilliant. She has a chapter on Kairos time. I’ll be sharing more of her concepts as we go along.
My newest Art Blog Saltworkstudio post includes 5 of my own tips on making time for art. Would you share your own schedule for artmaking during the Caerus Artist Residency? What are your pearls of wisdom on making time for art ?
I think I’ve spent enough time online for now, but that’s another loaded time topic!
Caerus Art Residency 
Time and money both seem to be taboo subjects in the world of artmaking. Suzanne
Ah, the twisted nature of time — both linear lines and cyclical tidal flows…..We have to both make use time and create time simulaneously in our studios…..Nishi
From Lauri Luck’s journal:
July 4th –
Sally the dog and I took a relaxing walk along the Rodota trail and then got into the studio by 11. Very quiet – no one else on the property. Painted till 2 but thought I would go a bit more so I was shocked when next I looked at the clock and found it was after 5! Here is the piece I have been working on – Rocky Point Run. Some of the images pre-date the Residency but thought the progression might be of interest. The piece has come close to completion several times over the past couple of days but each time I have managed to kill it instead – hopefully when I go in today I will be able to resurrect it again.
We’ll get all your images into the guest post. They’re beautiful….
Another from Lauri Luck.
July 5th –
No dogs today so went straight to the studio. Painted for 4 hours during which time I once again resurrected – and killed – Rocky Point Run – maybe better luck tomorrow. As disappointing as it is to see a painting I’ve worked on so long crash and burn it helps that I always work on more than one piece at a time so I immediately shifted over to my new piece – Pink Towels – which kept me from dwelling on what was lost and gave me something to do. I began this piece as an upbeat counter to the quieter Rocky Point Run – help keep the energy bouncing along.
Lauri Luck will be a guest blogger featured next week with her cool art journal and painting photos! Stay tuned.
Lauri, how do you deal with killing and resurrecting paintings? I seem to be better at the former than the latter.
Killing a painting is part of the process and progress – and totally unavoidable. After being killed and resurrected a painting is often better for it – but even knowing that doesn’t makes it’s death any less devastating. Especially as the piece gets closer to completion it seems easier to have it slide out from under me – a prospect made more “frighting” because of all the hours and effort invested. So to screw up my courage and step forward without hesitation or fear I think on the phrase that is attributed to Crazy Horse before the Battle of the Little Big Horn, who said – “Let’s do this, today is a good day to die!”
Every day I go into my studio and face off with my work – if I am not willing to let it die in my attempt to make it the best painting possible – then I’m not doing my job.
Lauri! So good to hear your artistic experiences.How is your new studio? Inquiring minds want to know……Nishi
Lauri, that is so eloquent. Yes, “Today is a good day to die.” We are going to post “Vernal Pool” in your next post. Thanks for sharing the frustrating side of this grand enterprise of artmaking. So many seem to think it’s effortless! Suzanne
I have a question. Where do we post our journey thoughts and pictures? Here? I am looking for Lauri’s photos and don’t see them. Do we have our own pages or do we all share together here?
Looking forward. Fluffing my nest. This will be the first time painting in the new studio space………JR
JR — Please check out today’s guest blog post from Lauri Luck. There is a fantastic slide show of the progress of her painting there! …Nishi