Tag: too many pies

There’s been a little complication with my complication

‘There’s been a little complication with my complication’—a line from my favourite movie Brazil—describes how things are at the moment.  I haven’t been here (at artistpractice) for a while. Our renovations meant that my studio was under siege for months. I have only just managed to get it back in order to work in there.

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Studio reset/refreshed!

While I was unable to paint I knitted up a storm—blankets, beanies, scarves, cowls—and my knits went crazy for stripes, chevrons and plaid.

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I am completely mad for plaid (Japanese schoolkids sporting plaid). Image by rumple teaser

I thought more about my ‘Finger in too many pies’ problem and realised that it isn’t going away so I started a new blog at toomanypies.com (starting a new blog to solve the issue of always looking for ‘new’ makes sense doesn’t it?). Yes, to me it makes sense to move all my other pies [the knitting, stuff about daily life, philosophical ponderings, the politics, and the gripes about education] to another place so that this blog just concentrates on artmaking practice—mine and others’.

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Love you to visit my new blog!

Speaking of artmaking practice, I was inspired by my clever nephew to think about doing some writing about the practice of other artists. My nephew has just recently done his HSC and we did some work together ahead of his visual arts exam. I haven’t taught this particular syllabus but the level of language and conceptual understanding of artmaking practice required of students was fascinating to me. I thought it would be interesting to do some blog posts here that look at the material and conceptual practice of artists.

So back to my statement ‘there’s been a little complication with my complication’. My own artmaking hasn’t diminished, I have just stepped sideways and have been exploring image-making and materials in a different way for a little while. I can now embrace the craziness of the runaway lateral thoughts.

I can deal simultaneously with multiple needy ideas. I’ve always thought that there has to be a connection between all these interests and explorations and ideas. There may well be some beauty in this intricate weave.

No more pies!

shorten-pie

Previously I’ve written about having my finger[s] in too many pies. I’m now asking myself why that is so, whether it is a good or a bad thing, and what to do about it.

Too many pies: why is it so?

When I was working for the government to earn a living, I was very focused on my job. There was always too much to do then (balancing work and home life). And I tended to jump into opportunities to take on more and more work projects, so the pattern was always there.

Now I’m ‘retired’ I suddenly have the opportunity to do other things; creative things, domestic things, political things.

Anything and everything takes my interest (pretty much). So I’m finding plenty to do, see, contemplate and critique.

Is it a good thing or a bad thing?

If I have a lifelong pattern of taking on ‘too much’, what are the pros and cons? On the one hand, I’m never bored; on the other hand I have occasional FOMO. On the one, I’m learning about so many things that I knew nothing about; on the other, I can’t finish or resolve everything I start. One, I’m in a perpetual state of excitement from all the stimuli; other, potential adrenal exhaustion!

What to do about it?

That’s the question. I need to be very organised and to have some clear long-term goals. Goals that focus time and energy and interests. Goals that recognise and further support relationships between the pies.

Apple-pie order

Perhaps I start by working on apple-pie order. But then, what about the pecan, pork and pumpkin; the blackberry, blueberry and boysenberry, the key lime and kuchen; not to mention the cream and custard?

I wonder what fish-pie order would look like?

 

Image  One way to shorten pie. The best way to shorten pie. Cottolene, white, pure, wholesome. [front] by Boston Public Library, CC-BY-2.0