Work-in-progress: close to this month's finish line

This year, Presidents' Day holiday is going down in my personal history as the first one in which I found it easier than usual to get into the studio.

I accomplished the above progress in a day, setting aside an earlier image that didn't work for the niche.  It might not look like I got a lot done, but the thing is... I got it done with hardly any interruptions -- while the kids were home, and awake. (I know... I'm still stunned myself)  While they're busy elsewhere, today I have:

• picked up candleholders from Goodwill for a piece I'll work on next month
• scoured my usual sources to replace a washboard that was too small (found one on Craigslist)
• started laundry, which may or may not get folded

Will tomorrow be as productive, after I get home from the day job? Probably not, but I do have some things I can work on that don't require as much running around. And if no artwork happens later tonight... there's always laundry.  

Making art: Night time is the right time

I've almost finished three altered books during the first month of my Great Mystery Project. And as I expected, I'm back to creating at the end of the day to get things done. 

Back when my kids were babies, late night was the best time to work. They were (thank God) good sleepers. Now that I have a day job, I have to seize the early evening or late afternoons to work. Meanwhile, TwoBoo is at an afterschool program he loves, and The Boy can be trusted to work quietly in another room. I don't go to my studio itself as much. It's a bit creepy going to a mostly-empty building by myself at 9pm, after the kids are in bed.

So I bring smallish tasks home, and wait until the weekend for in-studio time. I'll show you preliminary results of January's work next week -- but it may have to wait until everyone is asleep.

Getting schooled, part two

First week at the day job: done! Getting used to the new routine... well, that's still a work-in-progress.

The view on the way to work. Credit: Lisa Myers Bulmash

The morning routine has actually improved... The Boy now prefers to take the school bus, so he's out the door around the time TwoBoo wakes up. I get to spend a few minutes just hanging out with TwoBoo before school.

And I don't have to hunt for parking because I'm taking the bus... but it's taking some practice to find the right one.

No worries, though: My job is flexible enough for me to concentrate on next Tuesday's Artist Trust At Large presentation. (If you haven't already done so, register here.)

And today was a STUDIO DAY! Feeling like I'm on the right road.