An Artist’s Life, Part III

Like any job, being an artist has its share of procrastination. My work pattern was always predictable: stress goes up, I produce… stress goes down, I screw around.

This pattern hasn’t varied with my career change. I’ll confess that I spent a few days in the studio where I didn’t do anything especially productive. Moreover, the solitary aspect is a little unmotivating. According to some online Myers-Briggs test, I’m an ENFP (see, now you know the sorts of things I do when I am procrastinating!) which means I prefer being around people.

My deadline is September to produce a series of 20 “smalls”. These are canvases all under 12″. I can knock off one in a day or two, especially if it’s a repeat of one of my larger ones. I prefer the big canvases – they are just more impressive, not to mention I hate having to pull out my glasses and tiny rigger brushes to paint a tree.

But I’ve realized one thing: painting tinyish pictures all by my lonesome in a kiln-heated studio in the summer? It is fucking work. Maybe I will take up Project Management as a hobby.

(I know, I know: I *still* need to write that %$#@ business plan)