How did I get so busy? Leaving the corporate world behind and becoming a full time artist was suppose to open up all kinds of time. Time to create, time to build, time to experiment and time for my family. But somehow, the work has expanded to fill the hours until I am more busy (and more physically tired) than I have been in years.

In a way it feels like when we had our children in the house. Every day was a whirlwind of activity and it seemed like you just got up but it is actually time for bed. Then, it was time to get up when you could have used a few more hours of sleep.

I think the parallels are accurate. When you are raising a family you are engaging in the most demanding creative process possible. The future is riding on how well you nurture those children and on how well you develop their values and abilities. Making art is the same process, thankfully with lower stakes. Can you capture the vision in your mind? Will your pieces do good in the world; will they bring joy to others? Is your vision shared by others or will you have to go it alone?

Of course, there is also the nagging question of whether you would be better off just getting a “real” job again! So far, the answer is “no” and I’ll keep working away!

The print above is a gold chloride salt print. The negative is 35mm film and I took it a few Winters ago. Even in the deepest frosty Winter new buds are ready for a return of Spring. It is a hopeful image and will be one of the prints I have for sale at Appleton’s Art in The Park in July.

See more Salt Prints or my current Portfolio

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