Since I have two young kids, the first thing I needed to do was convince the grandparents to babysit for a week (thank you thank you thank you). Being gone that long is a big deal, so I had to explain to the kids what I was doing, and make sure they were ok with it. Luckily, they are pretty amazing. As my son says, I’m heading off to “summer camp for adults”. Still, this is the longest we’ll have been away from them, so it might be a little tough — on us at least.

I then had to make sure my business would be fine while I was gone: making sure my ketubah orders are completed, and getting all of my other projects finished or tied up. I’ll be bringing my work with me, but you never know how much time or attention you’ll have.

Finally, I needed to figure out what I was going to do at the resort: the style of work I’d be demonstrating and the equipment I’d need. This took some planning. When I photograph, I usually work in my studio, which is set up exactly the way I like it. But I couldn’t just pack up my whole studio! So I needed to figure out everything I needed to bring that would demonstrate my technique, while still making sure I could haul it across the country and back. I finally managed to streamline my tools down to a decent set, and squeeze them all in a Pelican case. This case is important because it can be used as a carry-on (I want to keep my stuff close), yet is tough enough to keep everything safe if it needs to be checked as luggage.

All of my equipment packed up and ready to go.

Part of me still wonders if I should just leave all the equipment behind — just bring the camera and a single lens, wander the gardens of Miraval, and see what happens. It’s not how I normally work, but it would be a fun challenge. But then I remember that the temperature in Tucson gets to 105°… and the thought of working indoors sounds much better! But we’ll see what inspires me when I get there.

This is definitely going to be a challenge. An interesting and fun experience, but a new challenge none-the-less. I’m used to being in a pretty controlled environment, and I’m not sure what will be waiting for me when I get there. Miraval has a space ready for me to work in, but I have no idea what it’s like: is there enough outlets for my computer and lights? Is there any natural light I can use? I also hope that I’ll be able to find some subjects to photograph around in their gardens, but you never know what you’ll find and be inspired by. (I’ll need to bring some subjects of my own, just in case.) Will anyone stop by to see me work? How will that feel (I’m used to working alone). It’s all a mystery that will soon be solved.

Wish me luck! Any if you are at Miraval next week, see you there!

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getting ready for my artist in residence

Today, the artist Lisa Call blogged about her plan to reschedule her time so that she can get in the studio more. I made a similar schedule for myself last year, but as plans shifted and workloads changed, that schedule disintegrated, and one of the first casualties making art everyday. As a small business owner, there’s always something (paying bills, doing marketing, sending emails) that feels like it is more important, more pressing.

But enough! I need to make more art. If not for my sanity, for my business — my business thrives on the art I create, and I need to make sure I carve enough time to create that product! I need to get tough on myself and bring back a daily schedule:

• 9am – 9:30: Give myself some time first thing in the AM to sort through new emails and review my schedule so I feel like I am in charge of my day.
• 9:30-10:30: Following Lisa’s lead, I think I am going to try to carve at least half-an-hour a day for planning and thinking. Reviewing my to-do list, thinking about my long term goals. Get my head on straight so I know where I am headed.
• 10:30 – ?: But after that I’m going to try to dedicate at least an hour to making new art. Remember, makinga art is not a luxury, it is a business necessity.

Right now this feels like a good plan. But we’ll see how this goes when reality sets in. It may get tough to maintain as my schedule gets busy in the summer, but I’m willing to try it out!I’m usually pretty bad about keeping schedules like this. But even just writing it down and pushing the idea out into the world might give me some motivation.

Follow my progress on twitter through the hashtag #arteveryday.

P.S. You should follow me on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

An hour of art a day

So, how to spend this bonus? At the end of your life, what will be the one thing you wish you had one extra second to spend on? For me it will be to just try, for one moment, to feel alive. To feel how my body fills the space around me, and how my mind cannot stop sensing and experiencing, even for this one, extra moment.

Happy New Year everyone. Enjoy your extra second of life.

P.S. You should follow me on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

leap second

But so far, I haven’t done anything with them. The economy crisis has loomed large, and instead of creating new art, I’ve been spending this time thinking about my art career. Reflecting on both my creative goals, and my fiscal responsibilities as a father. I’ve been trying to channel some of my creative energy in to new marketing efforts, to find new ways to make this odd-ball career I have chosen a little less unpredictable. Although at times I want to panic about what is happening, I keep reminding myself that now is the time to invest, in myself and my career. Now is the time to strengthen my business, so that when the economy finally, slowly crawls out of its slump, I’ll be ready. So instead of working in the studio, I’ve been at my desk. I’ve started to build a list of potential buyers, and slowly been reaching out to them. I’ve created a new marketing kit for my photography. And I’ve come up with some new ways to market my ketubahs that I am pretty excited about. But even in the midst of all this marketing, I have even found some time to create new art.

While outlining the next issue of my newsletter, I rediscovered a large backlog of photographs I had taken throughout the year, but had neglected to do anything with. So I have spent this week week in my digital darkroom, going through each photograph, separating the wheat from the chaff, and creating a new collection of work to show. It’s been an unexpected burst of creativity in the midst of a lot of business planning, and have given me some new artistic energy. Maybe soon I’ll finish my business planning, and can finally tackle that huge mound of leaves and acorns my son and I collected.

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the leaf hunt

Amen. Seriously, what else matters? It is too easy to get hung up on unimportant matters. I know that when my nose is to the grindstone, and I’m cranking out work, I can quickly lose perspective on the real reason I decided to make a career as an artist. I would clarify Yuroz’s terms though:

Create: This doesn’t mean create masterpieces. It doesn’t mean create award-winning work. It doesn’t mean create art that takes the art world by storm and propels you to worldwide fame. It means create, plain and simple. The goal is to be able to create something, anything, to use my mind and your hands to make something out of nothing. The specifics of what you create are secondary.

Support: Support doesn’t mean make tons of money. It doesn’t mean selling your work for tens of thousands of dollars. It doesn’t mean becoming a rockstar artist who jets into every art show trailing groupies and collectors. It means, simply enough, making enough money from your creativity to support your family. To have a comfortable and enjoyable life.

It is always good to remind myself that my goal as an artist is to support my family through my creativity — in whatever form that takes. If I can do this, I’ll be a success.

P.S. You should follow me on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

An artist’s obligation