Deadline Monsters

Texas Clinic grid painting, 120" x 60", in progress

I'm scared of a deadline. But it's a healthy fear that completely motivates me. Over the years I have found that lacking a deadline I don't do much. These days I'm in overdrive. I really did not fully grasp how long printing these 900+ images would take. I was up at 4:15 this morning changing paper in one of the printers. I still don't know if I'll make the deadline. These are big images and take almost 20 minutes to print one. That means 8 12 hour days for the batch! I'm running the printer longer than that, but still it takes time to tally, to change ink and paper, to pack, etc. I decided not to sign them just because I didn't want to spend the time to do it.

I do feel like the printing is under control, though, and I'm back to the studio painting. The picture above shows the progress of the grid painting for Texas Clinic. I usually design these paintings digitally, make a printout, then change things as I feel it. I've marked off the grids, and started underpainting. Since this painting is already finished in my mind I'm relaxed and enjoying the process.

Got a call from the framer yesterday and everything for the solo show is completed, so that's off my mind, too. I install Oct 2 and the show runs through Nov5 at the Smith Art Gallery and Scott and White hospital in Temple, TX.

Where's the Motivation?

I'm home!

It's good to be here, and after being away for almost two weeks, I was ready. I have a head (and sketchbook) full of ideas, my studio is clean and ready, yet I'm a zombie!

I've gone through all the mail, snail and "e".

I dragged myself to the studio and gessoed a couple canvases, but that's about it.

sigh

Maybe tomorrow!

In the meantime, read Karen's account of her time in Santa Fe.