A Cautionary Tale About Generosity and Biting Off More Than You Can Chew.
About 4 years ago the New York Foundation for the Arts commissioned several of its former Fellowship recipients to create editions of 10 small “Objects d’Art” to be gifted to the attendees at their Spring Benefit.
Since I'm a huge fan of what NYFA does for artists, I was thrilled to be able to help them raise programming funds by creating a series of small Artist Books for the occasion.
I created Houses Tell Stories from
10 palm-sized jewelry boxes. Inside each box was an image of a house. Inside
the lid of each box was a corresponding photograph of the woman who lived in
that house.
Each jewelry box housed an accordion style booklet with a story, divided into several chapters, about different time periods and events in each woman’s life.
Each jewelry box housed an accordion style booklet with a story, divided into several chapters, about different time periods and events in each woman’s life.
In the end the project turned out beautifully. That said, what I thought would be a two day project turned into a three day nightmare.
Perhaps nightmare is a strong word, but the project really ended up pushing the limits of my own patience. I liken the whole process to doing major renovations on an old house-- Once you actually begin, you run into plenty of hiccups and little surprises that
slow you down or force you to change direction entirely.
Over the course of those 3 days I learned two very important things:
1. Art-making is death to a fresh manicure.
2. I needed to get a lot smarter about budgeting my time so I wouldn't be consistently biting off more than I could chew.
Here's the thing: One of the the things I love about artists it that the ones I meet are big-hearted and generous with their time. Perhaps too generous.
Often our creative energy and generous natures lead us to take on too many projects at once. We end up being the cause of our own frustration.
I too am a big believer in giving, but over the years I have learned that I cannot give at the expense of my health, sanity, or over-all quality of life.
And some stuff, you'll just have to say "no" to.
Do you have a story about a time you bit off more than you could chew?
How have you learned to budget your time wisely?
Share your thoughts/stories/experiences in the comments section.
Over the course of those 3 days I learned two very important things:
1. Art-making is death to a fresh manicure.
2. I needed to get a lot smarter about budgeting my time so I wouldn't be consistently biting off more than I could chew.
Here's the thing: One of the the things I love about artists it that the ones I meet are big-hearted and generous with their time. Perhaps too generous.
Often our creative energy and generous natures lead us to take on too many projects at once. We end up being the cause of our own frustration.
I too am a big believer in giving, but over the years I have learned that I cannot give at the expense of my health, sanity, or over-all quality of life.
And some stuff, you'll just have to say "no" to.
Do you have a story about a time you bit off more than you could chew?
How have you learned to budget your time wisely?
Share your thoughts/stories/experiences in the comments section.
BIG Love,
-Kesha★
-Kesha★
Good story and a great heads up on this subject. I have not run into any problems yet as I am not a full time artist, but I know of artist that do bite of more than they can chew. Thank you for the advice.
ReplyDeleteYour project is wonderful...what a lovely work you did. And I am just loving that manicured thumb! :)
Glad you found my experience useful Lisa.
DeleteAbout the manicure: I really should have taken a picture of the front of my hand. A complete mess! I should have been wearing latex or nitrile gloves.
Lessons learned!