Procrastination we all do it, me better than most and I love to not admit to procrastination by justifying that I am putting off the important task by doing other minor but still important tasks. Cleaning is my favorite way to procrastinate which is good as we have 8 fur babies running around here and they love to shed and spit hairballs on things I love.
Lately though I find myself procrastinating on making new work, which is something I almost never do, it’s more likely I do ceramics to get out of something like say mowing the lawn. But I think I know why, for my recent show in December I was able to unveil what I consider to be my Greatest Sculpture Ever. Not the Greatest Sculpture To Date but the Greatest Ever. I made a chess set but it was so much more than a chess set. Really it was 32 sculptures that came together to make one large statement. Each piece, even the pawns, was different. It was an enormous amount of work and one of the only things I have ever made that makes me sit back and say, yeah I'm damn good. But now I feel it’s my opus, my swan song and I can’t get around it. I wanted so badly to start my dogs playing poker piece last week but instead messed around with my etsy page. The Greatest Sculpture Ever now looms over me, what can stand up to it? Should I start an “I have made my Greatest Sculpture Ever” support group?
I realize I am young and have many sculptures yet to come and hopefully someday the Greatest Sculpture Ever will be dethroned by the Even Better Greatest Sculpture Ever. In the meantime I will take this mental block for what it is and not force myself around it. Perhaps it’s my brain telling me I need a break and time to recuperate after a busy year and completion of the G.S.E. I am hoping to use this time to become more introspective in my work so everything I make can become my G.S.E. Its times like these that I also take time to make little things like ornaments and magnets to keep those art muscles sharp, so when it comes time to get back to work (soon I hope) I can flex my art guns, knock the G.S.E. off its throne and start the E.B.G.S.E! Until then support group meets Thursday I’ll bring the doughnuts!
While that is an absolutely fantastic piece of work, I see no reason to limit yourself!! Give yourself some downtime and then move on and I'm sure you'll find yourself making the EBGSE someday.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jerry:) Actually writing about it made me feel better and I think for right now I am just going to let myself be, I cant stay away from clay for long!
ReplyDeleteI completely understand feeling like you outdid yourself, that sculpture is amazing, but the way you are growing it won't be long before you are saying another sculpture is your greatest ever. I agree with Jerry--just give yourself some time to build up the energy again, it will happen.
ReplyDelete