All too often people think that being an artist is a care free, no stress, easy going way to make a living that just touches on being a serious, worthy occupation. Our office (our studios) can be visited, it seems, at any time of the week because we’re not really doing anything that requires a schedule or appointment. For us to close the gate three days a week creates more offense than respect of the need for us to protect our privacy in order to create the work we do.
A look behind the scenes, however, reveals many a stressful day that requires an artist to have the patience of Job and the resilience of an enlightened yoga master to avoid going nuts as the once neat and tidy living room—and dining room table—become staging grounds and work stations for weeks on end for an upcoming exhibition or the car breaks down in the middle of nowhere while on the way to Hobart to photograph the paintings for such an exhibition.
We actually took two cars (mine could only hold five of the seven paintings plus my own sculpture, “Birth of Beauty”) so, in a way, we were lucky as I was able to get to the photographer on time with most of the work while Sally limped back to Roaring Beach. Having left half an hour earlier, I had no idea that Sally’s car decided to call it quits until the kind waiter (this is Hobart where a “kind waiter” is not an oxymoron) at the restaurant we had agreed to meet at for breakfast handed me his mobile phone. It also happened to be a day when the temperature rose to 100 degrees on the drive home as I nervously transported $100,000 worth of uninsured art with all the windows rolled down.
All said and done, though, it still was a good day. The photographer, Peter Whyte, is a skilled master at documenting art work and it was a pleasure to watch him work. His $25,000 camera was needed to get the necessary 80mp for a future poster of “The Birth of Beauty” (see below) as well as fine art reproductions of the paintings. The two paintings that didn’t get photographed are being shot today as Peter was kind enough to reschedule Sally ahead of her exhibition opening this coming Sunday.
Now, with just five days to go there is only the house to get transformed with the living room tided up, the dining room table cleared of hammer, screw drivers, pliers, gold leaf, pots of glue, staple gun, electric drill various jars of varnish, shellac and thinners, and, the beds made up for visiting parents, relatives and friends flying in for the weekend to celebrate the launch of the Moonstone Mandala paintings. All this plus continually working on my own ideas for a site specific sculpture for the Friendly Beaches Lodge in less than a month.
Life’s a party if you’re an artist.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Filled with emotion and compassion reading this and unlike you Pete I do not live with another artist, Sally. My partner Phillip has no understanding for the pots of glue, screws, paint, paper, wood, and other found objets awaiting their transformation into works of creation on our own dining room table, and that leads to inevitable challenges. I collect things, he clears them away – I keep busy, he seeks peace and simplicity. And, somewhere between the time we spend together and apart we try to hold our love strong: Love -itself a constantly evolving work of art of sorts too frequently breaking down or being prepared for a human kiln of transmutation. Movement so essential as a life-force for us both – for all perhaps, any steps take u through this journey
As ever a beautiful site. Please remove my first comments , thoughts, and inspiration shared, triggered when acknowledging your work. Glad to have site of some magnificent new works of art – expressing as ever your close relationship with abundance of the land, and new harvests. Happy 2012 Peter Adams and family. Would be glad to connect with you regarding your work, works of art, and experience. I may be able to work in an community using permaculture, arts and crafts for employment generation, tree planting and other human and environmental opportunities ahead. Your BLOG is fabulous. I just wish to remove such a personal track shared on the web please! I have shared my email – please connect on gmail!
Actually – I like my comments. They are true. And while very personal, it does involve some courage to be in the world just as we are with all our vision and hope for transformation is the world. I am indeed healed and touched deeply, and challenged by art, and the diversity of responses to my being a creative being in the world. Peter I wish you a wonderful time at the Eselen Institute with a workshop that sounds just like a mirroring of my own life at present. Trusting life in its Abundance, even when all is threatened. Let the heart (mind) lead the path ahead. Sorry I have not visited your site since my first comment and today I am inspired by your peace path, your response to trees and children alike with a childlike sensitivity and commitment, your order and chaos of the slate and wooden vortex spiral, the protest of your perfect pebble head nestling boat people reminding us of our potential shared humanity -and our inhumanity! Thank you Peter for being in the world.