Please excuse my silence this week. I have a back that has gone into spasm…very ouchy and not quite recovered yet. As with all these things, you have to choose your attitude. I have been tempted to feel very sorry for myself as its been quite debilitating (not being able to put your own socks on let alone getting the kids dressed!) but I let that temptation pass and decided instead to tackle a lot of organisational projects around the house that had been neglected due to my immersion in the big mosaic commission which finished last week.
As part of my tidying and sorting, I came accross a document I wrote about 10 years ago, when I set up my Organisational Training and Consultancy business. I was so thorough…market needs analysis, clear list of products that related to my areas of skill and interest, marketing plan etc… There I sat, reading this document and I thought, “why am I not taking the same approach with my art”? Now, I know that for us lucky makers, work is play and I certainly don’t want to be too ‘serious’ about my art. But I do want to take it seriously and give it the attention it needs to flourish into the possibilities that are there, waiting for my nudge, my direction, my intention. I realise that art, as a line of work, still needs to be nurtured, structured, planned and administrated if it is to grow (as we all know when tax return time comes knocking!).
One thing led to another…the fermentation of many thoughts going round my head as a result of Kelly Rae’s Flying Lessons, the accidental stumbling upon this document… And so, after more than one year of going ‘pro’ with my art… ladies and gentlemen… (drum roll)…I have finally…. set up my office space! Yup, a desk, a printer, a special place to put all the bits of paper associated with my art, categorized so they are easy to find. A place to keep the inspirations and ideas to hand and in sight. A place to jot the things that need doing. Pictures of my beautiful family on the desk. A stapler…
I know, I know…for many, this act of setting up an office is not worthy of a fanfare. But for me, it is a huge, HUGE event that marks a transition, a mental shift. You see, 18 months ago, I chose to give up a career in social work, advocacy and training that I had spent 20 years building. I have never been without a ‘professional’ office space to work from. Leaving my hard built career was a scary, risky process for me (more about that another day). For now, its enough to say that the arrival of my creative business office space heralds the completion of that transition from social worker to artist. A letting go of all that was good from the last 20 years and a big, proper, unabashed HELLO to this new path, these new possibilities. I am happy, proud, excited and…eeek…I want to tell someone, show someone! So here you are…thanks for listening 😉
Yay you!! It looks great, bet it feels great, too!
I am sooooo excited for you, it is symbolic, promising, and so exciting and I really understand. It's the kind of thing I would want to tell some-one about too – she says typing away under the stairs (in my home office) whilst the footie is on behind me and in the middle of the living room – he he 🙂
Amelia.x
Hi! Glad to read your comment in Flying Lessons today. I am so delighted to hear stories ;like yours. Congratulations on your decision for a creative business. It is a wonderful experience. I am an Industrial Engineer and was a management and organizational professor. Now I love my life in a creative business. I am a ceramist but now i am trying collage painting. Its a dream come true thanks to Kelly's wonderful book. I love mosaic work. I made some on my terrace bar. My career and business is in ceramics. Hope you are enjoying Kelly's course as I am. Please feel free to contact me. Ypu can know more in my blog. I am new at this but I will keep improving my skills writing. "Enjoy the Ride" as mom and as a creative entrepreneur.
Wow, well done!! I love your new work area and it certainly looks like you mean 'business' – very professional. I did the same a few months ago when I realised that I wasn't approaching my new life in the same 'organised' way as I had done in my previous 'career'. But, to be honest, it took me a good 18 month to even accept the idea that I'd actually moved on (I used to be a primary school teacher)
Anyway, this is sent with big big hugs: not only in the hope that your back is now feeling much better but also in wishing you much joy as you 'fly' into your creative biz dreams! Go girl!!!
Yay! Definitely the right attitude! I "grieved" when I gave up my career as a floral designer but that space left me open for new experiments, new ideas and new opportunities. I can't wait to watch you take off. 🙂
I'm a fellow flyer and now I'm also following your blog! I would also need to get more organized and have a small home office…
Love
Bea
Concetta your new work pace looks super…and so organised. you will enjoy being in there. Look after your back when you are working and make sure the height is right for you. sometimes, just taking off your shoes to prevent yourself from stooping will hel…stooping is one of the worst things for your back….(I gave up home nursing a long time ago for same reason)
Best wishes to you
moira
Concetta,
Wonderful news on the office! So sorry to hear about your back! And so great to hear about Disney. love that mag. Hope that is o.k. to mention.
xo,
dana
Yes, setting up ur office space is such a big and empowering deal! When I converted out guest bedroom into my stdio it made me feel like a legitimate songwriter. Congrats. Speedy recovery to u!
Concetta, wow so exciting for you!! Your new office space is SO worthy of fanfare! love seeing photos of your new space, and totally loving the hanging lists! your mosaic work is amazing… so nice to meet you through flying lessons 🙂
HUGE!!! Way to go, Concetta! It's a big step…and very concrete one. And now it's official, and there's no turning back! I'm excited for this new step in your art biz 🙂
Congratulations, Concetta! That's great news and your office space really does look lovely. And I think you're very much entitled to be taking your art that seriously. Well done!
I think that's a great accomplishment. It's physical, but also symbolic. We can't diminish the impact a symbolic step has in our lives. We're hoping to start a home addition in two weeks, and my art table will be expanded to a whole room! I just can't even imagine how great that will be.
Setting up an office space is a BIG deal! It looks really GREAT! I am so excited! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to yoU!
Enjoy expanding into your new art space Suzanne – how exciting!