There are some activities in life that, while we are in the midst of them, all we can think is that we wish we were done with them. Cleaning the bathroom is one such activity. While in the middle of scrubbing the toilet I wish I were completely finished with the whole job and didn't have to think on it another moment. There are other activities that we do rather mindlessly, not giving any particular thought to. I'm one of the really weird people on the planet that likes to do ironing; not because I like it, but I find it relaxing and I watch movies as the laundry basket empties and the number of hangers hanging from the bedroom door frame grows. I don't really find ironing fun in and of itself...it's just that I don't mind it.
I am an artist who loves every part of the artistic process. The entire process of producing the work is fun and pleasurable. I like the initial design development. I like the sketching and drawing and color mapping. The following steps of choosing basic support, media, materials and tools is also interesting and fun. There are so many choices to make, so many directions one could take. Once the path is laid out, I like the doing of the work. In the case of my mosaic work, I'm greatly enjoying "painting" with these tiny tiles. It takes hours of work to place these bits of ceramic. Each one requires thought...it's not just "paint by number." Hours go by and I find I'm not tired...oh, my back is tired and my eyes are strained and my fingers are sore from holding the tweezers and my thumb is coated with glue...but I'm not tired. My inner self is nourished and delighted in and by the whole process.
In the case of this mandala tree-themed design, I first executed it in a sketch book using crayons. I love the versatility of everyday crayons to do the work of initial color mapping. Although I don't endorse products, I do favor Crayola Crayons. I love fresh new ones...I'll buy a new box of 72 or more every couple of months. I don't use any of the "fancy" ones...just the same old everyday 'crans I used as a kid.
The next stage of a project like this is to sketch it out life-size. Doesn't matter what the project is, I do a life-size sketch for several reasons - to work out design issues that don't show up in the small size initial design; to refine the color mapping. I've done painting projects that were 60"x30" and still did a life-size sketch first.
In working with mosaic materials, the placement of each and every piece - whether it be ceramic tile, stained glass fragment or bead - requires a thoughtful decision: do I use the larger or smaller? Do I use the main color or the accent? Do I turn the tile on the diagonal or square it with the previously placed tile? Each decision contributes to the artistic process.
There are a lot of people in this world who work at jobs at which they derive no pleasure. Work for them is just that - work. As an artist whose job and business is her art, I have the utter joy of having a j.o.b. from which I derive much pleasure.
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