Support

Out West

Although I frequently steal time, often my husband gives it to me as a gift.  "I've got the dishes tonight. You go downstairs to your clay," he often says.  "Do you want me to put her to bed so you can keep working?"  These blessed moments continue when he gives me the gift of a morning or afternoon when he takes our kids out so I can have a quiet house in which to work.  After we had children, we learned quickly that when one of is busy, both of us are busy. When one of us has a commitment that takes us away from our family, the other has to fill in. 

Professor Joyce Owens once told me creative people need someone supportive to be able to do their art.  I am grateful for my support, my best friend, my husband. 

Do you have anything to smash?

My smaller child has a kind, nurturing soul. She's extremely helpful and was excited a few months ago when, after she offered her help, I asked her to break down a large bone dry pot. I handed her a hammer and she delighted in smashing the pot. She absolutely giggled when I poured water over the dry clay pieces and it hissed and bubbled. She thought it was so cool! Now I delight in seeing the dissonance of her big, kind eyes smile as she continually asks me, "do you have anything I can smash?"

Stealing time

Most moms can attest that so much of what we do is on the fly. You answer an email while you're waiting for your kids. You throw the laundry in the washer before one errand so you can get them into the dryer before your next errand. I'm even writing this blog post in the broken minutes I have while I'm waiting for my daughter shop for clothes. This is something I refer to as stealing time. I steal a possibly wasted minute here, a possibly wasted moment there, and next thing you know, I have a completed task that leads to a completed goal.

Sometimes my clay time feels that way. I steal an hour after dinner and before the kids' bedtime routines to trim almost a dozen cups. I wake up early on a Saturday to steal hours before the family wakes up so I can throw some pots.

It's a struggle to find time to be creative. Often life's obligations get in the way. But it's sad to me when talented people say they don't have time for their art.  I think it's a matter of want and making art a priority. I never want to say I don't have time to be creative. I can't tell the difference between not having time, not making it a priority, and when it's just not important.

Art is as important as keeping one's soul centered and shouldn't be minimized by not finding the time to do it.