Comments on: Homemakers have an artistic advantage?

By: pNielsen

pNielsen — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:47:39 +0000

Having to make those kinds of choices is part of what makes adulthood icky IMO, but we can’t do everything we want to, most of us, unless our interests are few and very specific.

By: Sarah Hempel Irani

Sarah Hempel Irani — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:57:50 +0000

Unfortunately, the number of professional female artists is staggeringly small, especially among those who stay home with children. I have the luxury right now, but we don’t have children yet. Once our baby is in the home, I don’t know that I’ll be getting any artwork done.

I’ve had male artists comment that it’s a shame that I’m choosing to be a mom instead of a 100% full-time sculptor. It’s a shame that I have to make that choice. Do I choose my vocation as an artist over my vocation of a mother?

By: pNielsen

pNielsen — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:34:52 +0000

Working as an architect is just grinding it out Julie? Some days I’m sure it is, but I’m surprised to hear you say that. Probably just looking at the profession I bypassed through rose-colored glasses though . . .

By: suburbanlife

suburbanlife — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:26:28 +0000

aclose friend worked as a stay at home father from his boys’early years. At the same time, he served as a caregiver for his Mother-in-Law who was suffering with Alzheimers. His days were taken up with his family work, and he burned the candle at the other end by being in his studio until late at night, and got by with scant sleep. On days when his wife was at home, he withdrew into the studio, locked himself in and immersed himself in his painting. He mounted four exhibitions of his work during this time. Since his sons have grown up and left the family home he returned to working at his design business during the week, and entrenched in his habit of doing late-night work for so many years has kept up making art. His recent work is both tremendously developed and daring for a man of his years – he is stretching and extending his boundaries and is producing the best work of his life so far, in my opinion.
Whether one works outside the home or inside the home, the only thing that guarantess growth and development as an artist is the habitual blowing on the coals, by committed work and time to the process – this takes self-discipline and putting down the devils of self-doubt and discouragement. G

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:38:43 +0000

Good thoughts. I’ve considered, too, that a day might come where I might do art full-time, not because I can support myself, but because my husband and myself can support us. Not sure how I feel about that, and would love for my art to support me. As it is, I grind through my own day job.

Art is becoming, or has become, luxury rather than necessity. And with art and music programs disappearing from schools… will be interesting to see how and when people discover their creativity, and what happens then.