Three months on the Wild side

It’s week 13 of my 3 month intensive residency in my studio which means life as I have become accustomed to is coming to an end. Or is it a new beginning?  This week I head back into the world that is conservation management or did I not actually leave? 

One thing I do know is that time is hurling me back into the world of straddling - straddling being an employee with being a mum, a director of an artist run initiative and of course being an artist too.  I’ll be heading back into the realm of trying to figure out in first light of the day – my waking moment, who am I and ‘which bag do I take today’? Can I just walk up the slope to my studio?

So what rings true and what have I learnt from this focused journey of the last 3 months.  Well, my family is no. 1 and relationships are really important to me, one step in front of the other creates a path, Nim doesn’t cope with eating foil, quick loose lines work well for me as does warm deep shadows, one moment actually most moments making art is excruciatingly hard but then the next it’s breezily easy and a joy – you’ve just got to keep turning up and I feel driven to turn up, looking after our land, the land that supports us is at my core, snakes don’t freak me out but anxiety does (did I make the best decision in the context – what if I look at it from that other angle?), in working towards this exhibition for every day in the studio, there was half a day spent on research, administration and business management outside of the studio (revealed by the spreadsheet - it’s just what happened), an ethical and simple life is a good life but once again I managed to neglect the veggie patch (even with so many hours at home), and I feel so privileged by being well buoyed by an awesome, warm and supportive community (cheers you). 

So will I keep up with this weekly blog – don’t know?  As with everything time will tell. But I have felt it has helped me stay the course and be accountable in the absence of those helpful beings that are managers (found in that other world).

The other thing is, I think if you’re lucky enough to have a passion and you’ve got something to share, it’s worth giving it a good crack.

If you haven’t already and want to check out my work, WILD is at Cowra Regional Art Gallery until 24 April 2016.  There’s also some images of some of my work on my website http://www.nicmasonartist.com/gallery.html