Painting, the loneliest profession?

[Michele Rushworth]

My studio is in my home. I have two teenage daughters. My husband works at home one day a week. I have an assistant who comes three days a week.

With all that going on, I truly love the days when it's just me in the studio!

I do know a landscape painter who lives alone and has a studio in his home. He is very sociable so he organizes regular plein air "paint-outs" and also runs an informal critique group.

[Chris Saper]

Hi Karin!

I agree that the isolation is not something for which everyone is suited. I like it, but it might just be the way my socially-challenged genes are set. I lived mostly alone until I was 35, and even in the corporate world, a lot of my work was solitary.

Still, I do realize that I need more balance - my family definitely takes the quiet out of my day, but I find that scheduling concerted time with friends is very important as well.

I enjoy an open studio where I can chat with other artists while we work, although I'd never do it in a workshop setting. For those who don't deal well with the isolated nature of being an artist, perhaps a shared studio would work, as long as it doesn't become distracting.

I think that might be answering a different question from the one you pose...ie, those who cannot "seem to put in the hours necessary. " Perhaps they can 't due to other commitments or priorities; perhaps they are hoping to be "discovered" or perhaps they simply aren't willing to engage in so many frustrating hours. Hard to say.

Nice to see you back, Karin!

[Karin Wells]

Originally Posted by Chris Saper

I think that might be answering a different question from the one you pose...

Not really. It is interesting to explore all the issues of working as a painter. I wondered if the inability to put in long hours was a distaste for the isolation.

However, demands of family and the other parts of our lives that require our time and attention certainly factor in. I wonder if is unique to women that our time is something that we often have to fight to protect?

When my father was ill and dying, I missed a LOT of painting time. Family always comes first for me and I certainly have no regrets about that.

When my children were small, I did not, could not, paint. I got a late start.

[Carol Norton]

When my children were small, I did not, could not, paint. I got a late start.[/QUOTE]

My start was a late one, too. With the hours spent on family and a 30 year teaching career, my day started at 5:30 (a quiet 30 minutes reading time alone) then from 7:30 to around 5 pm I was at school. After school, children and husband were attended to, and papers were graded until at least 10:30. The only time left for me was an occasional weekend. Upon retirement, I finally knew I could take the time that painting demands of me.

After our move to a new state and retirement, I had to FORCE myself to mellow out and to get to know new people. However, I found that I still resented people dropping in to just ......purposlessly sit around. As a matter of fact, it drove me to distraction! My true (get-to-the-point) nature resurfaced and I soon realized that "balance" may never be a part of my personality. The funny thing is that now I just don't care.

I really do enjoy being with some people. I have no tolorance for wasting time when I could be painting or thinking about painting.

To balance out the isolation factor, I joined two art leagues. Carving out and guarding "alone" time has always been crucial to my peace of mind and it is critical for creative thought.

[Laurel Alanna McBrine]

Good topic. I think the more extroverted you are, the more difficult it is. Since I fit somewhere in the middle on the Introvert versus Extrovert spectrum, I do find it hard to focus sometimes and often end up on the phone (headsets are a marvelous invention!). I wonder if that is why some painters enjoy teaching – in addition to making a living, of course? Open studio sessions can be fun and alleviate the isolation for those of us that need more association.

Once I get absorbed in painting, in the “flow” so to speak, I have no trouble spending hours, even days alone. In fact, I truly resent interruptions once I am on a roll.

Michele, I was wondering if you would be willing to expand more on how you came to have an assistant, what you have the assistant do for you and compensation arrangements?