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Balancing Act: July Review

Sandra Robinson

This year, I'm holding nothing back in a series and exhibition called 'Balancing Act,' a behind the scenes insight into balancing commitments and creativity with tips to help you make time for your Art.

This is how I balanced July.

 July and Fixing Leaks.

 

I can’t help but think of leaks at the moment  - Drip. Drip. Drip. 

 

 

There’s a leak coming from my car’s air conditioning, our bathroom had a leak and the other day during coffee with a friend, a strategically placed plant sat between us, soaking in drip by drip, a leak coming from the roof.

On top of that, this weekend I just finished a book called Watertight Marketing about fixing the leaks in your ‘marketing bucket,’ and my Mum even made Leek and potato soup yesterday for our lunch together - not quite the same but still; another coincidence or sign perhaps.

 

 

It feels like everywhere I turn - Drip. Drip. Drip.

 

For the past 7 months now, this Balancing Act series has been about fixing a ‘leak’ in my artwork through the creation of my ‘Must do’ solo show coming up in October.

Throughout the series, I’ve spoken time and again about Must do’s, describing them as something that’s on the heart or feeds your soul or even pushes your goals and how we too often neglect them. We let them get flooded with all the ‘Have to’s;’ those things that have to get done to keep life ticking along.

 

But the thing is, there’s always a drip. There’ll always be have to’s, distractions, and reasons not to, but amongst all of this, a ‘Must do’ bucket sits there, either filling up drip by drip through the actions we take or leaking from the actions we don’t. 

 

Can you hear it?  Drip. Drip. Drip.  Does it need filled?

Inside the Studio:


Week beginning 1st: Finished off the final Ceramic session at Ards Art Centre and worked with Artists at the Mill to transform a Resource space they have into a new teaching venue which we’ll be hosting classes this Autumn. Can see the programme here.

Week beginning 8th: Worked on an experiment this week for an upcoming exhibition but it didn’t go to plan - however I intend to give this idea another go in a slightly different way. Always learning.

Week beginning 15th: Finished off the Male bust and got things in place to take next week off. Opened the laptop to schedule social media posts but decided the only thing that needed scheduled was time out.


Week beginning 22nd: Holiday time in a remote part of West Ireland with the family where each year we take a week away somewhere in Ireland to keep our tiny family close.

Week beginning 29th: Getting back into the swing of things after a week off, catching up on admin, starting new sculptures and going to the opening of Millies, an exhibition at Conway Mill to launch our new Art Workshop Programme.

Next Month: August will be full speed ahead with making as all big pieces must be completed by the end of the month to allow for drying and firing time in September. Limiting all other activities and going into hermit mode.

Balancing Act Quick Links:

If you’re just catching this series now, here’s what’s happened so far:

What about you?


Let me know in the comments below how you found this month, what you’ve created, or what you’re struggling with and particularly if you can hear a leak.

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See this gallery in the original post