Report From PIA – October 31
Years ago I worked first as a fiber artist, and then as a graphic artist. I was mildly successful at these pursuits, but the work wasn’t as consistent or as profitable as I wanted it to be. I spent a number of years wondering why the artwork that I enjoyed so much went so far and then no farther.
Looking out toward the lake today, I thought about that time in my life. The swamp maples have lost all of their leaves, and many of the oak and beach leaves have fallen as well. During the summer the foliage obscures much of the view, but now the water is beginning to be revealed.
When I was frustrated that my artwork wasn’t progressing as desired, I couldn’t imagine a future when I’d be doing something completely different. I loved making art, but my dissatisfaction with the lack of progress made me look for other work.
Time, the right circumstances, and most importantly my willingness to look beyond what I’d been doing, led me to what was there all along. I’ve been writing since I was a child, started public speaking as a teenager, and ever since college I’ve had a garden. I’ve loved being around plants for my entire life.
Now, as once again I push to take what I’m doing to another level, I look out at the expanding vista and remind myself to have faith…prospects can take time to appear. Sometimes we have to wait for the right season before the view opens up.
Later in November, once the rest of the leaves fall, we'll see even more of the water.
