Simplifying the setup

How I contend with the three headed beast of perfectionism, procrastination, and overwhelm

The biggest downside to being an overthinker is my vulnerability to ambitious and impossible ideas. I love getting sucked into projects that rely on bursts of inspiration, perfect conditions, or solving ten unknowns at once.

Today before starting the work of preparing for this weekend’s open studio, I was briefly tempted to wallpaper the cottage screen door, build participatory installations, and produce finished sets of assorted greeting cards (with my art printed on them) all at the same time.

Instead, I shifted my focus toward one single priority: hospitality. As soon as I began asking, “How do I want people to feel when they arrive here?” everything became clearer.

I started moving through the space as a visitor might, then realized what was needed to make people feel most welcome: an open invitation to see some work in progress.

So I have spent my afternoon arranging my finished pieces, setting aside the most recent ones to scan, tidying surfaces, organizing materials, thinking about seating, flow, and conversation. That’s when the energy changed completely.

I’m beginning to think that hospitality may be one of the hidden structures underneath my art practice. Offering space and bringing people into my practice, rather than a performance and validation seeking around my value as, or right to call myself, an artist.

As a result, this afternoon became unexpectedly enjoyable. I gave myself the gift of hot tub time, with Tinkle the cat balancing on the edge. She was acting weird and naughty like ‘Little My’ from the Moomins. Then I moved to the cottage for setup, listening to history podcasts and the gentle hum of fans cooling me down while I got the space ready.

Such a contrast from the guilt I experienced yesterday, when I realized I had been far too busy at work to make anything at all for this open studio. I’m quite pleased to say that I recovered my equilibrium, I accepted this past week for what it was, then I got onto the business of preparing an hospitable environment.

A place where I can talk to others about their art, my art, art as art, and whatever else strikes our fancy.