sharpening pencils

My family seem to enjoy picking on writers.

We should not. My only sister is a writer, one daughter has published a book and is at work on others, a grandson recently graduated with a BA from a creative writing program.

A young lady once told me that a writer is one who writes. Publishing or having anyone read is another dance.

But we notice that writers often spend a lot of time thinking and working about writing and a lot less about actually writing. (Visual artists are at least as easily distracted, but that is a different post!). In my family we call that “Sharpening Pencils.” Don’t know where that came from, but it is our way of saying we are busy about being creative and really not being creative.

So when some one asks me if I have been “making art” I often say: “No, right now I am concentrating on craft.”

There is nothing wrong with craft. I am educated as a sculptor. It is fairly easy and quick to sketch out an idea, to make detailed drawings, but actually producing the piece of sculpture art involves a lot of craft.

Now I have my own head confused. Do I make art? Do I craft? I think I live my life and let others make defections.

Since I met Shar I have been involved in a series of house remodels. My house, her house and now our house. But, I was able to convince her that as an artist I needed a place to practice my art.

So I have been involved in the art and craft of building myself a studio, and my version of pencil sharpening!