overwhelm and a new assitant

Some of you may have noticed I’ve mentioned an assistant in some of my Facebook fanpage posts.  Its been three and a half months and I still can’t believe I actually have one!  I can honestly say this wasn’t part of the plan, at least not so soon.  I entered 2011 with the idea I’d remodel the second studio, when my friend and McMurry painting professor was done using it for her sabbatical.  The two studios were quite separate then and to enter one from the other I had to go into the hall.  I’d been paying rent for the two spaces since I signed the lease in September, but hadn’t been able to fully use studio #208 due to logisitics.  It ended up being the storage space for 207, a rather expensive storage space at that.

When I finally did start the remodel in mid-January, everything had to be moved.  And the scope of the project kept expanding.  So, by mid-February, when the dust settled, I had a lot to do just to prep for Artwalk and the large event happening on the 24th. The studio was in complete disarray. 

The merged studio chaos

Fortunately, I’d decided to have lunch on Artwalk (it starts at 5pm) with an old aquaintance from my McMurry days, Amber.  She’d been a theatre student that’d stop by for visits.  She’d moved away for opportunities and we lost touch.  Thanks to Lane Bryant, where she worked, and Facebook we reconnected this year. 

So, lunch on Artwalk, something that gets me past my social phobia of artwalk (another post topic), went well.  In fact we talked business, her with her new venture, NuSkin, and, me with, well, art.  She ended up offering her help in prepping for Artwalk.  We worked so well together, I decided I could definitely use her help with more stuff. 

I have to say, I know I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish half of what I have without her help.  I tend to freeze in overwhelm when I’m alone.  And sometimes, even when Amber is there.  She helps me think through it.  Having someone else to pay puts a whole new spin on the idea of making money with my art.  But as I don’t have any children, thinking outside myself for an assistant’s livelihood (if we can call it that), really pushes me to keep going and expanding.  I’d love to make my way to getting paid again, too, as well as expanding on her part-time schedule.   But for now, I’m so greatful I took the leap of faith that I’d make enough to pay her each week (and my bills) and taking on the help I needed.  BTW-I’ve been able to pay her and slowly but surely, the income is increasing for us both.

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