Work Transition and the Four Pillars

four pillars on crumpled paper

Believe it or not, the four lines scribbled at the top of the crumpled bit of paper you see above are what ultimately prompted me to resign from my 9-5 job.

A few days before I took the leap, I brainstormed on what I would like to contribute through my work (in this specific case I'm talking about paid work, the exercise described below could certainly apply to volunteer work too). I grabbed a few sheets of paper from the printer and started writing without thinking. No edits, just a braindump.

I started by using a format I saw on the Web, filling in blanks under the categories of Intentions, Modus Operandi and Activities (scroll to the bottom of this guy's About page for the initial inspiration, and thanks to Sis for sending it to me!).

Then I moved on to words, quickly jotting down what came to mind about what I value, what I'd like to do and how I'd like to do it. Words like...

learning

respect

compassion

art

beauty

prosperity

play

honesty

expansion

community

trust

and the list goes on...

After re-reading and mulling over what I'd written down I noticed a pattern that led me to four pillars that pretty much encapsulated whatever I was trying to articulate that night:

Art & Creative Expression

Learning & Growth

Business & Productivity

Space & Community

I wanted my work to revolve around at least one, preferably many or a combination of these four things.

Two days later I sat in my cubicle reading these four lines again and again, trying really hard to see if there was a match to be made in my current job. In some cases yes, in others no; overall I knew that I would be navigating against a very strong organizational current.

It was time to try something different.

I'm not sure if I'll ever find or create paid work that involves any or all of the pillars, only time will tell that. What I do know is that the pillars offer a guide, a framework (one of a few) against which I can do a gut check when comes time to make decisions or take action.

That's exactly what I did that morning back in August, right before I walked into my manager's office.

Four lines. All of that.

~~~

How about you? What pillars could guide your current or desired work?

One Painting, Many Stages (or Trust the Process)

I'm not usually the most patient person. I like quick results, especially when it comes to making art, and when I say quick I mean the piece is done at the end of one art-making session.

Um, really? Though sometimes I manage to do just that, it doesn't always work that way.

Allow me to indulge a little and offer you a glimpse into the making of one of my new favourite pieces...

~~~

One night I created a background with my brayer, a quick art-making session that resulted in this:

I saw a woman meditating in an urban oasis. I liked the colours and almost left it as it was, but I knew it wasn't finished so the next night I did this:

I kept the woman and meditation theme but ditched the urban feel in the background. The dark "eggplant" colour was a pure accident that left me frustrated. Interesting, yes, but certainly not finished.

Feeling stuck and tapping into my art mantra #2, Can't Be Too Precious, I spent the next day flipping the piece around on all sides to see if anything jumped out at me. Seeing it upside down triggered something:

 I saw abstract figures in a snowy landscape so I moved on to this...

... and finally to this:

The Gift, 9 1/2" x 12" acrylics on mat board

~~~

The moral of this story?

Don't be afraid to explore a piece from a different perspective. Trust the process, it usually knows where to take you.

Solstice Reflections: December 1 - 21

Seven lovely women helping me welcome winter, its spirit, its rituals, offering their interpretation of the season and its transformations.

A series of reflections on the Winter Solstice, starting this Thursday, December 1st.

Join us?

Camera Play @ Westboro Beach - SNOW Edition

Oh what a difference a week makes!

Just last week I offered you snapshots from a romp on the beach under the sun. Today I brought my point & shoot to the same beach, but under entirely different circumstances...

Note: Unless specified, the photos were lightened using photo editing software; they were very dark straight out of the camera (sooc). Maybe next time I'll practice using my manual settings.

a perfectly timed beetle drive-by on my way to the beach

same beach, different look

rusty blue bike rack (this one was straight out of the camera)

Have snow, build snowperson!

I was obsessed with a weathered cement wall.

I was also obsessed with catching this drip at just the right time, but alas, couldn't do so before my camera batteries died. I was ready to crouch there until my toes fell off. (This is one is cropped, but the colours haven't been touched.)

Aside from my toes going numb, I had just as much fun as I did a week before under the sun!

~~~

Where could you go play?

Homage to Rosie, our 38 year-old Electrolux

It's the end of era. Rosie, the 38 year-old Electrolux vacuum I inherited from my grandfather, is no longer with us.

Questionable rumbling and grinding of the engine meant it was time to trade her in for a glossy new model. Her 1970's tan wheels will roam the halls no more, she's sucked up her last dustbunny.

After 38 years of service I think she deserves an homage...

sporting her brand new hose, the one we bought about a month ago (sigh)

the dial, I never knew what it did

another shot with the new hose

Wouldn't you love an area rug that colour? I so would.

she was even made in Canada

They just don't make 'em like you anymore Rosie. Well done my dear, well done.