(Not so) Fun-A-Day

The idea sounded perfect - right up my alley. It fight right into my preferred method of creating - have an assignment with fairly strict boundaries and a time frame.

The reality was not good. The timing was all wrong...

The Delaware Fun-A-Day project was suggested to me by Sandra Koberlein, a fellow art educator and artist in NJ. Registration was free and all I had to do was make a small (no larger than 5x7" or 6x6") piece of art every day during the month of September. Once the month ends, deliver the work and it will be included in an exhibition at The Delaware Contemporary from October 6-9. Sandra had registered to participate and thought I'd be into the idea. I was, I really was! 30 tiny pieces of art sounded like cake.

I was all excited, I felt like this would force me to find time for artmaking every day. I knew this would be tricky - given that September is ridiculous for teachers, but I wanted to push myself to keep producing work even during this stressful and busy time of year. 

I started poorly - forgetting the first day... So I made two on the second day. Then, I got busy and missed the third day... forcing me to make 2 the next day. This pattern got worse - the next time I found time to paint, I created 12 pieces in one day. THIS WAS NOT THE POINT!  

The project became stressful. I didn't like that I was not following the rules and yet, I didn't want to bail on the opportunity to be a part of this exhibit. 

I decided I would make new rules. I mean, rules are rules, right? If I couldn't manage to make art every day I would put some constraints on how much time could be spent on each piece of art I made when I did find the time to make art. I allowed myself no longer than 15 minutes on each of the paintings I completed. As a result, many of the pieces are borderline trash. But, a few are gems. I'm fond of the peaches, the dog toy (purple bear) and the pile of three bows. The rest, well, the rest are less than 15 minute paintings. 

If you are interested in seeing the work of 180 artists who probably followed the rules on this project, the opening reception and sale is on Friday, October 6 from 5-9 PM at The Delaware Contemporary in Wilmington.