Lee Thomson

For today I have for you three tiny journal pages, made triangular, and some philosophy.

In my own defense, I am tired and punch-drunk, but here are triangles for March 19, 20 and 21. I missed completely March 16-18 because the high school musical was happening, and that takes all of my attention until we strike the set and put it to bed. The following day I spent sleeping (three pillows and many Zs) and then contracted Alice’s vicious stomach bug which laid me out such that knitting was all I was capable of, followed by today’s three triangles to catch up.

I am feeling apologetic because I have not been as diligent about these daily projects as I was for previous daily projects, and I attempted to spend some time today thinking about it. Sadly I have no (useful) conclusions, just sweary notes to myself about dedication and persistence and doing what I say I will.

The first time I started a daily project, I had two children in school, coming home daily, and very little time to myself. The studio time I could carve out of my regular life was precious, and I made a point of standing in my room every day for a half hour at least. The postcards I made were a direct result of that. Through the postcard project I honed my skills, explored materials and techniques, and found some ideas I mined for the next several years. I also learned how to be efficient in the studio.

The next time I started a daily project it was across a year that had one child starting college and the other starting high school, as well as me starting a larger commitment to the high school theater program than I had before. I had more uninterrupted time in my studio, and the circles became more like a period at the end of each day – something I’d seen or thought of or was in some fashion related to the time and the theme of the month. I made a point of giving the circles away – call it karma, call it advertising – and that practice made me more widely known, and opened several doors for me.

This year I have one child mostly independent, living and working in Boston, and one at college. The house is empty, but not all the time – I joke about having 1/7 of one child and 3/7 of the other – and I have no set schedule or requirements. I am attempting to locate my practice in something besides opposition to other people’s time constraints, and it is harder than I thought.

I guess the thing I am taking away from all this introspection is that I should carry on, to the best of my ability and patience, making a daily triangle, and something will have changed at the end.

In the mean time, thank you for your patience while I think out loud, on the internet.