Obligations vs. Art Creation

Years ago I daydreamed that it would be awesome if I only had to work part-time so that I could make art the rest of the time. The perfect job had to be high-paying enough to support the art-making endeavor and cover the basic monthly expenses too of course, but would also require only a minimum of my time. 
I received an MFA and sought an adjunct teaching path.  It worked.  I commandeered four days off a week with a budget of about $300/mo to blow on supplies. (Mind you, this usurps my down time and cancels hanging out with friends. Also, I don't waste money on booze.  I buy fabric and varnish.) 
Then, I relocated to my hometown.  It's a city where the rent is cheap and the teaching gigs are available. The door seemed to be open to do the thing that I want: be an artist.

SO HOW COME I NEVER HAVE ANY TIME TO MAKE ANY FRICKING ART? Four days a week off is not enough. I still only average 5-6 days in a month that is spent working on this solo show.  Tis not what I expected. Alas, there are still obligations of which to attend.  I could say the reason for it, but it is not a detail to be divulged.  You know, family "stuff".

Someone told me recently that most artists move away from the people they know and cut their family out of their lives as it's the only way to maintain autonomy.  But what do you do when you are a woman and a caretaker of loved ones?  It is a conundrum when people rely on you.

In a perfect world, one could move away from everything they know and love to make work in a self-styled vacuum in the name of art, but at what price?  Does the creation of art negate and excuse the selfish act of asceticism? Yes if it's good and no if it's not.  Good luck, then, I guess.

Eva Hesse

I won't flatter myself by comparing my work to that of the late Eva Hesse's, but I do admire her greatly. There are similar materials and themes in our work, and I'd like to think that I could pick up where she left off while continuing on my own trajectory as well.
Anyway, yesterday I had some down time so I recreated this picture for shits and grins.

UPDATE
I came across this letter written from Sol Lewitt to Eva, probably in the late Sixties. It's beautiful and will always be timely.

Dear Eva,

It will be almost a month since you wrote to me and you have possibly forgotten your state of mind (I doubt it though). You seem the same as always, and being you, hate every minute of it. Don’t! Learn to say “Fuck You” to the world once in a while. You have every right to. Just stop thinking, worrying, looking over your shoulder wondering, doubting, fearing, hurting, hoping for some easy way out, struggling, grasping, confusing, itchin, scratching, mumbling, bumbling, grumbling, humbling, stumbling, numbling, rumbling, gambling, tumbling, scumbling, scrambling, hitching, hatching, bitching, moaning, groaning, honing, boning, horse-shitting, hair-splitting, nit-picking, piss-trickling, nose sticking, ass-gouging, eyeball-poking, finger-pointing, alleyway-sneaking, long waiting, small stepping, evil-eyeing, back-scratching, searching, perching, besmirching, grinding, grinding, grinding away at yourself. Stop it and just DO!

From your description, and from what I know of your previous work and you [sic] ability; the work you are doing sounds very good “Drawing-clean-clear but crazy like machines, larger and bolder… real nonsense.” That sounds fine, wonderful – real nonsense. Do more. More nonsensical, more crazy, more machines, more breasts, penises, cunts, whatever – make them abound with nonsense. Try and tickle something inside you, your “weird humor.” You belong in the most secret part of you. Don’t worry about cool, make your own uncool. Make your own, your own world. If you fear, make it work for you – draw & paint your fear and anxiety. And stop worrying about big, deep things such as “to decide on a purpose and way of life, a consistant [sic] approach to even some impossible end or even an imagined end” You must practice being stupid, dumb, unthinking, empty. Then you will be able to DO!

I have much confidence in you and even though you are tormenting yourself, the work you do is very good. Try to do some BAD work – the worst you can think of and see what happens but mainly relax and let everything go to hell – you are not responsible for the world – you are only responsible for your work – so DO IT. And don’t think that your work has to conform to any preconceived form, idea or flavor. It can be anything you want it to be. But if life would be easier for you if you stopped working – then stop. Don’t punish yourself. However, I think that it is so deeply engrained in you that it would be easier to DO!

It seems I do understand your attitude somewhat, anyway, because I go through a similar process every so often. I have an “Agonizing Reappraisal” of my work and change everything as much as possible = and hate everything I’ve done, and try to do something entirely different and better. Maybe that kind of process is necessary to me, pushing me on and on. The feeling that I can do better than that shit I just did. Maybe you need your agony to accomplish what you do. And maybe it goads you on to do better. But it is very painful I know. It would be better if you had the confidence just to do the stuff and not even think about it. Can’t you leave the “world” and “ART” alone and also quit fondling your ego. I know that you (or anyone) can only work so much and the rest of the time you are left with your thoughts. But when you work or before your work you have to empty you [sic] mind and concentrate on what you are doing. After you do something it is done and that’s that. After a while you can see some are better than others but also you can see what direction you are going. I’m sure you know all that. You also must know that you don’t have to justify your work – not even to yourself. Well, you know I admire your work greatly and can’t understand why you are so bothered by it. But you can see the next ones and I can’t. You also must believe in your ability. I think you do. So try the most outrageous things you can – shock yourself. You have at your power the ability to do anything.

I would like to see your work and will have to be content to wait until Aug or Sept. I have seen photos of some of Tom’s new things at Lucy’s. They are impressive – especially the ones with the more rigorous form: the simpler ones. I guess he’ll send some more later on. Let me know how the shows are going and that kind of stuff.

My work had changed since you left and it is much better. I will be having a show May 4 -9 at the Daniels Gallery 17 E 64yh St (where Emmerich was), I wish you could be there. Much love to you both.

Sol