Erika Allison's Artastic Blog

Breaking the rules… or not

Archive for March 5th, 2010

Flexibility

Posted Friday, March 5th, 2010

I’m a great believer in flexibility. Too many opportunities can be missed if one is too rigid in their thinking and planning. Some people need major amounts of time to plan and get everything in place. I’m not against planning. It’s a good thing. It pays to put in the time to make sure everything is in place, and, hopefully, everything goes perfectly. However, there are times when there is no time. Opportunity knocks. Are you going to open the door…or close the door because you don’t have time?

Opportunity knocked at my studio door last week. I had to think about it – for about a minute. The Arts Factory had some space available for First Friday (which is tonight) and the next two weeks. I had to scramble to put it together. But, it was an opportunity to show my work that I wouldn’t have normally had. I was just taking a show down at LeMur in the Arts Factory that had run all of February. I didn’t have anything lined up for March. So, I gathered up some paintings from my studio and added them to the paintings already at the Arts Factory. I spent a morning hanging them. I had to fit this into my already tight schedule. But, I think it was worth the effort. I could have said, “Sorry, I just don’t have the time.” And, my work would be sitting stacked against my studio walls.

I’m a spontaneous person by nature. So, maybe this was easier for me than someone who is less spontaneous and more comfortable with lots of planning. But, next time opportunity knocks for you, think about it. You might not want to close a door that has opened for you!