photo credit: David Glasofer, Image Up Studio

About five years ago, I became part of a group of women artists who meet monthly, taking turns sharing the challenges of our businesses. Each month a different member is the focus of the meeting (we call it being on "the hot seat") while the others offer feedback and support from their own unique perspective. Some months, the advice and compassion given makes the difference in one of us getting back on track. This month was my turn to be on the hot seat. I am coming to the end of construction of the James Monroe wall sculptures and, fortunately, I wasn't in a place where I needed too much advice. So it basically turned into show and tell! As artists, they carefully examined everything I have been working on, asking lots of specific questions. They understand that even the mundane things, like welding rebar in the photo above, are essential. They focused on the tiny pieces of glass that make up the owls feathers, the pattern pieces that I used to create the river, and asked about the molds that I used to slump the river sections. I have been so deeply immersed in this project that it was fun to step back and share about it with people who really want to know the details. When I am working on something I really enjoy, I can talk about it endlessly and I often see the eyes of the person I'm talking to start to glaze over (sorry, Scott!). So I really appreciate being able to share with other women artists who appreciate the minutiae! Thanks, ladies!