Assignments

As an undergraduate and graduate student I hated writing assignments. I thought I wanted the freedom to choose my own topic. As a doctoral student, however, I learned just how daunting that could be. And when it came time for my dissertation proposal, I was hopeless. I must have sent a research question every week if not every hour. It was very hard to know if the idea was feasible, doable, and much less if I could finish it in my lifetime, as my chair said.

Sometimes I find that this, too, is true in my art work. I want at times only to choose my own topic, but other times I want to do someone else's assignment.

But I never know if it is doable, executable, until I try it. I have no chair, except the one I sit on. And my colleagues are of little help, when I am creating. If anything, they are likely to be on top of me or in my face when I have a paintbrush or alcohol ink bottle in my hand. Not fun.

On Friday I finally created my holiday card. Prior to Friday I was going to use another design with cat and dog pictures on either side. But those of you who get it will see where I put the pets.

And here is my holiday card.