Everything in my life is in a sort of limbo at the moment, and I’m trying to get motivated to do anything at all. Even writing this blog post took some effort to begin. I’d also like to be working on my fiction story that’s been languishing in limbo for years now… but I haven’t done that lately, either.
Housework as Procrastination
I did wash all of the laundry yesterday and fold it all this morning, at least. That came about because the temperatures were going to drop to around 20 and I was afraid if I didn’t do it, that the lines would freeze and I’d be unable to do it. But I’m glad it’s done now.
In ‘Wait’ Mode
My real estate exam is on Dec. 5, so a large part of my feeling in limbo is the wait. I hate having an upcoming thing to do, if the thing has an impact on my future. Whether I pass or fail will certainly have an impact. I can take the test again if I don’t pass, but I’m one of those people who absolutely hates *not* passing.
And so I’ve been studying at every free moment. We recently had family from Florida out to visit us for Thanksgiving. So part of the limbo feeling comes from the sudden quiet in the household after they departed. That kind of thing always leaves me reeling for a little while as I reorient my daily schedules.
Then again, we’ll be leaving for a trip out of state soon, and that also gives me motivation paralysis, because I don’t want to start something I can’t finish before that date. And so I tend to do nothing at all. This seems to be Rob’s strategy, too, as he has not felt motivated to do much at all the past week or two either. We’ve both been acting like there’s nothing to do, hahahaha, which is hilarious really, if you know us and the perpetual task list that exists here.
Paintings Sold and Fear of Rejection
I did just finish a couple of paintings recently, and started two new ones. One of the paintings from 2019 sold to a collector who found me online, and I shipped it out last week. So I’m waiting for the recipient to open the box and let me know if they’re happy. THIS is probably the main reason for my motivation issues.
Selling a small painting, especially in person, is exciting and fun, and not attached to a lot of consequence. Selling a large painting in person is the same. But selling a large one online comes with a tremendous amount of angst, because if they don’t like it once they see it in person, then I’ll need to refund and arrange to have it shipped back to me. So it’s a sort of motivation paralysis due to fear of failure and/or rejection. I’ll get over it, but the wait time in between the sale and the reception is a difficult period of time for me.
Starting New Paintings
I have two new ones in progress. One is Creekside, an imaginary scene. The other is the first hawk in my bird of prey series, using my oil pigments, and I’m really excited to do that one.
I really love the background on the canvas I’ll be using for an upcoming broadwing hawk. I like the background enough that it’s almost a pleasing abstract just like it is. But I want to put the hawk on this. I just don’t want to start on it until returning from Texas.
ABOUT
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Madison Woods is the pen-name for my creative works. I’m a self-taught artist who moved to the Ozarks from south Louisiana in 2005. My paintings of Ozark-inspired scenes feature lightfast pigments from Madison county, Arkansas. My inspiration is nature – the beauty, and the inherent cycle of life and death, destruction, regeneration, and transformation.
Roxann Riedel is my real name. I’m also salesperson for Montgomery Whiteley Realty. If you’re interested in buying or selling in Madison or Carroll county, AR, let me know! You can see the properties that I blog about at WildOzarkLand.com.
Wild Ozark is also the only licensed ginseng nursery in Arkansas. Here’s the link for more information on the nursery
P.S.
There’s always a discount for paintings on the easel 😉
Here’s my Online Portfolio
And, Click here to join my mailing list.
Contact Mad Rox: (479) 409-3429 or madison@madisonwoods and let me know which hat I need to put on 🙂 Madison for art, Roxann for real estate, lol. Or call me Mad Rox and have them both covered!
https://www.youtube.com/@wildozark
