How Long Does it Take
It is very possible that half of the people who see my work ask this question: How long does it take to finish something like this? I take it as an honest question. We humans are trapped inside the clock. Even when traveling to another place we don’t ask how far it is waiting for a response in miles or kilometers. We want to know how far it is in time measures: “How long does it take to get there?” We create deadlines in an attempt to beat time. The workplace establishes a shift based on hours. In many of these places it is of little importance quality and production than the time spent there. We are measuring nanoseconds to switch from one screen to another with a touch of a finger and we panic if takes “too long”. Even sharing a cup of coffee with someone is based on how much time they have for us at that moment. It seems that control is leaving us out of control and ripping away some of our humanity.
Yes, I understand we need to be accountable for what we do and time is a way of measuring productivity, results, and outcomes. I understand that time is important to keep things running “under control”. However, what does it matter how long it took when the result is already in front of them? It is not like they are waiting for me to finish the sculpture. It is there. They don’t have to wait for it. Of course, if they are requesting something specific for them, time is a concern. I don’t want to promise a massive sculpture of a horse and take ten years making it, but art takes time.
The measure of time in art is not about how long it takes to make, but how long it took the artist to master the technique to make it happen. It is about how long it took to study and understand how to turn the idea into life. Time for the artist is about thinking how to pour the self on that piece. I can finish a painting in an hour or two, but it took a long time to get to that point. Even so with sculpting. I can finish a sculpture in a day but it took many years of practice, effort and sacrifice to reach a comfort level of my technique. However, the joy of creating and the bliss of the moment should not be shortened or retrained by time. The feeling is too good to rush.
The Myth of Hard Work
Among many variables in the equation of success achievement, hard work is one with the greatest mythology. The myth of hard work follows the very existence of human kind to the point that many forget how to enjoy life because they are working all the time. I believe that talent is improved through hard work. I believe in hard work and I believe it pays off but there needs to be an understanding that hard work is not by itself a guarantee of success. It is just a variable of many in the equation.
It is very difficult to accept that those who are lazy will achieve success. Only those who work hard are closer to get it. However, this is also a myth. People pay attention to those who pursue their work and aptitudes and constantly seek to improve, to be productive, to get better. Opposite to talent, I believe hard work is necessary to achieve. That again doesn’t guarantee success. If it does, it also consumes people. I am not saying that working hard is wrong. I am just advocating for a balance in life; one that allows people to enjoy the fruit of their labor and permits them to maintain their relationships. Working a lot is not the same as working hard. There is such thing as working smarter.
Planing and time management help develop a better work flow and to be more productive and efficient. Through experience and practice it is possible to achieve the technique to create in a way that looks and feels easier. It is said that hard work makes it look easy. That is because through many years of giving ourselves to our craft we achieved the skills to be effective with our time and efforts. It allows us to love more what we do and to do more of what we love. Recognized or not it makes us feel better about ourselves when we know we put effort on something and even more when we see the results.