The Battle of the Brains

You know those moments when your right brain tells you that doing a particular thing would be a good idea, but the more you progress it, the more difficult and work-intensive it becomes?

So you think, forget it, walk away, but you've invested so much time and effort that your left brain arcs up and says push on and finish it.

And back and forth it goes, all the while committing you more and more deeply.

Well, you're looking at the outcome of one of those tug of wars right now. This blog. In fact, this new website of mine that I built. But they are at the end of a lot longer line of fallen dominoes.

The blog exists because hey, I have a website, so why not blog?

The website exists because I finally got around to putting a (little) dent in sorting the 200,000+ images I have on file, taken over decades of a love affair with photography.

The images needed to be sorted because I have decided to print and sell some calendars and cards.

I decided on the calendars and cards because I need some smaller items to sell alongside my large scale prints.

And my large scale prints are on sale because a mere few weeks ago my right brain told me to accept an invitation to exhibit at the Art Fair Avoca Scout Hall this weekend.

And so, that was when the first domino fell that brought me to this blog.

But the amount of stress and pressure in trying to pull this all together in a short time frame has not been pleasant. There a lot of candles burned at both ends along the way. And frustration. And worst of all, self-doubt.

My right brain still says it's a good idea. After all, why take all those photos over all those years just so they can gather digital dust in a hard drive? But my left brain asks why would anybody want to buy my work? Right says ok, walk away. Left says you've invested time, money, and effort, so push on.

So here I am, three days out from the art fair. My canvas prints and cards are yet to arrive from printers. My paper prints and calendars are thankfully here. Tables, easels, signs, Square reader...tick. I must stop tweaking the website, it's as complete as it can be now.

I wait huddled in the little space between right and left brain, trying not to listen to either for the next few days.

Will the Art Fair be a success? More importantly, will it be fun? I guess I'll get back to you later on that.

Or if you are in the Avoca area this weekend, drop in and ask me in person.