Coincidentally as I was preparing to publish this "taking a break" post last night the internet went out and I haven't had access to the web until 4:45 pm today. Not being able to get online confirmed the following...
They say when you are looking at a piece of art you should get as close as you can to see all the details: the brush strokes in a painting, the layering of ink in a print, or the texture of wood or stone in a sculpture. You're supposed to get close to understand the process, feel the energy of the artist, connect with the work and somehow become a part of what you're observing.
But to really appreciate what you're seeing you have to step back and take it all in as a whole. Not only as an individual piece but how it fits with the other pieces and in the space around it: the gallery, the living room, or the outdoor environment where the artwork lives. This allows the viewer to interpret the art and it's place in the world. This process of getting in and then stepping back is also a great way for each of us to evaluate the many complexities of our lives.
This is what I'm doing at this very moment in my life as I assess my work as a graphic designer, as a teacher in design education, and as I contemplate the future of Fly.
For months I have been working non-stop, juggling between freelance gigs, teaching, working on Fly, and hopelessly trying to find time where I can create work just for the sake of creating. It's been a challenging balancing act. I love being busy, but the elements I love most about all of these amazing opportunities and working hard are also the very things that leave me exhausted.
With that said I'm taking a much needed step back to do some evaluating in various areas including Fly. After much thought I have decided to take a break from the site. I'm thinking a week or two, but I don't really know. So basically, I'll be back whenever I feel refreshed and ready to share new inspiration and valuable information.
I'm excited because it leaves room for me to really see the big picture, be creative and potentially generate new ideas. It breaks my heart to not have Fly updated over this period of time (drives me a little crazy actually) but it's more important to me to take this time to really think about what I want to share and how I want to connect with Fly readers.
So...I think I just made it sound a lot more dramatic than it really is, because Fly will be back soon!
As always thank you for your time and support, and for always sharing your comments and stories. I look forward to maintaining that connection. If you have any questions feel free to email me (flygirlblog[at]aol[dot]com). Please take this time to visit some of the older posts and see how far Fly has come (check out the categories here) and continue to submit for Fly Girl of the Week.
Take care and I'll see you soon!
P.S. I'm taking a break from Twitter and the Fly Fan Page as well but may update here and there. So please "follow" and "like" for updates on Fly's return.