I have a confession to make. Normally I'm extremely prolific, if I'm not working on painting, I'm thinking about one. Well, its summer, and there are distractions galore. I HAVE been thinking about my next painting, but the garden calls to me, weekends in the woods and on the lake with family and friends temp me. I THINK about my next painting, and think, and think.....
I look around and get ideas, find inspiration, and make mental notes planning out how I will use these ideas. I may intend to get myself into the studio, only to notice the tomatoes need tying up, or that I need something important at the store that needs my immediate attention. After all, how can I possibly paint if we are out of coffee?
I am dabbling a bit, when I teach, and when I go up North I work on some little doodles and paint in my sketch journal. Its teasing me, to dabble, and think.....
I'm ready for things to return to some semblance of a routine, and to immerse myself in my work. The more I have to do, the busier I get, the more I long for the days when I can be shut up in my studio, and pour my ideas onto a canvas. For the time being, I think I'll enjoy the rest of the summer, after all, the shorter days and cold nights are just around the corner. I'm going to keep getting distracted, sit in my gazebo with a cup of tea, or a glass of wine and watch fireflies.....the rest will be there.....and its so much fun thinking, and thinking, and once in a while, NOT thinking!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
More on "No Vacancy"...
I wanted to elaborate on my blog post about my last painting, so here it goes; "No Vacancy" is the official title of this one. Recently I shared this painting with some students of mine and asked what they saw when they looked at it. The responses were different, some saw poverty, some sadness, others saw an abandoned dwelling, homelessness, lack of hope.
I prefer to think of it on multiple levels, as a symbol perhaps, or just as it was, a lonely space. As I looked past the panes streaked with years of dirt and neglect, weathered and off kilter, I could see there had once been life here. At one time this had been new, clean, solid, cared for. Could this not be a metaphor for our lives? Like friendships left alone too long, or illness, neglect anything of importance in your life, and it will eventually decay, like the window.
Notice that it has been left open, leaving a dark void like a portal to a different place or time, inviting us in, or providing an exit for the ghosts that might dwell there........
Look carefully at it and draw your own conclusions, decide what it evokes in you, and if you feel so inclined, share your thoughts here.
I prefer to think of it on multiple levels, as a symbol perhaps, or just as it was, a lonely space. As I looked past the panes streaked with years of dirt and neglect, weathered and off kilter, I could see there had once been life here. At one time this had been new, clean, solid, cared for. Could this not be a metaphor for our lives? Like friendships left alone too long, or illness, neglect anything of importance in your life, and it will eventually decay, like the window.
Notice that it has been left open, leaving a dark void like a portal to a different place or time, inviting us in, or providing an exit for the ghosts that might dwell there........
Look carefully at it and draw your own conclusions, decide what it evokes in you, and if you feel so inclined, share your thoughts here.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Vacancy-No Vacancy
It's late, so I'm not going to write much now, but soon, I'll write a bit about what this painting meant to me, what I am saying here.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Setbacks, and setting myself straight.
So what do you do when you are bursting with inspiration and ideas, but lacking in the ability to carry them out? I recently had to undergo some surgery, and my recovery is not quite what I had hoped for. I thought I'd be using all my down time preparing for an upcoming exhibit, imagining myself recovering in my studio, as I have done before. I wasn't counting on feeling to weak to get anything done. How dare I get an infection? I have way to much to do to feel like this, I do not like these limitations! Grrr
It makes me appreciate people who have to battle these kinds of limitations every day of their lives. Makes me a little ashamed of indulging in self pity. A friend of mine who lives with MS said "welcome to my world", boy, that put it into perspective. So I might be down for a few months, but I'm certainly not out, I will get better. Others are not so lucky.
And lucky I am, my kids, my husband, friends, are all helping out, picking up slack. It really boils down to making peace with a temporary setback, and learning some patience.
It makes me appreciate people who have to battle these kinds of limitations every day of their lives. Makes me a little ashamed of indulging in self pity. A friend of mine who lives with MS said "welcome to my world", boy, that put it into perspective. So I might be down for a few months, but I'm certainly not out, I will get better. Others are not so lucky.
And lucky I am, my kids, my husband, friends, are all helping out, picking up slack. It really boils down to making peace with a temporary setback, and learning some patience.
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