A few thoughts.
In the eleven or so years I’ve been blogging, I don’t think I’ve ever had such a long spell without sitting down and sharing, pontificating, updating the art in my life. I can go without chocolate only so long; as well, blogging.
I was ready for a clean-up and reorganization of the art space, since although I had this huge table on which to make art, I was working in postage stamp size area. Besides I was tired of the whole look. Bought. new desk for the den, moved the table from there to the studio, moved the dresser from the clothes closet in, moved two sets of bookcases (and the books - oy! the books) so there. you have it. For want of a nail the shoe was lost….Pandora’s box opened wide…what other cliché could I use here?
And, very soon I will be posting the 2020 calendar, HOUSE. I am very excited about next year’s theme and am having fun creating it. I think you will see why it’s been a creative challenge. I’m working on the preview video and early bird sale. Watch for them in the next few days.
And p.s., the desk is due to arrive sometime within the next two weeks, so things are still pretty upended around here. But the studio is looking good! Maybe pictures soon.
I have told you about Brain Pickings (brainpickings.org) and how much I love it. I It is run by Maria Popova. Here’s the latest post wherein she includes 10 Life-Learnings, on BP’s 13th birthday. I found it to be quite thought-provoking. Here are two favorites of mine, with direct quotes from Brainpickings.
“Allow yourself the uncomfortable luxury of changing your mind. Cultivate that capacity for “negative capability.” We live in a culture where one of the greatest social disgraces is not having an opinion, so we often form our “opinions” based on superficial impressions or the borrowed ideas of others, without investing the time and thought that cultivating true conviction necessitates. We then go around asserting these donned opinions and clinging to them as anchors to our own reality. It’s enormously disorienting to simply say, “I don’t know.” But it’s infinitely more rewarding to understand than to be right — even if that means changing your mind about a topic, an ideology, or, above all, yourself.”
“Seek out what magnifies your spirit. Patti Smith, in discussing William Blake and her creative influences, talks about writers and artists who magnified her spirit — it’s a beautiful phrase and a beautiful notion. Who are the people, ideas, and books that magnify your spirit? Find them, hold on to them, and visit them often. Use them not only as a remedy once spiritual malaise has already infected your vitality but as a vaccine administered while you are healthy to protect your radiance.”
Here are some snippets of recent commissions I’ve completed.
from a travel journal
Gracie with the beautiful eyes.