Valentine’s Day
Posted on February 16, 2010 - Filed Under Creative Exercises
This Valentine was made about 1916, about 45 years after the greeting card for this holiday became popular. Now it is second only to Christmas, billions of cards per year. Yesterday I received three Valentines from arty friends, this is such a huge benefit to being in the art community. Last week I also received a crock pot cookbook from Deedee, just as I entered the door with a brisket that I did not know how to cook. I just love love love my girlfriends.
Yesterday my family and I went skiing. The sky was blue, the snow pretty fabulous and it was just cold enough to wear all the layers and a scarf. I am not a good skier, so I don’t go higher than the blue runs, but even one of those kicked my butt yesterday. It was called “Jolly Jugs” but for me it was not so jolly. I cracked my head on one fall, and have a pain in the neck literally today. That said, I had a helmet and my brain seems to be working. I thought about a lot of people yesterday that cannot ski, and made a point to myself to enjoy it to the fullest, for me and for them.
My studio is covered with parts of projects. I am making Gypsy houses, vending stuff for Artfest, maps for Artfest, kits for Artfest and notebooks for my Personal Geographies class in two weeks at Denver University. Then of course I have to make a postcard for Carla, and here it is.
These images are inspired by the Aboriginal drawings and fabrics of Australia that my Auntie Ann brought back from her trip there. I get a lot out of copying and rearranging things I see, I always have. When you can’t think of something new to draw, copy something (the Old Masters did it this way, they called it apprenticeship). It keeps you moving, and your hand learns things you might otherwise not learn. Pick an artist and try it out, or maybe you already did that in 2 Dimensional Design in College. That might have been, just saying, a bit of time ago, so try it again.
Happy Day, to all of us who are well, and praying day for those of us who are not. I need healing energy for my friends Nancy, Deandra, Dana, Judy, and Lisa. Blessings to all.
Becoming an Artist
Posted on February 10, 2010 - Filed Under About me, Being an Artist, Uncategorized
This gal, I call her Grammy, clearly lives in de Nile. Her epidermis had turned to leather, which she continued to bake daily. I drew her on the beach in Mexico a number of years ago, then came home and painted this. What I love about Grammy is that she reminds me that despite being presented with facts countless times, all of us, not just my kids, choose to hear what suits us. This is especially true in my chosen field of art.
Artists do not spring out of the womb. Believe this, it is a fact. Propensity might, but skill, not so much. We have to learn just like Stravinsky had to learn, and we have to practice, just like Stravinsky had to practice. The hardest part, someone sage once said, is making it look easy. Watching people who are very good at what they do is exciting, they look fluid and natural. But like sports, music, and nearly everything else, the hours behind making it look easy are not easy at all. Becoming an artist does not happen in one fell swoop, it is not an anointment, or a visitation. Becoming an artist is practice.
Here is the story of my ah ha moment on this topic.
I took a plein-air class from a professional painter about 20 years ago. Talk about making it look easy, she just sat down, glanced at the landscape and rendered it beautifully while we watched. I was completely blown away at how easy this would be. When I sat down, the shadows in my scene romped madly across the doorway I was painting, the dogs wandered in and out, I could not make it stay still long enough to get anything. The artist came by, and asked how I was doing. I am frustrated, I said, really frustrated.
“You have not earned the right to be frustrated”, said the artist.
WTH? Did I hear her correctly?
“I have done this thousands of times. What makes you think you should paint like I do the first time out? Isn’t that a little bit insulting?”
I burst out laughing (my sister would not have laughed, she does not like this story, but for me it was perfect). How ridiculous it was for me to think something brand new should be easy. Just like anything else worth learning, plein-air painting was challenging, and takes an enormous amount of dedication to be as good as this artist is. As soon as I made up my mind to accept where I was in the process, at the beginning, I began to have fun, and a huge burden was lifted. And, I was open to what she so generously offered to teach me.
Who cares about any of this? Well, since I am a teacher and face learners regularly, I do. You need to start from where you are and give up the idea that there is a black and white world out there full of artists or non-artists. We are artists if we want to be, and we choose to put one foot in front of the other, constantly toward our goal. We need to try. And it is a journey worth taking, as you probably already know.
Wayne Thiebaud is one of my favorite painters. Seeing his paintings up close is as delicious as the sweets he sometimes renders. He is also a very smart man, and I like what he has to say.
Art is not delivered like the morning paper; it has to be stolen from Mount Olympus.
Wayne Thiebaud
And the trek to Mount Olympus? Hmmm……
The difference of a day, and a big win
Posted on February 8, 2010 - Filed Under Visual Inspiration
Yesterday’s Super Bowl game was just what I needed. It was a clean, impressive, exciting and immensely gratifying to watch New Orleans win.
You may have noticed the fleur-de-lis on the side of their helmets. This is a heraldic representation of an Iris, which is also the symbol of one of my other favorite cities, Firenze, Italia. The flower ultimately represents the Goddess Iris, who is the messenger between the gods and humanity, manifesting herself in the rainbow. The iris flower is one of the most resilient plants on earth: it sends up its rainbow flowers in hundreds of climates and countries in many styles and hues. Yesterday there was no rainbow at that game that we could see, but surely you can feel it now.
Once Upon a Time
Posted on February 7, 2010 - Filed Under 2010 Workshops
Artfest is coming up in about six weeks, where I am teaching for the first time. Two classes, Spontaneous Deconstructed Journal, and Three Letter Words. I am excited, nervous, thrilled, happy and ready.
The theme this year is Once Upon a Time. Here is a map I am working on for a trade.
I have to finish it up soon and then fold it down into a pop-up. If you want to see it finished, you will have to come to Artfest!
The first night, Wednesday, I am hosting a Prep Party. You can bring anything you need to prepare for classes, including mine. I will bring the black gesso and other treats, including wine and snacks. Dorm 203, after the presentation.
See you soon!
Magical Midnight Stories, real ones
Posted on February 6, 2010 - Filed Under 2010 Workshops, Creative Exercises, My Work
My friend Nancy had a stroke last week. She is out of the coma she was in, but it seems to me that she is still not with us. It looks sort of like her, but I think she is on vacation, trying to figure it out. Her hospital room is devoid of flowers, but there is music, and there is Nancy, tied to the bed that holds her, wrapped in swirling tubes and surrounded by a fortress of machines. She blinks. She raises her hand to hold the sidebar of her bed. Right now, that is all she does.
The last few days have been pitch dark inside me. Not only is it seriously frightening to see what one small moment can do to a vivacious person you know, but next, it could be me. I do not want to continue any of my bad habits in the chance I could avoid this. But then, how do you avoid something that makes no sense at all?
In the meantime, I am filled with gratitude for whatever force granted me the ability to work in out for myself in art. This morning I made a map of Nancy’s head, or perhaps my head, thinking about Nancy. And I found a book I made, that I think needs finishing. In this book I used the black on black painting techniques that I use in my Magical Midnight Stories class. Sometimes it is necessary to paint on black.
Today I am grateful for my drive to create, for the healing that happens through that drive. I am grateful for my health, and my hands. I am grateful.
The Captain of my Soul
Posted on February 5, 2010 - Filed Under Written Inspiration
Lots of events this week.
Sam sent the dog outside saying “Teebo, wanna go out? Wanna go out into the world? Wanna go out into love?”
Sydney woke up and said “Mama, it feels like there is a whole world in my stomach and the continents are crashing into each other.”
My niece, Sophie and a large group of her friends memorized this poem. They were challenged to do so, but no one actually expected them to. When asked for volunteers, nearly the entire group of 11 year old kids stood up, and in unison, recited:
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley
Taos, the Luminous Landscape, August 7-12, 2010
Posted on February 4, 2010 - Filed Under 2010 Workshops
Northern New Mexico is one of my favorite places: I started going there to make art 12 years ago, the summer before my girl was born. What makes it so magical for me is likely the same as it was for Georgia O’Keefe, and other artists and writers that were enchanted away from their places of origin to land there. It is the light, the wide, wide vistas with ribbons of red and green. It is the desert floor that can look like Easter, full of purple and yellow. It is the sky, the huge, colorful showy sky.
If I was four people, one of me would be figuring out Dreamweaver so I could fix my website to make my workshop page function. One of me would be my secretary, to follow up on all those calls I made to try to find help for my webmaster person. One of me would plan the class, and one of me would be a wife and mother extraordinaire. Alas, my posting here will have to do for now.
My workshop is called “The Luminous Landscape”. We will be painting and bookmaking in the Stables Gallery, right in the heart of town and within walking distance from the casitas we rent from Lovey, at Taos Lodging. She is offering a 10% discount to students of this class, so please mention that to her if you call.
Lovey has a small beautiful compound of casitas that can be shared. They all have kitchens and baths and varied sleeping arrangements. We have happy hour outside on the deck.
The price for the class is $590 for five days, including some of the supplies, a welcome party, and a week of inspiration in the company of like-minded artists. The lodging and transportation are up to you.
Hopefully I will have my Paypal buttons up and running this week, so you can be one click away from a week of bliss!
And the winner is…..
Posted on January 30, 2010 - Filed Under Uncategorized
Lynne Sward! Congratulations! I need to track you down for a snail mail address.
Thanks to everyone who participated. I am going to keep doing this, I have a lot to give away, so come on back from time to time.
Also I am working on two interesting workshops. Taos for a week in the beginning of August this year, and Italy in 2011. I used to live in Florence, so this is a dream come true to be going back to teach there. The timing is great since my book is due some months before that.
Details to come!
Valley Ridge 2010
Posted on January 26, 2010 - Filed Under 2010 Workshops
Yesterday I sent this set of books off to Valley Ridge yesterday. All the books were made from one book, and I limited myself to using only that book for text and photos. There are 13 books in the house, more than most anyone will be able to do in this class, but I thought with the crowd that is coming I had better set the bar really high. Yesterday I mailed, banked, cleaned, organized, paid, and played homework helper and cooked. Today I am making my next list, fixing up my studio to launch on map making, and drinking tea, with my big fluffy puppy here with me listening to Italian violin music. Note the venue in Italy for 2011 to the right. It is celebration tour, as my book will be turned in and I will have nothing to do but plan a fabulous class and brush up on my Italian!
YES
Posted on January 21, 2010 - Filed Under Written Inspiration
Yes
It could happen any time, tornado,
earthquake, Armageddon. It could happen.
Or sunshine, love, salvation.
It could, you know. That’s why we wake
and look out — no guarantees
in this life.
But some bonuses, like morning,
like right now, like noon,
like evening.
~ William Stafford ~
Art Journaling Magazine
Cloth Paper Scissors
Interactive Art Workshop
Letter Arts Review
Somerset Sept
Somerset Studio
Somerset Studio
Somerset Studio
