Fragments

Some days I feel like I am doing fragments of activities. A little here, a little there. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for fragmented days. Is it attention deficit day? Is it caused by distractions of things we have no control over? Is it angst? Is it lack of a plan? Or is it catching up day? Maybe it is a day when I have a need to tie up loose ends, to aleviate clutter of personal space, or of the mind. Here is a piece of art that illustrates the kind of day I am having today. There are some good things planned but I am feeling jittery.

How time flies

As I look back at my last blog entry I am amazed at how time flies. Here it is already 12 days later. Family life, work and marketing art and small increments of creating art can take up more time than one can imagine. Yet one needs to have balance. So as I try to make time for exercise, and all the other facets of my life, I see that some days there just are not enough hours. In one week I will begin a new time schedule. I will be working a regular 8:00 - 4:30 job. I can only guess that balance will be ever more important and time will begin to feel more precious. But I am committed to be more efficient and equally balanced so there is time for mind, body and spirit.

Motivated to make more cards

Last week a friend of mine took 33 of my cards which she will market in her studio. My inventory needs to be replenished. Another friend is going to flaunt my cards in her office. I am excited and am working towards building up the inventory. I am also working through my Artist Way by Julia Cameron with a group. A support group is always good for keeping one on track. Also, I am working on drawing skills by reading and doing the suggested exercises from a book called Creative License. The author keeps the chapters short and very humorous.

September 11, 2007

I meant to post this yesterday but just didn't get around to doing it. I spent much of the day in my studio completing small projects. Also, trying to purge some things that are not usable or just plain junk. But throughout the day I kept reflecting how utterly tragic this day was 6 years ago. I created some spiritual pieces in the aftermath. And now I can only wish for P E A C E throughout the world. Global peace is what I wish for more than anything in the world. In wishing this I seek moments of peace for myself by communing with nature whether it is at the beach in the forest or by the river. PEACE to all.

A hike at the arboretum

Saturday was the most perfect day to hike at the arboretum. The weather was crisp yet sunny. My mood was enthusiastic. I had my camera, a bottle of water and comfortable shoes. I decided to revisit a place I used to take my children when they were little, the BIG ROCK. The rock seemed much smaller than I remembered. But I smiled when I remembered how adorable they were climbing the BIG ROCK. Normally not bothered by mosquitoes, today I was being eaten alive. I thought I had everything with me, but the repellent was what I really needed today. Here are the shots from the woods. The fungi were really fascinating. So many varieties. An interesting thought, fungi can symbolize recycling. From the decay comes another. That is what I am doing with some old artwork. Recycling decaying watercolors, prints, acrylic attempts.

Rhythms

I often include musical notation in my collages. When I sat down to ponder why I do that I returned to some fond memories. My father was a choral conductor. In those days when he needed to create scores for the choristers the only way to do copying was with a mimeograph machine. At that time I must have been a kid of 12 or 13 and my dad would let me sit and score out the musical notes onto the stencil. It was the most beautiful cerulean blue color and when you scored it on the lightbox you removed this waxy material and only the light shined through. It was magical. In addition I sang in a choir for about 8 years and never missed one rehearsal. So I guess one could say music is a big part of who I am. My daughter too is quite musical so there is plenty of music in the household.

More cards fresh off the press

A field trip to Chicago

I have been promising myself an artist date (a la Julia Cameron) to Chicago. Well today I got to do just that and the weather could not have been better. I took the train in the morning and walked to the Chicago Cultural center. The air was clean and there was a delightful breeze. I walked past the famous sculptures and discovered a farmers market right in front of the Picasso. Oh the senses were delighted. The Chicago Cultural Center has several art exhibits which were interesting. The best one was of contemporary art from India. The pieces that really spoke to me were 1. a huge paper sculpture called Personal Space (it was huge and full of interesting words, textures, symbols, etc. It was large enough to stand it. Actually several people could stand in the personal space. 2. The other was work done by an artist that paints onto mattresses. It is always difficult to describe art. Unfortunately the exhibit did not allow photographs to be taken.

Skipping Girl Card

I like the feel of this card and I wonder if it is a piece I should be framing. Maybe it needs to be upgraded. Any thoughts???

Gratitude for an Art Patron

So many times an artist is approached to donate a work of art for a good cause. There are so many good causes. My inclination was to donate small pieces in the past. Lately I have been inclined to decline. However, last year and this year a dear friend and patron of the arts did the right thing. She called to say she would buy art from me and donate it to a charity for their annual auction. She came over today and selected her favorite piece. I loved that piece so much and am glad it is going for a good cause but not at my expense. Kudos to those who give and support the artist. I hope others will do the same. Thank you Kathy from the bottom of my heart.

 

This is just another card.

Still creating one of a kind note cards

One day my daughter and I created a list of occasions that warrant a special hand-made one of a kind cards not available at Hallmark. This is the list we came up with:
Birthday, Anniversary, Sympathy, Graduation, Promotion, Retirement, Encouragement, Engagement, Wedding, Birth of a Child, New Job, New Home, Adoption, Get Well, Congratulations for a job Well done, Award, Achievement of a Special Goal, Bon Voyage, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Baptism, Thank You, Confirmation, Bar Mitzvah, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Thinking of You, First Holy Communion, Hannukkah, Bat Mitzvah, Just Because......

Take me to the Seashore

Take me to the seashore,
Let me walk upon the sand.
Help me feel the bonding
That comes with God and Man.
Let me hear the roar of water
In the sea shells that I find.

I marvel at the sunrise
As I stand in the water's foam.
And I feel the spray upon me
While I'm standing here alone.
There is a peace within me
As I watch each wave roll in.
I know that God is with me..
He is my Protector and my Friend.

Our family in Florida

Vacationing in Florida

This summer I was without the benefit of a computer. Sometimes it is good to get away from technology. One experiences a certain freedom to do other things. My mornings began at 6 am. I awoke and dressed into a bathing suit, grabbed the camera and went for a morning walk on the beach. The sun rose every morning about 6:45. By that time I had observed any changes on the shore, ooed and ahhed at the rising sun and its majesty. Then I swam for an hour with my beach friend, Karla. We talked about many different topics: peace, tranquility, meditation, and the glory of nature. We swam with many little fish. The water was warm anc calm most mornings. Then I exercised, swam in the pool and by afternoon it was time to go indoors to avoid the highest temperatures. That was when I worked on my greeting cards. Collage or watercolor were my mediums. I even managed to sell quite a few to my Florida friends.

My cards

"I want to thank you for the BEAUTIFUL anniversary card
you sent us with such a lovely message. I'm in the
process of having just the right frame made for your
collage. Mary is coming with her two boys to spend a
few days with us, and I'm eager to show her your work."
This is the message I received today from my sister's mother-in-law, Mary Campbell. I always make an original card for my friends and family. It simply never ceases to amaze me when I get such a compliment. Why is it that I think my work is not so extraordinary? Is it because I love doing it and it comes relatively easily? I think my cousin Tamara relayed the same message last week when she told me that she can't believe people think her writing is extraordinary. She says it comes to her so easily. Well I have been producing some cards these last few weeks as I try to immerse myself in art-making again. Several cards sold before I even had a chance to scan them. I am blessed that some people appreciate my work.

My Creative Work Matters

An Affirmation

I am still being unproductive in my art. I can't pinpoint what the problem is. I have been focused on family. With my daughter who is back from college I feel I want to spend more time together before she goes off again. Then we have my son's birthday coming up. This weekend there was a surprise visit from my daughter's boyfriend and the list of reasons to stay away from artmaking goes on. And yet I feel there may be an underlying reason that is lurking. When I read Eric Maisel's e-mail last night about a seminar for creativity coaching, I think I found the answer. I have been feeling that my creative life does not matter. So Eric's advice to all the attendants was the following affirmation: I MATTER AND MY CREATIVE LIFE MATTERS. I' ll be repeating that one and see what happens.