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Sometimes we just have to take life and twist it around a bit, learn some things then allow it all to unfold so we can grow and become better people than we have been before.  I think that is what has happened with me and maybe it will be reflected in the work I do and the life I lead from here on out.  I know I am not sharing anything new or anything each of you have not dealt with in your own lives.  When I can stop, take the time to hold the past in my hands and heart and evaluate all which has happened I can see the power and be grateful for the experiences. When I am in the middle of the mess, however, I can see little good in what life is handing me.  I am sure you have been there, too.  I am chalking it up to process.

“I did not lead my life. it led me.” Henri Matisse

I like the way Henri thinks and sure hope life leads me fully back into my own creativity and all that encompasses.  I look forward to spending more time with you all.

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If you do not know about TED, I so encourage you to explore this site further.  You might become hooked!  Also, this image was provided by TED and the artist.

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So when life hands you opportunities which push your art aside for a bit, what do you do to get yourself immersed in your work again?  I have talked about that before, a lot, on this blog, however I often wonder how other artist get themselves back on track.  Are you a person who craves routine, or are you like me and balk at a rote life?  Sometimes I think I would find some of this easier if I truly needed routine to move me through my days, however I find that kind of living to be unsettling.  Mainly, I think I need to give myself an art project! I am the queen of slow, you know.

At any rate, I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas on the subject of re-immersion into work.  What is your wise advice?  I do have a few bits of excitement up my sleeve I will be sharing with you as 2011 unfolds.  I hope you have some wonderful plans, too.

Thanks to all of you who wrote me regarding my parent’s health issues.  They are both doing much better and hopefully they will both be back home and returning to their own lives soon.  All of your thoughts and blessings were greatly appreciated by all of my family.

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I have been thinking about music in the studio again because I have been re-reading Joe Fig’s book Inside the Painter’s Studio.  I re-read a lot, but this book I find so interesting.  During my recent bout of not being in the studio I listened to a lot of music – a lot of Leonard Cohen, actually.  As I was reading through these interviews again in Joe’s book, I became focused on the answers to the question, “Do you listen to music, the radio, or TV when you work?…” This question goes on to ask what, etc.  Anyway, so many artist said they do and the reason for it is that it empties their head, so they don’t think so much.  I found these answers perfectly resonated with me.  Music does that for me, as well, when I am in the studio.  Art is making way for more art.  I must have a clear head to allow the painting to develop.  Do you?

Are you listening to music now?  What is it?  Do you have a favorite line?  Leonard Cohen sings a song, Anthem.  In that song, the line,

There is a crack, a crack in everything

That’s how the light gets in

This line has become my mantra.

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This seems to be representative of the weather we are experiencing along the eastern seaboard today.  It is the result of a tropical storm.  I am just calling it wind and rain. This is acrylic ink on a lovely watercolor paper I discovered when I was in Paris.

Here is the thing, I really did not want to talk about the weather today.  No!  I have been getting back into the studio every day this week and am having a blast. I am actually sitting here typing with ink covered hands, my new mobile phone has dry pigment bits stuck to it and I am in my old grotty painting clothes!  This girl is happy!  I have even set up a new, white canvas and started a fresh painting!  I have not done that since last year (that isn’t a joke).  At the moment things are drying up there and considering the weather we are having I should probably work on some of the other projects I can do outside of the studio because the drying time is going to be long today!

In a later post, I will talk about the things I have learned and the slow process I have used to come out of this one.  It truly has been an adventure and I am so grateful to you all for bearing with me through it.

Oh yeah!  I am feeling good!  How about you?

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All along you thought it was money, didn’t you?  I am just kidding of course.  Today, this video came in my email inbox via Arts Journal.  Do you read this list of amazing articles from across all art disciplines culled from many English language sources?  I have been reading it for several years now and find some truly wonderful articles.  It is a bit academic and clearly from the art journalist point of view, but it gives me an idea of how other people are thinking about the arts and I like that. Now I am going to go back to my studio to work and play.  You enjoy the video and Arts Journal and have a wonderful weekend!

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So I tried to call my muse back to me by staying with my sketchbook.  She began to talk back with the words.  Muse kept prodding.  I think she really wanted to return, but she also wanted to make sure I was not going to abandon her again, so she kept testing me.  I found myself getting mired in the black and white, so she pulled back again a little bit, but she only wanted me to know this was the real thing and she wasn’t to be played with.  I had to do some harder work to get her back.  So I began to read (more about this in another post) and try to understand the hard work was to show up each day, as Elizabeth Gilbert says, and stay focused.  I had to not be so hard on myself and be open to the subtle messages wonderful people around me provided.  There are messengers in the least suspecting places.  In other words, I began to pay attention more and Muse started to come back again, giving me ideas and inspiration.  The color started to come back, too.  See…

I was overjoyed to see the colors again.  I did not want to loose them.  Muse reminded me all of this happens for a purpose and I had to evaluate what I learn along the way.  I had to really live what I knew.  I had to slow down, I had to show up, I had to meet my own needs, too.  Well, this is all fine and good, but how do I do this effectively?  Muse says there is a way which is just right for me, and I just had to figure it out.  I read more, began meditating more, did more yoga and one day an explosion happened.  I needed to do something which returned me to a child’s mind, so I began a left-handed sketchbook/journal (my non-dominant hand).  I really had to focus on each and every mark.  It has made a huge difference.  See, here are the first pages:

Yes, these are rough and they are weird (they are not abstract!), but the focus and concentration is like meditation and it connected me deeper with my right brain which is very important and very relaxing.  After I do these, I slip right into other art work.  It is right for me, for now.  Muse really likes it.  You know, it is just like when I begin to work with my left hand it is a signal to Muse that it is time to work and she comes around for a visit.  Here is one more page further on:

Now this one looks a bit abstract, but it was not at all the intention.  No, I am not going to begin to show you these silly drawings, but I did want to say how important it is to show up to work – just like anyone else.  Just because Muse takes a vacation, it doesn’t mean she will stay away.  Not like others, however, we have to be slow and methodical with our work and with our lives.  That is a great challenge in our world.  Muse doesn’t like speed, she will walk away from it every time.  Slow Living and Slow Art can be a truly Full Life.  Sometimes you have to bring Muse back gently and other times you have to send her away (if she starts playing with your head), but the key is knowing the right time to do each.  The Muse can be elusive, but if you treat her right, she is one of your best friends.  You have to treat her right, though.  She is human in that way!

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As I was looking through some of my paintings and sketches the other day I noticed something.  I have had a thing for finding my way through the forest or at least I seem to be making that analogy from time to time.  First I noticed this one which reminds me of a bamboo forest and someone (a woman) is trying to find her way with that darn flashlight (torch).

Then I found this in my sketchbook which is also about finding my way through the forest…

It is interesting to go back and look at some of these things from time to time.  I often just draw or just paint without thinking about it, but sometimes there are links.  I suppose I am just trying to find my way at the moment.  With all of this forest talk and door talk, I seem to be looking looking for something, waiting for something or just down right procrastinating.  If truth be told so far this year it has felt as though there has been change in the air.  I still have not been able to put my finger on it, but I feel as though maybe I haven’t been listening closely enough.  So I am working on that, too.  It is a slow process, but slow art is a good thing…slow living is a good thing.

It is all really quite exciting, really.  I am eager to get going with some serious work and looking forward to the snap in the air autumn brings.  I began a new project yesterday which I will be sharing with you as I get it settled in.  I also will be bringing out some more color around here.  It is about time…but I am not abandoning my sketchbook, either!

With that said, I leave you with this small gift of appreciation for bearing with me.  It has been a challenge and I appreciate your loyalty.

Please feel free to print this and use it as a bookmark or whatever you wish.  I hope you find simplicity and gratitude in your life each day.

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This is beargrass and grows up high in alpine regions.  Do you know now?  Okay, so these are the ones who really like the beargrass, and I saw several of them on this trip.  Actually, this is a small one – a cub.

One more hint.  I will give you a longer view from the Continental Divide…

Isn’t this beautiful?  Maybe it is in the eyes of the beholder, but to this family Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton National Park in Canada (collectively known as Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park) is a place we find amazing beauty.  This is the oldest international park in the world.  We love it there and I just spent two weeks contemplating the beauty this earth shares with us!  Inspiration is at every turn and I have returned with so much I can hardly get anything else accomplished.

So now you know where I have been.  Do you know this park?  Do you have a favorite natural place to visit?  Does it fill you with inspiration?

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