Focus

Open Studios was last weekend and it was an uplifting experience.   I had a whole wall filled with my work and it was a bit overwhelming and exciting to see how far I have come.  A number of people asked about my process and expressed their desire to get back to their own artwork that got neglected along the way.  As I have said many times, it is so easy to get taken over by life and it takes focus and determination to pursue any interest that has meaning for you.  Believe me, there are times when I have to push myself into my studio, then once I am there, I am so happy.  Though I know some artists who say that they must do something every day, even if its for five minutes.  I'm best when I have a deadline, whether self-imposed or external.  Next Friday evening I will be hosting a gallery reception at Reasons To Be Cheerful, 110 Commonwealth Avenue, West Concord, 6:30-8:30.  Please feel free to drop in for hors d'oeuvres, wine and some colorful work.  Here is a photo of my wall:

Moving Forward

Now I am in the thick of it!  Open Studios are this weekend - actonopenstudios.org and www.youtube.com/watch.  I will be at the Artist Corner and Gallery, 566 Mass. Avenue, Acton - 12-5 Saturday and Sunday.  On Friday evening, October 28, I am having an artist reception along with Rozsi Moser at Reasons To Be Cheerful, 110 Commonwealth Avenue, Concord, from 6:30-8:30.  Our work is colorful and uplifting so please do come and feel free to bring a friend.  So much to do.  I am having fun mounting my work on wood panels.  It presents a whole new dimension.  I have been working feverishly to get things done and along the way have allowed myself to let go of what I am not satisfied with and reconfigure the piece or concept.  What I have ended up with has pleased me because I did not allow myself to become blocked.  I just relaxed into the process and moved forward. 

Dare to Try

It's a warm, rainy day and I am home with my sweet dog Chloe.  I am getting ready for a gallery reception and have to hang my work next week though the reception isn't until the end of October.  I am challenging myself to put out work that is different from what I have been doing.  And in between, working on personal projects.  My granddaughter is turning one in a few weeks.  When my daughter turned one, I bought her a beautiful little wrought iron chair from an antique store.  I saved it. My husband cleaned it up and painted it and I made new pillows.  It came out just the way I had hoped.  Sewing is always tricky for me because I never make the same thing twice and all the measuring is annoying to me.  It's always a battle with lots of ripping out and redoing.  I never am sure if what I am working on will come out looking at all like what I picture in my head.  It's like that when I bake as well.  Too much measuring and following instructions.  Cooking is a more creative endeavor for me and I can experiment.  That's why I enjoy collage and abstract painting. There is no recipe,  I don't have to know what the result will be, and I just flow with it.  Well, this is a ramble!  I guess the theme here is dare to try new things and enjoy your creativity.  So, here is Anika's  chair.  I hope this will be passed down to her little girl.

Letting Go

It was a wonderful summer and now I am back in my life.  It is clear to me that I need structure.  One month away was enough for me.  It was filled with family, friends, beach time and lobster.  I was also able to take a fabulous three day book making workshop.  I loved it.  I had summer art goals that I actually met and now I am getting ready for an open studio and a gallery reception, both in October.   Oh yes, and both my grandchildren's birthdays, an apple picking party that I am re-instituting, an Art Garfunkle concert, my 39th anniversary weekend and who knows what else?  I learned a lot about myself this summer, it was empowering.  Mostly it was about trusting myself, honoring myself and letting go of residual fears and life regrets.  I thought I had already figured this out but I went deeper and feel as if I came fully into myself. I learned more clearly how to take a step back and breathe through the rough spots and then let go.  Worrying and holding onto anxt does not serve any purpose.  I remember telling a client who worried a lot to save all his worries up and sit down each evening for 1/2 hour and then allow himself to worry.  The next week when he came in, I asked how it had gone.  He said he didn't do it because it seemed stupid and a waste of time.  "That's the whole point" I replied.  So let go and free yourself up!!!

Take a look at some of what I did this summer:

Paste Painting

 Paste Painting

 Books

Book Sculpture

Happy Summer

Summer is flying by, as it usually does.  I have done some work, not as much as I had hoped to.  I will be in Maine for the month of August and hope to have some free time to sit on my porch, listen to music and paint.  I have an Open Studio and a show in the fall - both in October.  It is always a bit of a struggle for me.  Do I want to exhibit or do I just want to work when I want to and not put myself out there?  There are positives and negatives to both.  Participating in shows forces me to do the work and keeps me connected to other artists.  When I am working, I am enjoying myself.  It is very easy to get caught up in daily life and then time goes by and nothing gets done.  So that is my dilemma.  I am sure it is a common one.  I guess my answer is I will keep doing what I am doing (shows I mean) until I don't want to do them anymore.  When I was younger, I wanted to be rich and famous (like the movie Rich and Famous).  Now, I just want to enjoy myself.  Happy rest of the summer.  See you in the fall.

Making The Effort

I am really making an effort to get to my art space and work during the week, even if it's only for an hour at a time.  I always feel so good when I do a piece of work.  I find this is especially true when I am feeling anxious or stressed.  Creating calms me.  So does being with my grandchildren.  I am fortunate to have such great passions.  I will share a bit.  I was holding Ari and singing to him - "You are my sunshine, etc. which ends with "Please don't take my sunshine away."  He lifted his head and in a soft voice said to me "I won't take your sunshine away.  It doesn't get any sweeter than this.  Happy Fourth.

Jai

Lost in Space

I have been lost in time and space.  I did not realize that it has been so long since I posted.   Posting weekly is becoming more and more difficult as the weather improves and I begin spending more time in Maine.  I am hoping to bring my art supplies up this summer so that on long weekends in July and especially during August, when I am there for the month, I can sit outside on my porch and paint.  That is, if friends are not visiting or my grandchildren are not with me.  For when the children are around, nothing gets accomplished except lots of playtime, laughter, hugging and exhaustion!  Yesterday when I asked my 2 1/2 year old grandson to help me clean up his toys, he said "No.  I'm sitting."  Then he moved his little chair closer to me and said "Nana clean up.  I'll watch."  What can you do but laugh???  Here is a little piece I finished last week.