Taking a Winter Break for Now...

Funny about life...not funny ha-ha but funny in the way of surprising and fascinating changes. I entered blogland in 2008 and shorty after became life threatening ill...I recovered in a way that allowed me to continue art making and blogging and lots of other loves in life. Recently the road took a turn, I have been wanting to create 40 new pieces, publish a book of collected works of my art, set up a website and with that said, caught myself in a slowdown. I was gifted with a new and renewed boost through a critique and I believe a seasonal change. From summer to autumn gave me a regenerative boost of art making mojo! With all that said I have had to still face the facts of time and energy and desire. Don't get me wrong, I love my life but something has to give way and clearly my time on blogland has reached a needed break for now. I need and so want to focus on this journey...maybe one of my last...oh dear, I'm getting dramatic again but truly time is an issue. So for now and through the winter I'm turning off my comments, turning for now away from the happy busy life of commenting and getting me to the studio. I'll post with new work because the blog is such a perfect venue for revealing and cataloging new work and it also allows me the thread of connection I am unable to sever in this change. Carry on fellow bloggers this is a rich and supportive community...I have reaped tons of virtual friends and found playmates galore. I know we all understand as artists the pull of pursuing those strong desires to...just work!

Update: Have had serious withdrawals from blogging! Looking forward to returning in the Spring.

November flowers

Four years ago today Paul (aka Pablo) and I were married. This is me holding my November bouquet...the last of the Hydrangeas and keeping the rich fall and winter colors. The same flowers were repeated on the tables with the compliment of rich blue table cloths with candles. The bouquet was actually quite heavy and I balanced it with my beverage of choice...Proseco. Today we are celebrating with written words and a quiet dinner. Hurray for love and especially for last loves!

Fresh Eyes

This piece has shrunk from 20"x20" to 16"x16" and the former had two windows but the finished piece alas, has none. The title stays the same "Fields of Boaz". acrylic, waxed thread, tissue paper collage and light molding paste. It has been quite a journey...somewhere in this paper is embedded the first page of the Book of Ruth (in Norwegian) ...I was getting dizzy from all the changes but thank goodness Rives BFK is strong stuff and it has reached it's end point for me.

I was complaining to friend Deena several weeks ago that I needed a critique...fresh eyes, support, collaboration, feedback...my work was feeling slow. Actually I was feeling as though I was working in slow motion and I was longing to get out of my own way. Dear friend and wonderful person that she is... listened! For my birthday I received 4 critique sessions with a well respected artist here in Santa Cruz!! It was conditional on the grounds that we hit it off on our first meeting. Lisa came over yesterday and we placed the work on the floor for a good view. I am so pleased...first we did hit it off and second she gave me her fresh look, asked great questions, interesting reactions in a clear and respectful manner. I wrote down a list of new "takes" on my work, new clarity on my direction. I've had solid critiques at the university long ago and this was so appreciated. Along with new energy, I'll be planning on re-connecting with so called completed work and I have new plans to expand into my ongoing goal of producing forty new pieces. Always hard for me to go back into work but it is necessary as Pablo is doing re-writes on his first draft, I will re-enter older work... willing to accept a more alive completion. Tell me about your critique experiences? Have you found them helpful? after completing art courses...not expecting a pass or fail but just better understanding...supportive?

Mandala Update: While all this excitement with the critique has been going on, the mandala has been moving slowly. Base coat on and a strong desire to add layers. The number 8 (my personal favorite) and squaring the circle is also a strong pull so I'll give it a go!