Almost Finished

I'm now almost finished with the paintings for the Trinity School artists market. What a pleasant surprise to find new imagery, well not quite new, but new in terms of the encaustics I'm painting. Trees have become so important to me and I think that is not surprising since I have now been working in a suburban setting for almost three years. Before, my studio looked out upon a gravel parking lot and the only yard work necessary was to kick the gravel off the entry pad. Though I have missed my old studio with its high ceiling and bountiful room, I am now beginning to take advantage of the fact that there are lovely trees so close to me and they are so beautiful.

Not just that they are beautiful but they have also been suffering through the drought. I want to be their protector though I know I can't.

For years my work has really focused on the manmade structure of the urban environment. When I pulled out the many photographic prints I have made there were enumerable photos of trees from every angle: macros, abstractions, the list goes on. So here I am embarking on new territory and feeling a kinship with the images. What they mean to me I'm not quite sure yet. But I don't have to know. I will continue to work and let the images come through me and melt into the panels. I am now finding my way back to photography in the most unexpected way.

Girl Scout Cookies

I can't believe I will be the proud owner of eight boxes of Girl Scout Cookies very soon. It just happened since I know a few parents whose girls are now selling the cookies. A tradition, that's what it is though I will no doubt not eat any of them..I'm not much for eating any kind of processed food. In fact, since becoming a vegetarian a few years ago I am rather deligent about eating properly. My allergies disappeared when I started this regimen, who knew?

I have discovered polenta. Why did it take so long? I don't know but I do know it's great to sling it on the grill on Monday evenings as I create dinner in fifteen minutes. That's all the time I have between students on Monday. I do believe my food network job awaits me as the creator of "Fifteen Minute Meals". Believe me I'm an expert at throwing healthy hash on a plate.

Today was an off day as I decided to continue to savor ("The Sound of Paper") and even work on some of the lists Cameron suggests. I needed a break from "burning in". The paintings are going so well I am almost finished with the thirteenth...the last one that is if I don't change my mind. It could happen. I will once again be ready on time for the Trinity School Exhibit.

I know this photo has nothing to do with cookies but this cat duo made me laugh today.

The Sound of Paper

Last night I started reading Julia Cameron's book "The Sound of Paper". I may have owned one of her other books, "The Artist's Way", but never really got involved in it. This book is written so beautifully that just reading it fires off my creative spirit. I just love reading it if only for the way she writes. I found this copy in a used bookstore when in Savannah before Christmas and I guess I was waiting until I finished Kirk Varnedoe's book, "Pictures of Nothing" a fascinating book...so lovely I could not make my usual notes in it..maybe sometime to go back and mark my favorite passages.

Reading for me is a catalyst. I don't know why but the better written the book the more dreaming and the more ideas start to hatch maybe even more than when journaling or drawing in my sketchbook. Paper itself is interesting. I buy paper long before I know what I'll do with it. The photo is of a monotype that I completed a while ago called "Existences". Great paper.

Julia's idea of writing three pages of longhand every morning may never catch on with me but her superb writing will assist me on this creative journey.

White Cube

This morning through a friend of mine I discovered the artwork of Doris Salcedo and quickly viewed her work on the website http://www.whitecube.com . Not only was Salcedo's work interesting but I found a plethora of artists that engaged me. It will never cease to amaze me that I have so much information availabe to me at the click of a mouse.

I have the leisure of surfing this morning as I print information brochures on my upcoming encaustic workshops at the Atlanta Artists Center. Working with a small group of artists is really a pleasure. When I was conducting my "Exploring Abstraction" workshops, we had so much fun. I made as many discoveries as the participants did. That's the way it is with mentoring or teaching, a great way to energize.

Snowing

I'm in my studio not working because I am enjoying the snow falling outside my windows. Today I have too many windows (and a glass door to the deck) so that my attention is on the beautiful wonderland of white and not on the work that is before me today. Living in New Jersey for so many years I really was blase about snow but being back in the south for a time now, snow is welcome again. There is a visitor on the deck, not my cat, but a cat that has taken up residence under cover of the gazebo. In fact this great orange cat has been sleeping on my chair for the past few days, have no idea where he's from.

Good Friends

I had lunch with old friend today. I had not seen Brenda (http://www.brendapinnickdesigns.com/) in at least five years; a lot to catch up in a short time. She truly is one of the most creative and generous artists I've ever known; ready to assist another artist anyway she can. Generosity is scarce these days midst the competiveness that accompanies "trying to get ahead". I enjoyed talking with her and finding out about the many design projects she's working on. She is so passionate about what she does. I love it.

Tonight I'm back to work on the encaustics I'm creating for the Trinity School Show. Oh my, I've done this show a least six years maybe more since I'm not counting, don't have time to. I look forward to the show this year because I like the work I'm exhibiting better than anything I've done before. It will be interesting to see if my audience is as please as I am.

Hurrah, my page is updated on the CLARA database on the National Museum for Women in the Arts website with photos of my new encaustics and info about me. That was fast as I sent the CD and info only last week. Thanks to Emily Frum for the quick posting.

O.K., I'm not painting so it's high time I start but following Brenda's lead I'll be posting here more often. She has good advice.