So yesterday in greater Boston it was pushing 90 degrees and about as humid as humid gets, but I found some yarn in a very old, neglected stash that I knew would be perfect for Jayda’s “Big Bulky Cowl.” Fortunately it’s a very quick project.
Change is in the air...
So… this is turning out to be a CRAZY busy summer for me. My Forest Kindergarten-inspired camp is open which means I’m working outside - all day - Monday through Friday. It’s exhausting (especially after four months of isolation!) and I love it. And just for some added excitement, Kevin and I have wanted to move back to Maine for several years and finally figured “why not do it in the middle of a global pandemic?” Our weekends will be spent packing and slowly moving things up there, and we’ll be there full-time in mid-August. Being outside so much has me feeling more inspired these days and I have lots of ideas for freshening up my shop this fall. I am so excited about all the opportunities and possibilities the future holds!
Trying to Get Through*
Happy Little Tree against a plaid flannel sky. Pattern by the ridiculously talented Jayda in Stitches
Still here, still (physically) healthy, still struggling to paint, still crocheting as a coping mechanism. Big things happening this summer, though, so please stay tuned!
*one of my favorite songs by Hothouse Flowers!
Emerging
Well, I reached the point of saturation a week or so ago and stuck my head in the sand for a while. Emerging to share this commission I managed to eke out a couple weeks ago and to dip my toes back into the social media water. Painting is hard for me when I feel like this and I’ve gone back to crocheting like crazy - it’s a creative outlet but doesn’t demand too much creativity from me, if that makes any sense. I’ll probably share the occasional project on here, and will hopefully feel more like painting over the coming days and weeks. I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy and managing this season that just gets crazier and crazier each week.
I think a lot; it's hard to keep track.*
Trying to quiet my mind (I clearly have a lot of work to do in that department) à la Kateri Ewing using my makeshift “Atlas Shrugged” palette: Artemis Paints Pipestone, Wyatt Oil, Dagny, and Rearden Metal along with Finetec copper? bronze? I wish you could see the true magic of the Rearden Metal in this picture - it’s the most perfect blue hue I’ve ever met(!) with just the right amount of gold shimmer.
*David Tennant as Dr. Who
Nightscapes are back!
These paintings helped me get started selling my art, but I did so many of them in such a short time that eventually I couldn’t bear the thought of painting even one. I’m finally getting over that. This scene (with sparkly silver stars!) is up in my shop now!
Awakening
So I was sitting at my desk, drinking extra coffee, feeling guilty that I have so many beautiful paints but no motivation/inspiration these days. Spotted black paper on the shelf; wondered how the new Stoneworks Mill Awakenings Collection would do on it (knowing that there’s a little bit of white pigment in most of the colors). The answer is “quite well!”
New Nightscape
Experimenting with new directions for nightscapes! In other news: still in hardcore isolation, still not talking about my feelings.
New Love
Today is the day I officially fell head-over-heels in love with Arches (140lb CP) paper. I’ve used it on and off over the years and have been perfectly content with it... and then today I broke down an imperial-sized sheet. It tears so easily and LOOK AT THOSE EDGES!!!
PLAYING!
Since I opened my online store I’ve taken my art practice WAY too seriously. In my mind everything has to be a “sellable” piece. No playing, no major experimenting, no true fun. If something doesn’t work out the way I imagine it’s a complete failure. Yes, I know that this is all totally counterproductive and exactly the opposite of what I should think, but this is how my perfectionist brain works. So this morning I told it to stuff it and got out some long-neglected supplies: my Neocolor IIs, some stencils, and my Lukas Farben acrylics. Oh, that Cryl Studio Turquoise!!!