Wanted: Creative Friends

Finally, I've discovered that I have a lot in common with an "old" friends with whom I've recently reconnected after many, many years. She is creative and enthusiastic, sharing many of my interests and aspirations for things yet to be tried. I guess I hadn't realized how much I longed to have a friend with whom I could share ideas about painting, grout or wire and who would get it! While this reestablished friendship is long distance, I'm thrilled to have someone with whom to swap stories and ideas. That alone inspires me to get to work.

Years ago a friend of mine that appreciated real craft, real art, confessed (in a joking manner) that she auditioned friends for their artistic talent. When I pushed a little for clarity, I realized that there was some truth behind her joke as evidenced by the wide array of beautiful artwork found in every room of her house. There was the beautiful handpainted (by a friend) rocking chair on the front porch, the stunning paper party hats (created by a friend) for her daughter's birthday party, the fantastic pillows created using hand-carved wooden blocks, the design completed by hand painting (by a friend), to name just a few objects. I felt privileged to be a part of the gang and enjoyed meeting her artist friends. I wished then and still that I had even a smidgen of their talent. I wish that I could spend time with people that are so inspiring. Where are they????

This friend and I have since lost touch, and she now lives quite a distance away. I miss her and her family very much. I no longer have any connection to those artsy friends of hers whose mere presence inspired me. My own friendships have developed through work and my children's schools. While we clearly have some things in common, how can it be that not one of them shares an interest in art with me?

So I will relish this rekindled friendship both for our shared past, and for our current shared interests. I will make the effort to broaden my own artistic horizons and hopefully expand that circle of artistic and creative friends.

How to create more free time for art

1. Wash the same load of laundry a couple of times. It takes less time than folding all of those stupid cloth napkins we insist on using. The house will smell great, and everyone will think you've been working really, really hard.
2. When you do finish the laundry, give someone ALL of the socks. They can fight over them later and you save yourself the time to sort.
3. For really cluttered rooms, grab a cardboard box and a tape gun. It's amazing how clean it looks when you grab everything, shove it in a box, tape that puppy shut and drag it to the garage. To heck with the contents.
4. When solicitors call, just answer the phone and set it down in front of Sponge Bob or some other cartoon. The solicitor is tied up and your phone won't ring for a while.
5. There's ALWAYS more room under the bed for one more thing you don't want to look at and can't think of anywhere else to put it.
6. Kids room a mess? I get a broom, sweep it all in a pile and shove it in a garbage bag. They can sort it, or I can toss it. It saves us all hours.
7. There's really no such thing as something that's not dishwasher safe if you hate washing dishes.

Time to paint! :-)

Grumpy on the first day of spring

I've been writing as if anyone other than I will read this blog, always worrying about how I'll come across. Not today. I'm so incredibly grumpy and I want to snarl for a minute.

I fussed and fussed on here for a minute, then read what I wrote and hit "Delete." I can't just complain when I'm a big contributor to the issues making me so grumpy. If I'm tired of babysitting everyone through life, I have to stop doing the babysitting. I'm going to let my husband forget his assistant's birthday on Monday because I've reminded him more often than necessary and it's his issue, not mine. He's an adult. I've given my son the same lectures about how important school and good (even just decent!) grades are as he's about to enter high school, and he just doesn't care enough to make an effort (other than getting the requisite passing grades). I can't care on his behalf and have that make any difference. I can keep complaining about not getting into the studio, or I can get myself better organized and schedule studio time just as I had meetings on my calendar when I worked in an office.

Time to quit fussing. I feel a little better.

More on the issue of "self-taught"

I recently read Mary Englebreit's bio and was thrilled to see that she did not attend art school beyond high school courses. Yeah for hope!

Is "Self Taught" the kiss of death for an artist???

As I'm wrapping up the studio and actually getting it into a condition that will allow me to work, I'm busy sketching and jotting down ideas for future projects. I like looking at Etsy to see what other artists are doing and to get a sense of whether or not there's any market left given this stinky economy. On the one hand, I'm as intimidated as hell with the artists' bios that go on at length about their MFA from this fabulous university, followed by gallery shows all over the globe. Then I stumble on web sites or printed articles about people who are, in my opinion, great artists and describe themselves as "self taught." I dread the conversations with my husband's work associates (he's a senior administrator at a large university) when they ask (if they bother, because I AM just the wife), "What do you do?" I feel as if I must first apologize for no longer having an office job (it was a great job at a hospital, but then they ask if I am a nurse or doctor, to which I must justify my life and responsibilities for all radiation safety, contracts, etc. and watch their eyes glaze). When I explain that I have "retired" from the world of suits and pantyhose to follow my passion for art, they start asking questions about where I studied or with whom. Some of these people collect the real thing - they have Picasso hanging in their home, among other "real" artists' works. Now I want to change the subject.

I twitch in discomfort and reply that I have learned on my own after years of playing, expirimenting, enjoying inspiration provided by knowing other artists or following their work. Do we have to have permission to use the label artist because it was not bestowed by an institution of higher education? I went to high school with John Lasseter (Pixar) and can tell you that I remember distinctly attending a show of art work by the students, particularly two of his huge paper mache sculptures. I remember thinking that this guy was a seriously talented artist, and he was only a senior in high school. I never even took art in high school, but can't imagine my life without being able to release the creative drive that I can't explain to people who just don't have that compulsion to create something out of bits and pieces.

Perhaps I just need to relax about answering the dreaded question. I am self taught, and I'm not too lousy at it all if I do say so myself. Even if it is privately or anonymously here on the web.

Time to sketch.

Old, silly art

I was looking through photos of work I did quite a while ago and stumbled across the photo of a "doll" that I made for a co-worker. We had been swapping stories of childhood poverty and were joking about who had the worst toys. Trish told me that they were so poor, her family couldn't afford to buy her a doll, so she made one out of a piece of 2x4 on which she drew facial features and carried around like a doll. That inspired me to whip up my own version of a 2x4 doll, complete with copper wire for hair, bamboo extremities, and a skirt made of torn chiffon attached with copper nails. It was meant to be a joke, but Trish absolutely loved it and was actually a little weepy. I couldn't believe she actually kept the beast in the office for a while, then proudly displayed it in her living room (she even provided a photograph). This is the stuff that makes art fun.

Almost time for art

I've got the bookshelf in the room, and today I move in the cutting table and the rest of my supplies. It's hard to stay focused. I was recently urged by "old" school mates to set up a Facebook page so that we could all keep in touch regardless of changes in our email addresses. It's addicting! The best part is that I've reconnected with friends that I have truly missed over the years and am enjoying rekindling friendships that are more than just curiosity after all these years have passed. The icing on the cake is that I found family. Having grown up in a huge family (extended - cousins, second cousins, etc), we all scattered and lost touch. My two children know only old pictures and stories. What a great gift to reconnect. Perhaps it's time to consider a reunion?!?

In the meantime, the notion of reconnecting with friends and family has inspired me on a project idea. Time to sketch and get some supplies. Woohoo! Back in action!!!!!!!!!!!!