Ars Interruptus
The gessoed panel is still sitting there on the easel exactly where I left it at the last post, three weeks ago today. Two new things in the studio: an electric battery charger and a giant rosemary plant, both indicative of what's been going on around here.
I'm getting a little too heavy for my knees, and am determined to get this weight off before it gets any worse. I did a so-called arthritis diet a few years ago and it did help somewhat. Steve, too, wants to lose weight and so overhauling our cooking arrangements has been the project of the month. We've replaced suspect pots and pans with ones much safer to use, acquired a yogurt maker, joined an organic food co-op, and set up a nice-sized indoor herb garden. I've done this kind of thing before, when my son was little, even made his baby food from scratch, so it's a bit like going back 20-odd years in time. But the change has had a dramatic effect on both of us for the better.
In the meantime, though, little things started breaking or malfunctioning--parts on the stove, the fridge, both cars, etc. The cars have finally been sorted out, the part has come in for the stove, and all is manageable, except, of course, that it has all taken up a lot of time, time which I won't get back.
Thoughts on the passing of time have naturally occurred more frequently, as yesterday was my father's 80th birthday. Seems like yesterday that he was my age. He certainly doesn't look or act 80. But then at 50 he could run circles around me when I was only 20. My mother put together a nice surprise birthday party for him, and she reports that he was very pleased by the whole thing.
I have had art-related activities, though, the most significant being the state Art Association's grant-writing workshop for individual artists. I think I can put together something for my maiden grant-writing voyage. I've no great hopes of winning a grant, but I want to at least get started in the process of writing them. I did make some nice connections at the workshop, particularly with a rep from the state who does a lot of work with disabled artists.
Steve has put my portfolio on the gallery website. This move, long overdue, was triggered by a regional art event similar to the Cows on Parade in Chicago a few years ago. A portfolio was required for artists submitting their names for consideration by the committee and sponsors. We've both submitted our names. The selected artists will get a small stipend for their work.
We were recently contacted by a non-profit preschool for donations of art for a fund-raising auction. This is nothing new for us, as we frequently make such donations to various fundraisers, but this time was unusual for me because the organizer came to the gallery and studio and made a point of telling me that she is a fan of my work and has been following it for some time. While making a selection from what I made available for donation, she picked out one of mine and asked when it was done, and expressed familiarity with some of my other work from various "batches." This was quite a new experience for me and of course terribly flattering, to think that there is someone out there other than a friend or family member who is following my work.
If feels good to finally be back in the studio and thinking about art. Now I must actually start painting again. I know, I know....
I'm getting a little too heavy for my knees, and am determined to get this weight off before it gets any worse. I did a so-called arthritis diet a few years ago and it did help somewhat. Steve, too, wants to lose weight and so overhauling our cooking arrangements has been the project of the month. We've replaced suspect pots and pans with ones much safer to use, acquired a yogurt maker, joined an organic food co-op, and set up a nice-sized indoor herb garden. I've done this kind of thing before, when my son was little, even made his baby food from scratch, so it's a bit like going back 20-odd years in time. But the change has had a dramatic effect on both of us for the better.
In the meantime, though, little things started breaking or malfunctioning--parts on the stove, the fridge, both cars, etc. The cars have finally been sorted out, the part has come in for the stove, and all is manageable, except, of course, that it has all taken up a lot of time, time which I won't get back.
Thoughts on the passing of time have naturally occurred more frequently, as yesterday was my father's 80th birthday. Seems like yesterday that he was my age. He certainly doesn't look or act 80. But then at 50 he could run circles around me when I was only 20. My mother put together a nice surprise birthday party for him, and she reports that he was very pleased by the whole thing.
I have had art-related activities, though, the most significant being the state Art Association's grant-writing workshop for individual artists. I think I can put together something for my maiden grant-writing voyage. I've no great hopes of winning a grant, but I want to at least get started in the process of writing them. I did make some nice connections at the workshop, particularly with a rep from the state who does a lot of work with disabled artists.
Steve has put my portfolio on the gallery website. This move, long overdue, was triggered by a regional art event similar to the Cows on Parade in Chicago a few years ago. A portfolio was required for artists submitting their names for consideration by the committee and sponsors. We've both submitted our names. The selected artists will get a small stipend for their work.
We were recently contacted by a non-profit preschool for donations of art for a fund-raising auction. This is nothing new for us, as we frequently make such donations to various fundraisers, but this time was unusual for me because the organizer came to the gallery and studio and made a point of telling me that she is a fan of my work and has been following it for some time. While making a selection from what I made available for donation, she picked out one of mine and asked when it was done, and expressed familiarity with some of my other work from various "batches." This was quite a new experience for me and of course terribly flattering, to think that there is someone out there other than a friend or family member who is following my work.
If feels good to finally be back in the studio and thinking about art. Now I must actually start painting again. I know, I know....
posted by meg at 2:25 PM
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