THE ALLURE OF MY MUSE

I have not been working in my studio for a long stretch of time now except to water plants and tidy up a bit, as evident from the lack of posts showcasing new work. Meanwhile, I've been asking for some motivation and have had some quiet visitations by my muse in recent days. With that there have been some ideas swirling around in my head born from a culmination of various artists inspirations that have spurred me on. I am presently waiting for more creative influence to stir my imagination and to get my hands on materials to move me forward. I sure have needed a catalyst and some stimulus so it's good to be back in touch with that part of my being. It feels good to have this encouragement and the welcoming pull from my studio to be and dwell there a while. 

Stay tuned...and hopefully it will be worth your return visit.

Thanks again for your interest.

TIME MARCHES ON

Well, it is hard to believe it has been 3 months since I last posted...I took a blog break and a creative break while trying to recover from the election results, the holidays, and witnessing January zipping by and it has all caused me to pause and reflect a bit. I have come to realize I have still been climbing out of my grieving for the loss of my mom, over 2 years ago now, and that lingers in the wake. The experience profoundly changed me.

All has been a slow journey. As far as my pursuit of re-entering creative energy, I guess the quest for a clean studio has been a good therapy for me, long and drawn out, I might add...do I need more than I thought? Hmmm. Each time I step into my studio I seek a sense of what is needed to bring me to a place where I can tap my imagination again to stir up the next new piece.  So, I am tidying, purging, and reorganizing my work stations, a meditation of sorts, so I can think clearly and invite my muse to revisit me within all the chaos of our country, the world and within my studio. I have to say it is feeling really good to see beyond the disarray and confusion in this special space.

Creating again will be my next phase of therapy, tapping in to the realm of inspiration and creative artistry for healing and hopefully bringing healing to world outside me. Plus, there is the rising up, doing what needs to be done and by resisting...all are definitely included in holding a vision for our world. When I googled the term, "We will rise up", I happened to come across a Christian group that recorded a song by that title. Their group name is Soulfire Revolution. How perfect a title, if one were needed, for our movement at present!  Our souls are on fire and our voices must be strong and we must and will rise up!

"The Future depends on what we do in the Present"
     -Mahatma Gandhi

More wise musings...

Addendum: I am adding this quote that was just shared with me today (1/30/17) by my good friend and artist, Shane Miller, as we ponder our actions towards changing the injustices that have been blanketed upon this world by our current "president". It goes hand in hand with the other above quotes...
"Do not lose awareness of the suffering that is going on in the world. Nourish that kind of awareness by whatever means possible: images, direct contact, visits, and so on. We have to do that in order to keep both the awareness of the suffering and compassion alive in us. But experiencing too much suffering is not good. Any medicine must be taken in the proper dosage. We need to stay in touch with suffering only to the extent that we will not forget. Then compassion will flow within us and be a source of energy that we can transform into action."    - Thich Nhat Hanh 

 Then I became determined to find more quotes by those who have been showing us the way to bravery, peace and freedom...and on this quest the first person who came to mind was Malala Yousafzai. We are the ONE voice and with our numbers ever increasing, we become loader and magnified.

  

And then all our other sisters and many not shown...

     


 

 

   

PICK NICK

This spring and start of summer has been a most enlightening one for me while observing various bird cams on-line, watching as they nest, lay eggs, feed hatchlings, and anticipating the moments the youngsters fledge. The learning experience has been expansive as my visual and audial awareness has been heightened. While on walks I hear and see so much more now and look to see who is making a particular sound. This led me to reflect on my observations of how some birds find benefit in situations where they are most likely not welcomed, like for instance, at a picnic.

When I think of picnics I envision of a peaceful or playful time sharing a meal outdoors from a basket packed with scrumptious food or a boxed lunch eaten perhaps on a blanket in a meadow, in a park or on a sandy beach, or that cookout barbecue with family and friends. But what about those uninvited guests who take advantage of a stealing moment by way of an enticing spread of food? This notion presented all sorts of visions of picnics, picnickers and the unasked which, of course, lead me to imagine the scenario for this piece, Pick Nick. I have heard a picture can convey a thousand words.

(For those of you who might not be familiar with this use of the word Nick in this setting... Nick = nick someone - to cheat or steal from someone). Alas, Raven made off with someone's delectable dessert efforts.

Pick Nick was painted on a heavy, acid-free vellum with acrylic paint and colored pencil and was created for a group show, PICNIC, that opens Friday, July 6th, 2012 at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery in Winslow, Bainbridge Island, WA. Visit their web-site to learn more about the gallery, this show, who is participating and how to get there. Thanks for your continued support. I hope to see you there.

Approx. size of Pick Nick is 21" X 21" framed. Remember to click on the image to enlarge.

RETROSPECT REFLECTION

From time to time, as with writers, artists get blocked, too. We lose our voice, so to speak. Those inspirational juices just don't flow through our blood as per usual. I have had one of these dry spells of late. You may have noticed if you have visited these pages within the last five months or so, I haven't had much to share. For a while I was in a period of experimentation, shifting my direction. I was really enjoying the creative process, but I didn't feel grounded in it, thus a bit off balance for a time. I wasn't sure of my expression which in turn silenced me in that uncertainty. I was groping, but grasping nothing. This empty phase gave me pause to review how and where my creative endeavors have assisted me.

This piece shown above was something I drew 35 years ago. I have to say it struck a chord in me when I came across it while I was thumbing through my old portfolios, struggling with this lack of inspiration. I've always felt close to this piece because it speaks with a whisper and offers a moment of tranquility, indicative of where I was in my life, living on the Big Island, Hawai'i. In that way it slowed me down by offering me quiet time to breathe and infuse intention into how I want to begin again as I move forward in my newest work and meditation.

During this retrospective ritual I saw with remembrance where I have been with my work and a small glimmer of light appeared guiding me to move forward. This meant it was time to call on my muse again and hope she would oblige with an appearance. Thankfully she did show up and with grace and calmness to help move my brushes and pencils and stir ideas and visions around in my head.

Though heavy moods and doubts accompanied this creative drought, I learned that patience was key - to be with what may be keeping me without expression and journey through it by reflecting on where I have come from.

This insightful journey was of immense support to help carry me forward to explore new creative horizons. It is good to be back, to have my voice again and I am most grateful for this quiet, yet stimulating piece...and my muse, of course. I close in gratitude.

Stay tuned.

This illustration was done in graphite pencil, colored pencil and acrylic paint back in 1975.

All rights reserved by the artist.