Grief Bubbles and Psalms for Sendai

From my post of earlier today, you may have read how moved I’ve been by the earthquake and devastation in Japan over the past few days.  When I first heard the news, something my brother said stuck with

Painting of Cherry Blossoms falling in the aftermath of the tragic earthquake and tidal wave in Sendai Japan in 2011.
Painting of Cherry Blossoms falling in the aftermath of the tragic earthquake and tidal wave in Sendai Japan in 2011.

me.  He was posted in Japan twice over the past several decades as a career diplomat and knows the culture very well.  He said the Japanese as a nation celebrate the Cherry blossoms when they arrive not only for the breathtaking beauty of the display, but because of what they symbolize:  the transience of life.

As an artist, I sometimes HAVE NO CHOICE but to process emotional events and occasions.   Often I write. Today, I had to paint.  I bring you “Psalms for Sendai.” And yes, this is not just a sweet little picture.  It’s loaded with hit-you-over-the-head intentional symbolism which is not subtle at all, sorry about that!

As for the term “grief bubbles” in the title, I borrowed that from a new twitter friend / lovely artist who occasionally tweets about grief bubbles floating up into the great beyond in remembrance while releasing the pain.  I thought it was such a lovely way to express it, I had to borrow it for this post’s title.

In closing, even though I’ve processed some of the sadness that’s enveloped me since Friday, I still feel a well of tears inside for the lost and suffering there on the other side of the planet.  My heart aches for those people and for that lovely country I’ve yet to visit. Still, I draw some consolation, remembering the cherry blossoms that are just about to bloom.

Hurting so for Japan, but painting too

 

I have been watching way too much coverage of the triple disaster in Japan, moved so deeply by the suffering these wonderful people are experiencing right now.

Harpeth Hall’s Green Show Reception: Great event, great turnout, great Art!

This painting was made with paints created by extracts of blueberries, walnuts, saffron and etc.

From 3 to 5 p.m. yesterday Harpeth Hall, the elite all-girls prepatory school in Nashville that’s turned out famous alum Amy Grant, Reese Witherspoon and others, hosted an artist reception for its annual fundraising art show, this year designed around all things “Green.”

In previous posts, you can read about my experimentation in coming up with all-natural home-brewed paints which I used like watercolors in my submission “A Walk in the Park.”  Artist Kelly Roe took the green theme completely to heart with her Best in Show works “React, Reuse, Renew” which were made from lint!

I was thrilled that several of my fellow painting friends came out and through my mentor and longtime Nashville artist / lifetime Tennessee Art League member Barbara Rembert, I met several other TAL members too, many who had works in the show.

Speaking of works in the show, here’re my fellow artists that exhibited.  Congrats all and know I’m honored to be among your ranks!

Denise Hawkins, Pam Haile, Janet Kozachek, Judy Klich, Lilo Regen, Cynthia Crook, Susan Simons, Samuel Fee, Thalia Kahl, Noriko Register, John Nordell, Shirley Fachilla, Pat Snyder, Vicki Kessler and Donna Kjonnas, Beth Seiters, Gary Young, Beverly Ford Evans, Mike Martino, Anne Labovitz, Arunima Orr, Christine Eagon, Elizabeth Brandon, Nancy Bradford, Kathleen Sparkman, Brenda Morley and Rita Maggart.

Finally, I’m adding one whimsical image below with a brief explanation.  Hubby’s from England and included with a Christmas parcel his kids sent us this year were these wind up “Racing Royals.”  The pair have developed a loyal following on David’s facebook, so of course, they had to join us for the show.  And since we got there early enough, noone was the wiser when we snapped this shot of them enjoying the Moesse work of art!

The all-important studio-to-coffeepot distance!

As I was putting on a pot of java to brew, I realized how lucky I am to have a studio where I can create and – more importantly – not have to move things, pick up and put away because it is NOT a dual space.  Most of my fellow CANN members are not so lucky and I feel for them and all out there who don’t have a studio of one’s own.

My eyes remain wonky at times although I went back to the eye doctor for a checkup.  He told me I’ve been doing the eye exercises wrong, so I’m working on doing them better.  We’ll see.  If no improvement, it’s onto a neuro or ENT specialist, I think.  So this blogpost is more links than direct info, mea culpa…

Anyway, back to the home studio theme of today’s blog.  I decided to put in some research and found a few interesting links, below, that might offer advice for those considering one of their own or that, like me already have one but want to improve it.

Cherylscott’s e-how contribution describes blurring the borders so one can create anywhere in the home.

This Esortment article lists and explains the whys behind some of the necessities to consider in setting up a home studio, but I prefer

Urbanpaintbrush’s explanations, images and details better.   In fact, I just happened on that site for this blog post and methinks I’ll be paying many more visits there in the future!  (LOVE IT!)

But the Award for best detail of stuff needed, definitely goes to Jennifer Young who hails from Richmond, Virginia.  Great explanations and information, Jennifer and all.

Now, back to the title of this post.  My studio is in an addition we built in July, 2003.  I remember the timing well because we needed a room to bed my oldest son Kris and four other Marine infantrymen he was returning home with for a visit after his first tour in Iraq.   From wartime recollections to making art.  I’m glad we’ve been able to make that transition.  And the measurement, by the way, is seven steps and if you’ll excuse me, I’m heading for another mugful right now!

The eyes have it…

If you’ve been reading my blog at all, you’ll know that last year I developed an eye problem – Convergence insufficiency – that basically means the eye muscles are weak and the eyeball (in my case, the left one) doesn’t want to cooperate and move to focus where it’s supposed to it times.  For me, it is distracting, frustrating, and disorienting at times.  I have eye muscle exercises to do and I do them, most of the time, but still have the eye muscle problem.

I broke down and made an eye doctor appointment again.  It’s not time for the annual exam but too bad.  If the insurance company has a problem, they can talk to me!

On another subject, the Harpeth Hall Green Art Show reception is coming up this Sunday and I’m pretty psyched about it.  And the group I paint with, Collaborative Artists Network, will be showing in April in Donelson at Fifty Forward, a community art center for Seniors.

In the midst of turmoil … art

Irish spinning woman

In the previous post, I mentioned finding inspiration via the National Archives.  Here’s the end result.  I call her “Regal Rose,” but the Archives file name was “Irish Spinning Woman.”  I couldn’t NOT paint her.  And truth be told she’s only the second figurative painting I’ve done.  It was very hard, but I’m pleased with the results.  Hope you enjoy her.

The next paintings, below, are other ones I’ve done this month, trying like hell to shut out the news of conflagration around the world from Egypt to Madison, Wisconsin, to Tennessee.  My brain, aware of the growing income disparity in the U.S. as indicated by the Gini Coefficient begs me jump in.  But my heart and soul remind me I started painting to accept that there are things beyond my control.  So, I hide out in my studio, switch my IPhone from National Public Radio to Pandora’s steady stream of tunes, and paint away.  My mind bears the burden of guilt my heart and soul erase with yellow ochre and burnt umber.

 

Thrown for a loop with allergies lately!

I’ve been battling them first alone, then with the help of the steroid shot (see most recent post) and a nasal steroid spray but I’m not much better, so broke down and got the doctor to prescribe an antibiotic to help move things along.  We’ll see.  One other thing I’ve been doing though is brewing this concoction each morning which really opens up my sinuses and gives me a kick in the clarity department.  I got the recipe from my dear Italian painter-friend Lucilla.  Here’s my version:

Lucilla’s Health Tea
Green Teabags (2 or 3)
2 -3 cups of water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 or so whole cloves or 1/4 teaspoon
1 teaspoon sliced fresh ginger or 1/2 teasp ground
2 anise pods or similar ground
1 or 2 crushed dried red peppers or comparable
a pinch of cumin
2 or 3 cardamom pods or comparable

Like Lucilla, I just boil it up and pour myself a cup now and again during the day.  Since I feel worst first thing in the morning BEFORE I have a shot, I figure it does do some serious good.

Note to self: Skip Goodwill After Steroid Injections

I’ve been under the weather for a while – actually since December and I kept figuring I was fighting something.  Finally gave up and went to the doctor this morning.  Turns out it’s allergies.  Yeah, having the cat inside during winter, practically living in my office is not a good thing.

The doctor gave me a steroid shot and though I intended to stop in for just a very quick look, well, I kinda went overboard at the local Goodwill today.  The kind of manic splurge I haven’t had in years!  It was .99 yellow tag clothing days and the Ralph Lauren white cotton sweater and NY & Co tweed jacket will go quickly on e-bay I’m sure, along with the Aussie made boiled wool cardi.  I’m thinking the $2.99 vintage bowling ball hardcase is too cool to sell, and look at all the glisteny shiny .99 or less items I got for making art.

I’m gonna be busy for a while so if I don’t answer the phone, you’ll understand.  It’s the steroid shot.  =)

Shout out to a neat organization

Wish I were younger, unfettered, and Canadian.  The place I’m talking about is Spark Box Studio, located in Picton, PEI, Ontario.  

 
From their website, Spark Box Studio is a:

Space for artists to live, research, investigate and experiment. We aim to encourage discovery and the cultivation of new ideas, provide career-building opportunities for artists at all stages, and to engage with the community through the arts.

 The site has a section offering information about “The Business of Art” and is now taking applications for a summertime one-week residency for artists aged 19-29.  There’s more, though, so check out the site 

UPD:  And check out the organization, too, if you happen to be up that way!

Winter’s Bone and Sinew – New Painting

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A week ago, we had two lovely snowfalls back to back.  It shut the schools down for, well, the entire week.  It also meant closure of Sharp Spring’s Natural Area, an exquisite many acres of nearly virgin land.  I parked outside the gates, and with my Iphone and dog, went exploring and picture-taking.
My plan was to walk a half hour or so, but, entranced by the exquisite beauty of it all, found myself returning to the car nearly two hours later.  Smokey didn’t seem to mind and sprang about in the snow more lively than I’d seen the 10-year-old dalmatian in ages.  I think she felt as uplifted as I did in “owning” the place, unspoiled by human footsteps, tire tracks and more.
I painted the above from one of the photos I’d taken, waivering about whether to add the foreground fence that bracketed the photo on the lower right side.  In the end, I thought the stark expanse more like the breathtaking experience I felt when there.
The title – Winter’s Bone and Sinew – comes from a John Burroughs quote:  Winter has given the bone and sinew to literature, summer the tissues and the blood.
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