Roots

I have heard in several contexts today the word - root, it's uses varied but similar in some ways. I have heard it talked about in terms of wholeness. In terms of problems and their causes. In terms of solutions. I love the idea of the root as a metaphor for the wholeness of our human beginnings. Where it all started, whether a problem or the very essence of who we are. Maybe early messages we were given as childrent. We shouldn't just look at the twigs, branches, leaves, and fruit - but if we understand where the main context started, just as a seed, we can understand the mighty redwood tree. Ideas are roots. Ideas, whether true or untrue, can stay with us for so long they are part of our DNA. Unchallenged and lingering within our artist selves. Speaking to us, good or bad, they are the voices that influence our work.

Creative thought has roots deep within us, sometimes connected by nonsense and illogical fragmented ideas. I love those brainstorm sessions where there is a pulse of ideas with images and colors. There is an excitement with the belief that somehow all these ideas could make great art. That they could express what I want to say. The ultimate goal of an artist. That is why keeping all your sketchbooks and clippings, and images that inspire you is so important. You never know when you might need them in your process.

Creative thought is sometimes born out of problems. We need to understand the beginnings of ourselves. I know that pain or discomfort has brought great painting and writing sessions forth for me. It is the basis of many many songs. Sometimes songs or being in live music settings sends my mind reeling. I embrace pain today for the gifts it can give. Some of the most pained artists; Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickenson, Vincent VanGogh, Kurt Cobain have used this to create the brilliant brilliant madness.

The root of today is that just when you think life is all tucked in a neat little box, you may only be seeing the surface. The tree you see in the back yard with it's green leaves, swaying healthy branches, and ripe fruit just might be artificial under the dirt, or worse yet, hollow.

I painted this painting in 2002.

Oil on Canvas 48"x60"

"Enough"

Painting with Glitter and Pom Poms

My experience with creating an art project with my 4 1/2 year old neice was just wonderful today. I have 2 boys and they can sit sill for a maximum of like 5 minutes right now. They like the idea of doing art and doing a project together, but like a pinball - they gotta go! So, when I sat down with my neice today to decorate a treasure box I was refreshed with her ever so girly and every so glittery choices. She wanted pink and purple and pom poms and feathers. I was totally into each choice as we moved around the outside of this box tranforming it from a stiff kraft paper surface to one that is shiny and fluffy. Thank you my little niece. You have just placed the feminine back into my very puffed up, pirate, bad-guy, buggy, race car, milk- spitting little boy world! I love you.

A sunny kitchen and the reciprocity of art

I was sitting in the kitchen with my kids and I was listening to my friend Christy Field's song "If Anyone" (written for the kids in her life) this morning and thinking about the reciprocity of the art I give and others give to me. Christy gave me 3 CD's of songs and I have given her a painting. I read her message to me that thanked me for the painting while I just happened to be listening to that song. This was not a coincidence. My kids were eating their cereal in the sunny morning kitchen and I thought, all is well in this very moment. A gift to her, to me, and my kids (which I proceeded to tell them that Christy "wrote this song for all kids") It was beautiful and I felt an earnest yearing for purity and in the song. The message she sent expressed how the painting has brought her so much light and love in her home. I have traded paintings in the past too. The one pictured here was traded for another painting almost 6 years ago. I don't even remember the name of the girl I traded with. We showed at the same place in Nashville, liked each others work, and we traded paintings. I have bartered with art for services like photography and hair cuts. I think bartering is one of the most harmonious forms of commerce. The giving of things with personal value can only be measured by the receiver. I hope to be giving and getting the gold in this life. We all deserve that. Check out Christy Fields song called "If Anyone" at http://www.myspace.com/christydawnfields

www.artlifeartstudio.com is almost done!

I am just a couple weeks away from launching the website for Art Life. I am thrilled at the pictures my photographer friend Ned, www.nedsphotography.com took for the site. We are going to have a lot of great things going on at the studio.

Art Heals

My day today will be better because of all the things I get to give people. There are things to give that I made that I am going to give, and things that others (including kids) have made in my classes. I am especially moved by a handmade clay bead that I fired for a friend last night. She made it this week to send out of town for a memorial. The family was asking that everyone either make, buy, or find a bead to string as a collective memorial for this child's passing. As terribly inconceivable as the death of a child, something like this gets the family and friends together and doing something. I know my friend felt like she was able to "do something-anything" to help her friends in pain. She left saying "this was therapeautic for me" Art has a way of doing that for people. In the moment we are making it, we are out of the pain, the concentration on the problem, or the feeling of helplessness.

I am meeting another artist/songwriter friend who was just diagnosed last fall with MS at 33 years old today for lunch. She is so positive and focused on eating right and keeping her spirits up. I know a new painting would bring that to her each day. My hope is that as she looks at the colors I painted and she feels lifted. Because it is a gift, I know my friend will see the painting and always know that she is cared for and she is not alone. I can't take away this harsh truth in her life, but I can give her art that reminds her that she is loved. I painted her two (one is pictured above) and placed a quote by Ashliegh Brilliant www.ashleighbrilliant.com on it; "I am just moving clouds today, tomorrow I'll try mountains"

Art does heal, it's up there with laughter, good food, and friends. I am grateful to give these pieces of healing love today in the form of clay, paint, and canvas. I am grateful others do the same in the world. The world needs art.

Rocket Ship Spring Blast Off

The first day of spring, and the end of a spring break week left us all very fufilled and exhausted. We ended the week with my last of 6 classes with my first session at Art Life Studio. It was great to see the kids show their parents their portfolios - we made so many things and they learned about several mediums. We had hanging fish, mobiles, color wheels, paintings and drawings. The clay pieces are being fired this week. Afterwards, Milo (my 3 1/2 year old) and I painted this appliance box together. It was our project one-on-one, spontaneous and free. We first cut 2 doors and 2 peep holes. Then the color, wonderful color, all over the place. This simple box showed me that all the toys in the world can never add up to the imagination within us all - with no money and no car needed we created another world. I also got some dryer vent tubing from the garage and that served as the way we "fueled up" before blast off. The sun danced off this silver flexible tubing- and I loved the way it looked next to the kid painted sides and hard angles of the box. A sculpture, a rocket ship, a one-on-one moment with one of my kids, a perfect 65 degree day. Totally free, totally us, totally back to basics.

Thursday is a studio day

I am plotting and planning for my studio day in 2 days. A full day for me, no kids, no husband, no phone, no plans- but to make things. I am going to start with some painting and then travel over to the printmaking studio at Watkins. I am working on a series of moon/rocket images with robots and astronauts. I would love tp re-do my 3 year old's room into something that inspires his little male mind. I appreciate the need for that even at 3 because he is growing out of what is there now. I did a series of oil paintings for his nursery - 4 vegetables. Corn, radish, tomato, and snap peas adorned his gender neutral baby room. Now, we are all boy and I think robots and space images would fit the bill. I asked him what he wanted and he said "robot rockstars" I will try to incorporate the rockstar aspect somehow (not sure yet). I am thrilled to be able to be inspired by the people I love. I have the plans for art peices that come out of the blue, but mostly it comes from the people I love or someone that needs a little gift of art. I love to give people paintings and prints that I have made. Giving is a great source of inspiration to me. I would say that I have given away as much art as I have sold. That is one of my greatest sources of pleasure.