I thought I’d begin by sharing this funny photo. This company asked permission to use my painting as the cover of their trade journal and my husband snapped this funny shot of the magazine in front of the painting. A face only a mother could love!
I titled this post “Slow n’ Tell” because that’s how I have been feeling lately. I feel like I haven’t been able to produce much art which makes me sad, because I love to do so.
I keep getting asked “are you keeping up with your blog?” which makes me even sadder because I love the outlet and the wonderful people I have come to know through the experience.
So, I decided to drop my long to-do list. Plop myself in front of the computer and check in.
It turns out, when I stopped to look at my photos, I did have quite a bit to share.
This is a painting of Fort Wetherill in Jamestown, RI. I added a tree in the foreground which was bursting with the bright greens of spring. Unfortunately I sent it down to my mom’s art gallery without taking a photo of its completion.
Next, I have a ton of pottery updates. I’ve been working on a lot of hand-built pieces and still trying to incorporate brighter color glazes than one might traditionally find in a pottery studio. It has taken quite a bit of experiments and failures, but I’m beginning to see signs of my own personal pottery style beginning to emerge.
I’ve been working with vintage embroideries and Middle Eastern textile stamps to give my work a hand-made feel. My feeling is why simply throw a pot on the wheel, I can go to the store and buy a mug or dish that’s absolutely perfect. We live in a mass-production cookie-cutter society. I’d rather focus on producing one of a kind pieces that beg to be touched and are loaded with whimsy. This is where I’ll make my mark.
Here is another vessel I created. I threw the bottom on the wheel and hand-built/slab rolled the top. The old wooden stamp I found reminds me of the Irish Claddagh ring which is near and dear to all of us Irish Kin. I got to bring it home just as the lilacs were in bloom.
Of course as soon as I filled the vase I got the sharp pang in my heart begging to paint such a beautiful vision, which led me to begin this painting. I still have hours to go, but I love it already. The light I am creating has a wonderful mood to it.
Then there’s always the administrative work that pulls me away from painting. I still have one more show looming in the not to distant future. I have to stay on top of all the little details. I finalized my Rhode Island Postcard and sent it out to print today.
Plus I am gearing up for my first teaching gig in 15 years…
Then there’s gardening which makes it very hard for me to come back in doors… ever!
and birthdays, bills, school vacation, soccer-momming, getting the house painted, loads and loads of laundry…
…oh so much laundry…
…which leads me back to feeling like I just can’t seem to get everything done fast enough!
Exhale.
OK. reminder – life is not a race.
I’m truly loving every minute of it.
Life is in fact –great!
I dig it, really, I do.
Be Creative Mary 