I ordered my new computer today, but it will take 2-3 weeks to get here. It's hard to do without 

i photo, but Ms. G has been kind enough to give me some time on hers...

These great words are from a school stamp set from Woodrow Wilson's era. Studio time is so amazing... I have never had time before to take all the great words out and play with them. 

I just finished 6 new paintings... more on those later.

Love to all...

Crashed...

My trusty mac is very ill. I have been practicing molecular re-alignment (Science of Mind) but it does not seem to be working. iphoto seems to be the most affected, it won't open and there are no photos to be found. The mac store folks ran the diagnostics and my hard drive is dying. I guess I need a new computer.

This reminds me when I had to sell my 1971 Volkswagen bus. 

Being Yourself

Probably every sentence I write should have the word DUH after it because all this is so obvious. But not to me. At age 60 I'm just putting the pieces together about what makes our efforts valuable to ourselves and to the world.

Here is my line. It is most always "off". Notice the shoulder is a bit wonky. Still it is my line and no one elses. It has taken me my whole life to embrace the way I draw and appreciate the way my line moves hither and yon (nice phrase).

I used to hate my line. I wished it were like Craig's or Lynn's or my sister's or Ginger's. Ginger can draw a building that looks like a building every time. 

But I am left with my line.

When I draw and it's not working I have a secret phrase that puts me in the right place every time. I tell myself "Draw with love". It takes it away from the ego. When I draw from that place I feel happy and appreciative that I'm drawing. 

I think it must be the same for any artistic endeavor. When I think about singing I think about those singers who have their own voice. Like Willie Nelson. Or Louis Armstrong. Or Dean Newman.

I appreciate all of us who are doing our best to love our line whatever form it takes.

Our mom is not paying enough attention to us...

 Monty and Simon come to the studio often. I don't get much done when they are there. About every 30 minutes a long greyhound nose nudges my arm and he says, "walk, now, please", "cookie, now, please", "pet me, now please".

I am doing a lot though. Last weekend I went to a 2 day workshop on Etsy and online marketing for artists. I learned a lot and my head was ready to explode when I left. 

Art as a moneymaker is bizarre. 

I'm glad all I have to do is make the art.

And some happy news! I got awarded an artist residency at Jentel artist residency in Sheridan, Wyoming. It's not until November, but I am so excited to spend time on this 1,000 acre ranch. I have 2 friends who have been there, an artist and a writer and they both loved it. 

Here is a painting I'm working on. It's a triptych. I'll post all three when I figure out the final glitches. 

ok, that's all the news. I'm going to try to post more and talk more about artist process/practice. Because really, isn't that what it's all about?