Making paintings in a way different method... interesting...

Watching an artist talk about their process makes me itch to paint...

I am back from the land of ice and snow...

  I am standing on a bridge overlooking the Gihon river in Johnson, Vermont. I was here for 27 days for an amazing artist residency at Vermont Studio Center. When I got here you could not see the water in the river, just snow. As the month progressed and the temp got a little warmer the snow melted over the water, and the ice began to break up. There was ice floating on the river and lying at the bottom of the river. I had to watch each day no matter how cold it was. 

Conclusion? Snow and ice are incredibly beautiful but hard to live with for months on end.

Tonight I sat in the hot tub with G. and had a talk about what I learned at this residency. 

Since I had not made art for 9 months the first few days I felt almost apathetic, like I couldn''t remember why I wanted to do this art thing. Slowly this was replaced by my usual experimentation and faith that just working would yield, well... something.

Things got better. (and I started meeting stupendous people)

I had three opportunities to have a visiting artist come to my studio to look at what I was making, offer suggestions, and for me to ask questions. I knew I had questions, but I didn't know what they were.

 I could not think of what to ask the first visiting artist, but I got the feedback that my painting was different (in a good way), and that I was doing well and should just keep going. 

I asked the second artist why we should make art? I was sincere about this question. Her answer was that people need beautiful things to look at. This is so true, but it still didn't answer my question.

By the time the third artist came around I knew what I wanted to know... my question was: what did I miss by not getting a BFA and MFA? I think she had good answers... She said that two years of uninterrupted studio work, feedback from other artists, and developing the ability to brush off the opinions of those who do not like what you make is helpful. She told me that when artists came to her studio that did not like her work she took them out to coffee and asked them about other resources that would further her career. 

I know one of my unanswered questions is where do I belong in the art world? 

If there is art and art business at what point do I cross over to the business side?

and again why am I making art?

Meanwhile.... I had a lot of fun, ate yummy food, got to see my sister and niece and brother in law and my old friend Sho and painted on the walls of the studio! I made the above painting in the last few days before we left. It made me happy. 

A good reason to make art, happiness...

I hope you can read this...

I do hope you can read this, the type is kind of small and I am not used to making cartoons. I am getting ready to leave for Vermont Studio Center for a month long residency and I am trying to "finish" putting my house together.

For the first time in 26 years all my "stuff" is in one place. I can't blame Ginger for my accumulations. I have box after box after box of items to go through and let go of. I don't let go easily. I understand the hoarder mentality of equating keeping things so you think you don't lose the people who gave/left them  to you. Just going through my art supplies is daunting. Why do I need so many sketchbooks? 

I need to work and I can't til this all gets put away and everything has a place. 

Almost done, and when I get home I will give my tables a coat of paint and go to work!

But having so much "stuff" has got to change for me, it takes up too much energy.

Daybreak

This morning I was awake at 6am. I seldom see the sun rise so I put on my jacket and crossed the bridge into the field...

Not a soul was about so I guess it didn't matter if I had my pajamas on. The moon was still out and flocks of birds shook the trees when I startled them. 

Then I wandered home, made Ginger a valentine and baked some muffins for our Valentine breakfast. 

This is unusual behavior for me. I don't like to get up in the morning and sometimes I fight dark thoughts. I usually have to start a mental gratitude list to boost me out of bed. 

I hope everyone had a nice Valentine's day. For me it's about appreciating all my friends and family, and my sweetest Ginger. 

love to you all, Janice

Life with Lillie

It's 11pm and Lillie has dragged my fuzzy slipper, a stuffed animal and some of her toys all over the house. Every night about this time it's like a switch goes off in her head, "time to play". 

After all Ms. Lil is only between one and two years old and she has a lot of energy. 
Friends had a few questions about Lillie, when did we get her, and what was her story?
Both she and Chica are from Yakima Valley Pet Rescue. Lillie was found on the streets of Yakima with a broken leg. The vet for the pet rescue advised removing her leg, but her new foster moms said no. They took her to their vet who saved her leg and now my little girl runs on all four like the wind!

I can't talk about Lillie or Chica without talking about Pepper Fewel and her wonderful family. They not only foster dogs, but have 30 horses, all rescues. I think the video below might explain a little of what they do.  Chica and Lillie each spent 6 months with Pepper and her daughter Tiffany, and grew to love them, but such little dogs aren't safe with cars coming and going and all the horses. 

 We go visit now and then, and Pepper promises me a meeting with the horses some day. I've never been around horses and have such a curiosity to see what they are like. 
These people see the goodness in all animals from the big horses to a little 4 pound girl like Lillie. How lucky we are to get to know the family at  Cherry Wood B and B
 If you go to their website look at the page where they talk about horse rescue. It will move you. 

It's beautiful country about an hour from our home in Tieton. 
Pepper and Tiffany touch my heart, and they gifted the two of us with the sweetest, most loving dogs. 

Catching up

It was hard to leave my little house full of "stuff" and travel to Eugene. I'm glad we did. Upon return I'm more optimistic about unpacking the endless boxes and setting up my studio. 

The printmaking workshop I attended was wonderful, so well organized. I learned a lot of cool things. 

On the way home we stayed at the coast and went to my favorite thrift spot, the Waldport Flea Market. I'm trying to be really picky about adding to my "stuff", and this time all I brought home were photos. I love to take photos. It was the nose that got me. The grungy old doll with a lot to tell.