Everything is Fodder...

It never ceases to amaze me that anything and everything becomes fodder for one's creativity, I find inspiration in the most unlikely of places.

Today I got a brilliant flash of inspiration after therapy.

I make no bones about it. I have been undergoing therapy for years. And at the age of 50 I found the most amazing therapist, who has allowed me to tell all, in a setting of utmost comfort. She is a wise woman, a sage, a genius, a guide.

I had a really messed up childhood and early adulthood.

I was lucky that I was smart and found a way out of what many would still be mired in.I have forgiven, and I don't have pity parties. But what I want to do is understand why I have done what I have done, and why I do some of the things that I do. In that quest I hope to be able to live my life to the fullest, and be the best human and spiritual being that I can be. I know I can overcome that mountain of dreck, and therapy, as well as art helps me climb it.

I want to get a few bodies of works together ..... each one having a different function.

The landscapes/sky/air shots serve one purpose, and are more easily sold to the public than the other body of work that I want to show. A bank, for example, will want my landscapes. A gallery on the other hand, may be the venue for my deeper, more intellectual work. (not to say that my landscapes aren't intellectual, they are just safer)

Inspired by tonight's session, I plan on calling one of my shows "Screen Memories" based upon the work of Freud.

I have been making "screen shots" of my "screen memories" for years in my mixed media work, never knowing what I was doing. It was subconscious, directed by my muse. The irony is that I have sold more of these personal monographs of my life than I have sold my landscapes. Both come from my heart, but perhaps the personal works reach out to others in a deeper way.

I must get into the studio.
"The time has come" said the walrus
"to speak of other things"....
patti

Dropping by

I have been super busy with little time for art in the past few weeks. Spring is here, the yard needs work, and we spent this weekend working on building raised beds, filling them with compost, cleaning out some of the garage, and doing yard work.

I did go to a conference the other day in Woodstock to study the work of writer and Illustrator Peter Sis, and this group mandala, which was in progress when I shot it, was a fun project that we worked on along side of our books. I was inspired by how fun and spontaneous it was to do, and I want to do this with my students when we will study both Tibetan and Islamic art.

In the Islamic art unit my students learn about the influence of nature and geometrics to create complex tile patterns used in their art. Before they design and carve their repeat tile pattern stamps, they will carve small stamps to get used to the material and the carving, and will then use them on a group mandala that I will set up for them to work on.

I have more stories and information to pass on about Peter Sis, and his visit to WAAM in May, but I am too tired! Sun and work has worn me out!

Patti

Back in Touch

It's been a while since I posted.

First it was the tax deadline that I imposed upon myself before I took off for a vacation.

Then my main computer fried (I am currently working from my laptop)

Then there was the 8 days in Spain.

Then there was the recovery from the 8 days in Spain.

And then there is the construction in the house.

All things which are not conducive to working in the studio making art.

I am ok with it. I needed a break from life, from art, from school, from my house. I know that soon I will be itching to get back into the studio and let the images that are locked inside of my brain come bursting out onto a canvas. I have shows to make art for as I want to build up my paintings as well as my mixed media work. I have some ideas, and soon, soon, they will take form.

For the first time I am not worried about it. It will come in its own time.

In the meantime I am feng-shui-ing my art, and my stuff.

Water witch/ Amphritie, is available for a bargin price of 25.00. There is quite a bit of me in her too.

hahahaha...Patti O

On Being Compact

I am rushing around to get ready for my trip to Spain. In keeping it as light as possible, this is what I have whittled my art supplies down, sans camera, card reader, and a few pencils,pens and brushes.

I have a leather backpack type pocketbook that has different pockets. Inside is one for the pens/brushes, and the paints, collapsible cup, and the small watercolor sketchbooks easily fit in there with my camera, brush, lipsticks, and money.

The cup found at any good sporting goods store. Rubber, collapsible, and leak proof, unlike those little plastic collapsible cups.

The paints by Kohinoor.

Watercolor sketchbooks by Moleskine.

Will try and post while on my trip. Be ready for tons of photos and sketches when I get back and can scan them. I can't presume that my friends will have the computer set up that I have become accustomed to!

Adios!

Packing for the Trip

I dashed through the art supply store to pick up a small inexpensive set of watercolors and small watercolor books for the trip. I am truly about packing minimally as I don't want to get caught up in bringing 10,000 things, many of which I won't need.

Anything I don't have I am sure I can buy there.

Ipod
Camera
Money
Credit Card
Passport
Umbrella
1 book
sunglasses
a small Spanish phrase book
Address book
Clothes and health items such as Zicam and Vitamin C to keep this strange cold I think I have at bay.
Only 2 pairs of shoes.

I bought a set of 12 Yarka watercolors for less than 8.00, a small pocket sized Moleskine watercolor book, and a book of watercolor postcards. I will bring a few pencils, and markers, and MAYBE pack one larger watercolor pad in my suitcase.

I heard that one of the well known watercolor artists in town has her students buy Yarkas to travel abroad, so I figured if it is good enough for them, then it is good enough for me. Far cheaper than the first set that I picked up at the art store that was 50.00!

I bought extra lithium batteries for the camera, a 4 gig memory card so that I should have no problems taking lots of pictures when I am in Spain.

Am I missing anything dear readers?

I am not sure when I will post again. I have been pretty busy the last few days, and am not sure what my internet access will be, though I am will do my very BEST to get onto a computer or two while I am gone.

Patti