In Buddhist Land

I recently returned from a retreat - WO FO YO O, which was an art and mindfulness retreat at Blue Cliff Monastery, founded by Thich Nhat Hahn who also has a Monastary in California, and one in France (Plum Village)

I won't get into my life history here, that is on my other blog, but it was a life-changing experience.

In one of the workshops we did periods of meditation, followed by making art.

While meditating, I kept perseverating about what I was going to make. Abstract? Landscape? Color?

I let these thoughts go in and then out of my head, and briefly opened my eyes and then closed them. The image that was etched into my mind when I closed them inspired the watercolor

Whether a trick of light or of my mind, I went with it and made this sketch.

Later on that evening, we put all of our artwork in a circle in the meditation hall for all to see. Many people, many of them the sisters of the monastery, took my sketchbook and carefully looked through the watercolors and drawings I had done of the Catskills.

I was honored by their rapt attention to the work, and their admiration of it.

All these years I have been seeking the approval of my father who told me I was not good enough, and have worked so hard to prove him wrong. Here I realized that all along I got an A+ from the universe and all is good.

Patti

Catching Up

Much has happened since I last posted.
I have:
Designed my show card for the end of October
Gone to a four day Buddhist Art Retreat
Worked on my cards for my steadfast client
and tomorrow I will be gathering/framing a few pieces for a show titled "Plein Air"

I have learned much at the retreat. I thought I could never meditate and found out that I have been meditating through my art since I was five years old. I am learning to see nature with an even fiercer and more loving eye.

In between being a mother, a wife, a teacher, a grandmother, and life's student I will somehow make time to make art, and share my vision of the world.

More to come, Patti

Cards

The show put me back a bit, and I have been trying to get acclimated to my school schedule. Work all day teaching kids who themselves are still on summer party schedule is tough, and afterwards I come home to work in the studio.

I freaked last week and did very little. Too much going on in my life and I knew I could not jump into two jobs so soon.

But this week I have to get back to work as I have an order to fill, and a show coming in another 7 weeks.

I also am going to Kentucky again to take care of my daughter's children while she recovers from some surgery. Thankfully the biopsies came back ok...but she will still need a hand with the 2 month old and the 4 year old.

The cards were made today, one for a man who owns a film house in Europe, the other, who knows who will get that one.

I hope I get some time to paint sometime soon too. I feel a painting needing to be birthed.

Patti

The Show

It was three 14 hour days in a row. School started, and I had to finish up all the preparations for the show. I ended up getting 14 pieces finished/framed etc., and had a not-quite-full rack of cards.

The show was fabulously well put together. The artists were very cool, as were the sponsors and art patrons. Only thing is, it seemed people were more into the cocktail party aspect of it than buying art.

I did sell a small piece, and some cards, and would consider doing the show again. Often the success of a show is more than the financial profit - many people in the community got to see what I do and I was surprised that my paintings got as much attention as my mixed media works. I felt honored to be there, and it was a fun night.

I have artwork to take to BECKON, and will be preparing for my trunk show at the end of October. That will be my next challenge.

Photo is of the piece that I sold. Titled: She Wears Protection. Mixed Media/Encaustic.

Patti

Watercolor Sketch

Friday I overnighted a card order to a client, Saturday I delivered 20 cards to BECKON, downtown on the Strand in Kingston. Yesterday I spent the day with a friend, and today I did very little except play.

Tomorrow I start school, which absorbs a good deal of my time till next June. Somehow I have to keep painting, making cards, and growing as an artist in whatever time and energy I have left over from teaching art to teens-at-risk.

I still have to make cards for the show on Thursday, and have paintings to sign, so the next two days will be FULL!

Yet I know that after work tomorrow I will say F-it to setting up my classroom, and head home to sun and swim soaking up every last ounce of summer sunshine, and then dash back home to work in the studio for one last blast, as my mantra is to continue to take time each and every day for ME.

Today I headed to the banks of the Hudson River at Clermont for the sun set. I painted an expressionistic watercolor as the sun was blinding me off the Hudson River while I sipped on a Corona. It was a splendid day........

Patti

Show Time......

I have returned from my 10 day hiatus through 5 states and one time zone.

I made little art for 10 days. My art was cooking and being with my family and loving every moment with them. And honestly, I need a break from my art at times as I am a bit obsessive and easily fall into a work-a-holic routine where I forget about cooking, hanging out, playing, watching birds and noticing life.

But I have a show on the 4th and card orders to fill, so I have been careful organizing my time so that I have had time every day for editing my work, framing, and making cards.

I replaced my broken printer with a new Canon Pixma MX850, but it has sat for three days and I have STILL not installed it. I just know that I have to put aside an hour or two to install, learn, etc. this new printer/fax/scanner and then get my ass in gear and print up another round of cards!

Here is a chuckle, a card that is going off to one of my clients.

Patti

In Kentucky

One of the things that I have learned is that down time is sometimes the time that I get the most inspiration. It is the moments in between the work that the work is created..a paraphrase to that famous quote by Debussy? that "the music is what happens in between the notes".

There is a book that I want to write, and probably will have to self publish. I won't say what it is in case someone decides to beat me to it. I have had enough of that in my life where I have come up with an idea, and someone else ran with it and made the money.

I outlined it on the 999 miles that I spent in the car traveling here, with my husband give me feedback and insight, and as always, his never ending support.

So there will be more to follow.

I probably will not make a fortune on this, but like my art, it is something that I have to and want to do.

Such is the process of art!

patti