Having four dogs here (two are "borrowed") is the best thing I've ever known, even tho' these guys get underfoot (not easily moveable at 60, 65, 85 and 90 pounds) and having something to eat always means having to contend with begging (course, I trained them well in this regard). Having them in the shop as companions is also terrific, even though their commentary on my work is usually nil-or at least not at all audible. We will lose Zeke soon, as his owner will return after a two month absence. Rojo has not been around too much lately, either. But i chalk that up to the boiling temperature we've experienced lately.
Thought we might be taking in another dog while we stayed in Taos, finding this black female silky-haired job playing dodge-ems with the cars and trucks on highway 68. Took her home, overnighted her (a night spent trying to sleep in my van to avoid her barking all night long) and found her owner the next day.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Another stunning, brilliant observation
Lately, I seem to be at odds with people I care about or thought I cared about. Perhaps this latest revelation, spoken of here, is because my sis, Ruth, seems to be fading away. After 90+ years on this earth and many, many years of daily correspondence, I feel as though I'm losing her…we are separated by almost 2,000 miles, so I do not have the full picture. Recent letters from her indicate failing health. This has been tough and the loss, along with other relatively recent losses are hitting me hard.
But this is more about the distant past. I had a friend-or at least she claimed to be and that we were the friends who knew each other the longest…we used to breakfast together or meet and sit and talk. But my recollection of theses meetings was always clouded by this: she was so often distracted by everything around us as well as phone calls, etc. that I might as well have been a part of the scenery. I never took her to task on this, which is very much my failing, but my anger about this still rises. Many, many years later. We are no longer in communication, partially because of my inability (up to this point) to express this anger.
I'm glad to have learned this lesson late rather than not at all. Enough said: I wanted to put this out there if only to satisfy myself and also to know that -for better or worse- I've changed immensely.
But this is more about the distant past. I had a friend-or at least she claimed to be and that we were the friends who knew each other the longest…we used to breakfast together or meet and sit and talk. But my recollection of theses meetings was always clouded by this: she was so often distracted by everything around us as well as phone calls, etc. that I might as well have been a part of the scenery. I never took her to task on this, which is very much my failing, but my anger about this still rises. Many, many years later. We are no longer in communication, partially because of my inability (up to this point) to express this anger.
I'm glad to have learned this lesson late rather than not at all. Enough said: I wanted to put this out there if only to satisfy myself and also to know that -for better or worse- I've changed immensely.
the skinny
It's a matter of keeping the nose to the old grindstone when it comes to painting. This may be SO obvious to others, but I'm just learning it. Somehow, I thought one could sneak by with what worked in sculpture, so why not with painting?
Not so. I've recently"learned" how to get myself in a sort of trance state (or at least some other sort of concentrative place) in order to paint (or paint the way I see fit), but this isn't enough. The knowledge that comes with repetition still lacks here. I feel as though I'm close-really close to where I want to be, but each work is still a hit and miss proposition.
In speaking of wanting to get past this chancy "state", there's also a notion that this-right here right now-is where any artist needs to be. In a place of doubt, unsureness. So the fact that the hand does not perfectly correspond with the brain, even if this is a transient state, may be the answer. This is a place lacking in perfection, but filled with raw intent...
Not so. I've recently"learned" how to get myself in a sort of trance state (or at least some other sort of concentrative place) in order to paint (or paint the way I see fit), but this isn't enough. The knowledge that comes with repetition still lacks here. I feel as though I'm close-really close to where I want to be, but each work is still a hit and miss proposition.
In speaking of wanting to get past this chancy "state", there's also a notion that this-right here right now-is where any artist needs to be. In a place of doubt, unsureness. So the fact that the hand does not perfectly correspond with the brain, even if this is a transient state, may be the answer. This is a place lacking in perfection, but filled with raw intent...
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