Cultivation
On Wednesday, the kids and I started lessons for the year. Among other things, I asked that each read a poem and deal with art every day, and by dealing with art, I mean for them to draw something, watch…
My Own Thing
How often do I change my mind, my outlook, my convictions? Yes, my convictions. If I don’t blindly hold onto a belief my entire life, it doesn’t mean that I am a moral relativist, and if I don’t keep up…
Paint and Pixel Notions
Thoughts about art cavort in my mind with all the other stuff that gets crammed into my cranium each day. Two days ago, those paint-and-pixel notions got more articulated than is often the case, as evidenced in the journal entry…
How to Make Good Coffee or Maybe Art
I’ve been working on my drawing skills, but it has not been all fun and games. Two- and three-point perspective entails finicky rules, and I’ve never been a fan of rules, especially the ones in games of micromanagement. After all,…
Are Any of Us Qualified?
I’ve spent many hours writing about art, even though I don’t feel especially qualified for the job. Come to think of it, I don’t feel especially qualified to make art, either. No matter. Do what you love, and you’ll love…
My Own Story
How does my story compare to that of anyone else’s? Why do I ask? Why do I care? Well, singer/songwriter/author Tori Amos started me on this path today. I recently read her second book, Resistance: A Songwriter’s Story of Hope,…
Little Wins
My thoughts are turning again to photography and art. I press buttons on my camera, push virtual sliders on my computer, then pick up my phone, and hit the + icon on Instagram. The wooden box holding 120 shades in…
Reality Recognition
One of the big takeaways for me when I read Camille Paglia’s Sexual Personae was the notion, common throughout all time, that women are akin to nature/earth/chaos (cyclical and unpredictable) and men are akin to civilization/sky/culture (linear progression and stability).…
Stay Vigilant
It appears that a little rain fell last night. I’ve been praying for it, and the forecast leads me to believe that last night’s precipitation was just an appetizer. I hope so, because the world outside my door is parched.…
Each Interaction
People continue to surprise me, mostly because I should know better by now. I sometimes can’t believe how much credit I give people. Even after years of telling myself that other individuals draw different conclusions from life (and why wouldn’t…
Might This be Called Poetic Thinking?
I understand that there is little I can do about the chaos of the world that is burning now, but I can be informed. I can make the effort, do the work, study, read, look at issues from more than…
Enough with the Labels
I used to think in terms of labeling myself: Am I a writer? Am I a photographer? Am I an artist? Well, not exactly. Now, I prefer to think of myself as a woman who writes well and enjoys exploring…
