Doin’, doin’, doin’… Halfway through a paper cutting AND halfway through an insane to-do list that I made this morning. (I must admit to adding something after I had already done it just so I could cross it off. Such a good feeling to cross things out, even when you cheat a little).
5 x 7 inch paper cutting.
“I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.” ~Henry David Thoreau
One of the reasons I like to keep this blog is because I can go back and look at what I was doing, making or being inspired by last week or even four years ago.. I came across Alison Teal (Alison’s Adventures) after admiring surf photography by Sarah Lee — she does a lot of photography and cinematography for Alison, an adventurer, filmmaker and surfer who was home-schooled until her teenage years and raised by adventure photography/ yogi/ dancing parents around the world. She’s out there living it up – check out the video. Watching her stuff kind of reminds me to keep living and doing.. It’s really easy to sit in front of the computer and think about what could be, should be, might have been, isn’t, etc… I try not to even use the words ‘could’, ‘should’ or ‘would’.. Just do it. Easier said than done, but definitely doable. (Sidenote: I wanted to learn to surf when I was a teenager. Kinda funny for a Kansas girl, but I used to visit the beach every so often and can remember crying on more than one occasion when I had to leave. It’s been a couple years since I’ve been to an ocean. Looking forward to a trip to San Diego in November.)
In other weekend events, I bought some new running shoes — barefoot style Merrells. I swear by them. I used to run a lot but my left knee was giving out on me and so I quit. But when I got a pair of Merrells last year, I tried them out and kept going and haven’t had any knee pain at all (and now I’m ready for a new pair). Reason being, so I’ve heard, that the barefoot styled shoes reduce heel to ground impact which your knees absorb and create a more natural stride where the impact is on the ball of your foot. If you’ve ever run barefoot — without any shoes — you know what I mean.
I also spent some time with family in Kansas City, raced remote control cars, ate some awesome Mexican food, watched Ghostbusters at my brother’s house, and took a look at some kayaks and small boats over the weekend. I have a few paddling friends and I’ve always wanted to get out on the water so I’m thinking about getting into it.. Gonna give it a try-before-I-buy with my neighbor who canoes frequently on the river.
And now I’m sipping on some “Dirty Hippy Coffee”, locally roasted beans mixed with chai spice by company Home Brewed, and getting ready to go back to my artwork! Til next time..
The Zeleny Art Fair went well. This was the first time this event has ever been held and I thought the organizers really had it together. Thank you’s to them for putting it on.. A busy week lies ahead as I will be preparing even further for Art In The Park in Lawrence next Sunday and The Wichita Art & Book Fair the following weekend. I also have to finish up my works for the summer exhibit at the Sabatini Art Gallery in the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.. so, lots of completed paper cuttings to share very soon.
I always listen to this record when I’m matting prints.. it’s become standard. 10 mats taped and bagged to each record side; flip record, sip coffee, mat again.
I found Relics of The Incredible String Band today, a compilation record from 1971, in the newly available used vinyl section of my local record store, Love Garden Sounds. It features a really interesting paper cutting by illustrator Jacqueline Chwast on the front. Coincidentally, I have a children’s book that she illustrated as well. (I’ve collected quite a few children’s books that have illustration work that I enjoy over the years from various thrift stores.)
Since my neighboring squirrels ate my other sunflower sprouts, I’ve got a few new ones growing in my window.. They’ll probably be eaten as well once I transplant them to the yard, but it’s fun watching them grow at this point anyway..
I woke up early again to mat more prints. Only about 125 more to go.. Oy! Then I walked downtown (walking is underrated — it’s soooo nice out) to meet with Colorado-based artist Sarah Fritzler to talk about all things art-business related. Check out her website here: www.sarahfritzler.com. And now back to more printing and matting.