We reside with an assortment of animals, and since Sydney the Brown was featured in a recent post, I thought I would introduce a few of the others.  Animals are a constant source of artistic & life inspiration to both Jeff and me, for their devotion, loyalty and antics. 

Mandy the Mandiferous (above) came to us in her (and our!) mid-life after her original owner died.  That was about 20 months ago and she is a wonderful companion.  Recently recovering from a torn acl, and subsequent surgery ,...
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Okay, that title popped into my head and now I have to come up with some subject matter to fit. I've been writing more than ever, it's true...my morning pages seem to be expanding into art process writings.  And, too, this blog.

I have loved the sketchbook I bought at Christmas time to use as a journal.  It is oblong and spiral bound, so I've been writing in it long ways, and for some reason that has suited my mood this year.  I started it January 1st.  Already anticipating that it will soon b...
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I took a technology free day day on Sunday, never turning on the computer and minimizing cell phone use.  It takes some getting used to, having the phone & computer off, with a part of my brain that is always anticipating emails or phone calls. Such a welcome rest.  Hard to remember the days, barely 15 years ago, when we were not so constantly connected.

I refrained from car usage & walked to the studio with Sydney in tow and camera in hand.  Spent a good 7 + hours working through some things,...
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I got an email from "nobody".  I thought it was spam at first, but it turned out to be an auto-reply to an inquiry I had made.  Nobody sent me an email.

Here's three recent pics.  The Two of Cups is Rohs Street steamed milk art, from our Thursday evening out.  Then the talented Caitlin Mathes just before her sassy cabaret performance.  The french chansons were my favorite, but Jeff also commented that her German was flawless. Finally, Sydney my sleeping studio companion.




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Today I joined women and men at Women Writing for a Change to celebrate the 4th annual international SWAN day.  Mary Pierce Brosmer gave an inspiring talk, musical group Raison d"Etre and Tracy Walker performed original music. There was a reading and a film.  Artists had their work on display.  I was asked to join visual artists Joanne Queenan and Charlene Taylor Bales in a panel talking about our artistic process.

It went well, but as often happens when I speak in public, I now have several m...
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Friday.  This week has been more about hunting and gathering than it has been about the physical engagement of making art.  Last night we went to the Rohs Street Cafe to see Caitlin Mathes & friends in a cabaret performance.  Truly enjoyable and amazing voices.  It's a challenge for me to go out at 9 pm to do anything social, but when we do I can find it rewarding, engaging, inspiring.  Remind me of this the next time I don't feel up to going out the door.

Reading, watching films, video clips ...
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Polly Hart, my studio partner on the right and her daughter Hannah Hart, at our last open house March 4th &5th.  Hannah had her photography on display just outside our doors.  They both do beautiful work. (http://pollyhart.blogspot.com) and (http://web.me.com/pollyhart/Polly_Hart).

Polly and I have shared a studio since 1999, and have been in this one since 2004.  We have about 900 square feet on the first floor with west facing windows and 15 foot ceilings.  It's a nice place to work.

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Where have I been?  I've tried to post a few times but couldn't quite get in there.  Then I wrote a long & detailed post and accidentally erased it.  Sometimes computer time feels like I'm grinding away at life and it is just disappearing from me. Argh.

I've been reading and talking to friends about creative process and also watched this amazing video recommended by my friend Amy Bogard. http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html
Most everything Amy recommends is spot on...
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Today began with a bandage change for Jeff, by me...I got to practice my nursing skills and may I say I did fairly well.
Then a little PT for the mending Mandy (Who had knee surgery 2 weeks ago). Woof.  I learned that you can make a hot compress using brown rice in an old sock and heated in the microwave. 

I wandered over to the studio at noon and was surprised to find myself completely engaged and still  working at 5 and then 6 o'clock.  Learning how to collage and re-creating some images I'v...
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You never know what any given day will bring.  Yesterday Jeff got his hand caught in a joiner at a friend's woodworking shop.  His left pinkie is pretty mangled but luckily no broken bones or severed tendons.  No full range typing or guitar playing for a while, but soon he will be back to those it seems.  The man has 9 lives.

7+ hours in emergency room settings leaves me with some useful advice:  find out which hospital has specialists in your injury before choosing ER's.  We waited a good 4 h...
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Spent 5 hours in a life drawing with color workshop this afternoon. As always, excellent instruction by Emil Robinson. And in Manifest's new drawing studio in Madisonville...much less convenient for me (they used to be at The Essex), but a much better space all around. 

Tonight we will finish up taxes, so I can take them to our accountant Mary tomorrow. This is the 3rd or 4th deadline I've given us.  But I do not want to file an extension, and this is one of those annual rituals that is both ...
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Yesterday morning Jeff & I headed down to Sawyer Point with our cameras.  Wow.  The view to the east shows the big mac bridge barely through the trees.  The view towards the Serpentine wall with Jeff on top of it...well the entire wall is submerged.  It's supposed to go up more so we'll probably head back down to see it again.

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There is snow on every branch this morning and on every rooftop across my urban view, but the sun is shining and this lifts my heart.  Today the Ohio River is going to crest at several feet above flood stage, and Jeff & I are going to head down there with cameras.  If we get any good shots, I'll post them.

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Watched a British film tonight made in 1958 (the year I was born), starring Alec Guiness as a starving, supposedly brilliant & somewhat mad painter, who wreaks havoc in his wake in a comic-tragic way. It left me feeling a bit ungratified, but I'm not sure why.  Usually takes me some time to process.

An attempt to tackle taxes today, but after a few hours I escaped to the studio to avoid my own version of madness.  I'll get back to them tomorrow.  Meanwhile some new sketchy paintings are emergi...
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This year has taken a few twists and turns.  In mid-January I decided to resign my office job, after months of deliberation and challenge.  It simply wasn't working and had become untenable.  I gave 6 weeks notice, and so as of the last Friday of February I am no longer employed by anyone other than yours truly.  My new boss is a sweetheart except when she's not.

Back to the studio, and I am in debt forever to Jeff for his understanding and support through this difficult yet welcome transition...
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