Art Is a Wilderness

Journal page from April 8, 2011

I am pausing the whirlwind of my life to check in and shout out here at Lost Coast Post.  I am in the middle of a perfect storm of life circumstances, decisions and events that have me blowing from one project or comittment to the next and back again whenever I feel well enough to do so.

I'm having my ninth surgery in a little over a month (left foot again!), my son is in his last four weeks of spring semester, and I've got four more teaching Fridays before I'm also done for the summer.  Lots to do and that just scratches the surface...

Art is a wilderness for me right now as I try to reconcile current loves (painting, journaling) with past obsessions (bookmaking, polymer clay) and new fascinations (anything to do with sewing & fabric.)  I feel a huge, monumental shift occuring and I still don't know where it will all end up.  I have a show scheduled to open in October and I'm no closer to knowing its theme or content than when I booked it last year.  Another facet of my artistic career is set to debut in late May and I'll post more details on that as they crystallize for me in the next couple of weeks.  Work on that particular endeavor is actually progressing well, even with frequent breaks to manage my health issues.

Thanks to all who continue to follow Lost Coast Post as its resident artist finds her way in fits and starts.  Your faithful support and sweet commentary is more appreciated than you know.  As the next few weeks unfold, I expect things to pick up momentum and clarity so I hope you all will accompany me on this ride.  If you are more inclined to brief snapshots and snippets of my days, you are invited to check out my Twitter feed.  Either way, thank you from the bottom of my crazy little heart...  

Simple Summary

Journal Page from April 2, 2011

I AM...

Searching

Expanding

Learning

Experimenting

Rediscovering

Pondering

Planning

Playing

Transforming

I FEEL...

Exhilarated

Scared

Frantic

Peaceful

Overwhelmed

Hopeful

Lost

Found

Taking Time to Sort Out a New Toy

I've been quiet lately because I got a new camera and I've been joyfully snapping pictures everywhere.  Upgrading from a three-megapixel to a 14-megapixel is thrilling!  I have gladly left behind the digital camera Stone Age.

The pictures all need further manipulation and resizing in Photoshop and my learning curve is steep (practically vertical).  I often figure things out accidentally (after hours of fussing around), only to promptly forget how to recreate the desired outcome.  It just takes time, focus and repetition...and lots of Internet research and note-taking.

I look forward to posting more pictures of Lost Coast life and my studio activities now that I have some technology capable of capturing things in better detail.

Credit for the digital frame goes to Andrea Rascaglia from Rome, Italy...