The exciting news I promised you on Monday is multifaceted and here it is: I am investigating the possibility of compiling a printable e-book from portions of the blog. I am creating the space to paint again. I am redefining the blog. And I am bringing myself back to passion.
I just did some searches on Amazon and there are so many books about the art journey. There are inspirational stories, spiritual stories, tales of transformation. There are books about reclaiming a life, which I think is probably the crux of my story. It’s certainly enough to give one pause at the very least. I mean, after all, what do I have to say that hasn’t already been said? Would I buy this book? Is it useful? I don’t know the answers to these questions yet but I’m going to spend some time considering them.
I came to Truchas to paint in solitude, but I no longer paint. I’m taking major steps to change that. One of these is to leave the Anna Karin Gallery–a huge decision. But sitting a gallery up on the main road in town, in the public eye, takes time and energy and moves me away from painting. Painting isn’t just about stepping up to the easel. It’s about living a life that is filled with inspiration, about creating the space to ruminate and consider and to pursue what fills me.
Something I’ve discovered in the course of writing the blog is that it is always, always best when it is heartfelt, but much of the time I find myself responding to a sense of obligation–a commitment to post a certain number of words, a specific number of days, on a schedule. This has, quite honestly, worn me out. So I want to reshape the blog. I want to write only when I have something meaningful (or fun) to say, when I am inspired–whether it be something I see or experience or a passing thought.
I am seeking a conversation that nourishes so, while all of your comments to the blog are very important to me and many have actually helped to sustain me, I will no longer be responding to everything that is written. This goes for email communications and FaceBook messages as well. I will continue to read everything you write, however, so you will be heard.
And I am changing the focus of the blog. It will become more personal. I will write about my art journey, about my life as it unfolds, and will no longer try to cover all the artists on the High Road. There will still be cooking posts however, never fear.
So as some of you have suggested, I am not going to write on a schedule. However, you are all extremely important to me and I’ve feared losing you, which is why I haven’t taken this step before. I know it’s easier to stay in touch if you know when I’ll be posting, so I hope each and every one of you will sign up for email notifications of new posts. I think it’s also important to make it very clear that I am not abandoning you. This blog community has become a significant part of my life, as has the writing. I’m not going anywhere soon.
I have no idea what these changes will do for my life, my art, the blog, but I feel I must initiate them and find out. I hope you all will continue with me on the journey, no matter how uncomfortable change can be. Let’s dive into the heart of the matter full bore, shall we? And have a little faith.
Love to you all,
Jeane
Beautiful my dear. And know I support you in all changes you feel are needed. Friends are always and forever friends, no matter where on earth we land or by what time we are separated. As stacks of clean laundry whisper to me and children (and others) demand this or that from me, I struggle with pursuing the passion that leads to painting and other creating. Others expectations can be stiffling. But eventually and in a myriad of ways, we are all brought to our passions. We are what we are…always. Pursue your passions. With joy and freeness of spirit. As we all must do…and I look forward to seeing you along the journey.
I think we all want to see you following your heart and your passion. It seems as if you are reaching another stage of your life’s journey and moving forward on a new path, and I, for one, will joyfully follow you as you share the adventure. By the way, those rocks are so very beautiful! Nature inspires in so many ways!
Good call, Jeane. Last night I dreamed I was soon to die of a very common disease. In the dream, my big regret was that I had “not led a more bohemian lifestyle.” Why the word bohemian, I don’t know, as it’s not a term I usually associate with my waking aspirations. But maybe I should listen to it. We all get tired of responsibilities and obligations; no doubt they stifle our creativity by robbing us of time, energy and brain space.
I think, Sunday, that you bring up an interesting issue–the desire to follow our passions (and the regret we will feel at the end of our lives if we don’t) and the responsibilities we all must face. As Susan Williams Phillips says below, “… we are all brought to our passions. We are what we are…always.” But the laundry does stack up, the children must be fed and loved, the bills must be paid. I think this is one of the major barriers to getting at our art. Some of us navigate it and some of us don’t. But as hard as it is, I truly believe we CAN find ways of not letting the responsibilities of a life BECOME our lives.
So many pretty, interesting distractions in our lives that we hardly notice the things that will grab our ankles and trip us up- Your photo of the rocks & barbed wire illustrate this perfectly. You are so wise to wake up to this! I look forward to continuing to know you through your surprise gifts of paintings — word and otherwise- Best regards.
good call! looking forward to whatever and whenever…..
I’ve had an encouraging vet visit with Finn that answered my most pressing questions. He has 4 more weeks of treatments which can be dangerous, particularly the 4th week. So we must be strong and also hope that it will be a good outcome in 4 weeks.
I will need your vets contact info..Espanola will be the closest town for us too…and my little Annie dachshund ..who rules my house…always gets top notch care! As, obviously, do your critters! Thanks thinking good thoughts about Finn getting healthy.
Hi Maggie–Disqus isn’t accepting my password so I’m unable to respond as HRA. But you know who I am 🙂
My vet is remarkable–started the Wild Life Center here and does all kinds of challenging work. Her name is Dr. Ramsay and the clinic is Cottonwood Veterinary Clinic, 505-753-3790, 1 Shady Lane, Espanola, NM 87532. I think all the vets there are good but I prefer Dr. Ramsay.
Good for you, Jeane.
I moved to this old adobe a mile down this narrow dirt road in Chamisal to carve out time in Nature to allow myself to be inspired and express it…however. There are times I don’t leave here for a week at a time, and only then to get the mail at the post office. The sound of my own voice has become strange to me. Since coming here last autumn, this aloness/fullness has changed me profoundly, and it’s starting to show in my work. I know what you are doing will show in yours – and in you.
Best wishes,
Farishtah
This new leg of your journey will take you where you need to go! “Our passions are the true phoenixes; when the old one burns out, a new one rises from its ashes.” – Goethe-
Hi Julie–Disqus isn’t recognizing my password so I can’t respond as High Road Artist but wanted to thank you for this lovely quote which I posted on the blog’s FB page. And I truly love your sentiments. THANK YOU!