I haven’t been painting. For months and months. I feared I might never paint again, truth be told. But my good friend, Kim, saw me through this crisis by giving me the same advice I would naturally give to any of you: to remember that even when I’m not painting, I’m painting. He reminded me that our interior artist needs time to breathe and conjure and germinate new work. This support from an important friend helped me to do something I’ve never successfully done before. It allowed me to let the incubation take place in peace while I focused on other creative endeavors, like writing to you every day.
And now, with the coming of spring, this day has arrived and I find myself setting up my studio again and making ready to paint—not as a discipline or a requirement, but rather a desire. New growth, like the willows coming into bud, is occurring deep inside me. Perhaps when we give our art the space it needs, it follows its own kind of seasonal rhythm as well. But I’m not going to over think this. I’m just going to do it.
I’m taking stock of the substrates I have available to paint on and am thinking out a schedule that will accommodate painting AND writing the blog. I’m base-coating canvases and reclaiming old paintings to be painted over. I’m thinking of making paintings for Anna and my gallery as well as Hand Artes Gallery.
And I feel a peace deep inside of me because, once again, I am reminded of exactly who I am and why I live.
Love to you all,
Jeane
We got to go to Parker’s girlfriend’s (Kira) Grandparents Easter gathering yesterday. Her Grandfather is a painter, sculptor, shaman.
Their house full of his paintings (and his Father – gone now) and sculpture – his work room downstairs full of all of his variety of drums, American Indian artifacts, (a beaded Coyote skull was just one beautiful item – the man who knew the Coyote used the skull once the Coyote no longer needed it) poems written on napkins, and original beginnings of paintings on paper napkins as well. He is constantly creating, and the work is hiding other work.
I was talking of you with him last night…and telling him of your work with painting and your “synergistic blog birthing” if you will…and it came to me…why have I not seen Jeane’s new paintings lol! But I meant your Mica ones, I did not imagine you were in an incubation period that meant the paintings were growing still. :O) All things do circle from action and stillness. Isn’t it lovely. Kira’s mother is a lover of music and organizes a blues festival (huge) in the Methow Valley every summer – so she had a Jazz group as guest, and a wonderful Jazz pianist/singer from Haiti (she played their grand piano and sang for us) who turns out is studying with Dr. Sun at the UofW – Dr. Sun is the Qigong Master I study with:) I didn’t know of this connection until she was gone, but it just is a small world isn’t it?
I am so happy for your new birth. Happy spring renewal to us all…and so it is.
Blessings of peace to you my dear.
Grace
Oh! What a magnificent day yo describe! That you “took” me there with you is a real honor. Thank you. The connections are endless, aren’t they?
The Raven series is my new work, but I have canyon and mountain paintings wanting out as well. Now I’m very jealous of my time! 🙂
I move about with anticipation of seeing the beauty to come from your heart and hands:)
Thank you dear. I get to paint ALL DAY today!
You have been painting with words. Artists will paint with whatever is available at the time. Sometimes it is paint. Sometimes it is words. Sometimes it is compassion. Sometimes it is love.
Thank you. What a beautiful and true statement.
I want to share this; your words are so meaningful to me and I know it will be to others I know. May I write the quote is from ‘Tslredd’ ?
Yes, please do. I’m sure Tslredd would be delighted to be a support to others.
Yes, please do! Blessings!
Yes, please do. I am sorry. I had not checked back in for a few days. I, as well, have just started painting after 30 years and felt so guilty for having let that part of myself go. One day I realized I had been painting all those years…with words, with compassion, with love. Now it is with paint.
Beautifully realized and expressed. I haven’t heard back from Jeanieliz. It’s a precarious time when we first begin again. I hope she’s doing well and it’s so lovely that your words inspired her.
Hi Jeane – I’m still here and doing okay, thank you. I photographed what happened the day we last communicated and will share that story soon – – –
WONDERFUL!
Thank You Tslredd – – – I shared your thoughts as a quote and it was meaningful to several people. and, it is still meaningful to me today : )
🙂
Hi Jean–So glad you found the blog on this momentous day! ENJOY PAINTING! I’m sure you haven’t had time to read anything else of the blog yet, but you should know that I hadn’t painted for 26 years when I started again 16 years ago. I’m thrilled for you beginning again and a piece of me is there painting with you today. Reach me any time you need a little extra support. Many blessings, Jeane
Thank you Jeane – I am happy to hear from you, and I am keeping this page up on my laptop as I go through this day. Someday I want to tell you more about my story, especially the part about when I went to New Mexico in July 2010 the week after I got laid off of my job in Iowa. I now live in Mpls, MN, moved here with intention of setting up studio apt. that would literally be my studio apt. I put most of my furniture and belongings in a storage unit to help me focus on getting back to what I used to be, my authentic self that was lost for so long. I believe about 30 years…
– Jean e
(how I often sign my name, my middle initial is ‘e’ and my favorite people call me jeanie / jean e : )
And my name is pronounced Jean e too. I can’t tell you how much it means to me to be with you on your laptop today. I really want to hear about your journey. In fact recently I put out a call to readers to write to me about just that. Here’s the link: http://high-road-artist.com/9992/an-artful-life/the-high-road-artists-400th-post/. I hope you’ll grace us all with your story.