How many other artists….

I’m getting ready to go to a cottage with the family for 3 nights.

I am so excited.

When we were in Nova Scotia we spent 5 nights in the most beautifully appointed, modern new cottage. It had the feeling of being spacious—-not in the sense of the measurement of the place, but in the feeling of a space full of creative possibilities because it was free of any expectations.

Now there actually were expectations— involving flowers for a wedding.

So it didn’t end up being a time when I could put my feet up and start writing or stitching or wander around doing photography while the tea kept getting cold in my cup. Although I still did some of those things in the early mornings.

But it gave me the idea to suggest in my first invitation of last month for my GEMs- to imagine a space of your dreams, in a cottage or a cabin, with all the things you need, chiefly time, without expectations on your time, or on you— no wifi, no screens, no gardening or watering, no expectations of caregiving – no one needs you or expects anything from you. There is no accounting for what you do with your time- if you start sketching- there is no need to share that with anyone at all.

If that was your scenario, what would you bring?

What do you want to play with, create with, make, experiment with, research…..where would you let your curiosity lead you— your creativity….

All month, I have been giving myself time to experiment and play.

Particularly with larger pieces of cyanotype.

I have played without expectation.

Without a deadline.

Letting my curiosity lead me in the beautiful sunshine that we have had here this month.

Other things have been left ( as certain plants who are still in pots can attest)….

Clean laundry in a pile —

But I have given myself this time.

I am about to go to a cottage with the family for three nights and I am wondering what to bring….I have a fairly full bag of open-ended creative projects—- some new pens and paper; my needlepoint with new colours – and no pattern; my knitting which is currently a vest but really needs me to carry on and knit the sleeves…

How about you?

Do you give yourself a chance to step away even for an evening in your own air conditioned living room?

To start something without expectation — to see where it takes you?

From all of this playing, I have some large prints I am very excited about.

This morning I took them to be scanned at my printer and to explore sizes of prints, costing, paper — all.the.things.

There were 5.

I needed to have names for them.

I didn’t think that I did when it was, in my mind, just to get them scanned.

But of course if I call to say that I would like to make prints or cards with “the blue one” – they need to know which blue one…

Sometimes coming up with names is easy and just comes to me (like my “Financial Planning” one – people have laughed out loud in front of me at markets for that one…which delighted me!)

This morning I was happy with “When Vegetables Become Flowers”

But then I got to the final one and the lovely woman who was noting them down said “Okay I just need one more”.

So I wrote lightly in pencil on the back when she was noting the others: “The 5th Year”.

I was silent. I didn’t really know where it came from, but of course I also did.

Did it have anything to do with the cyanotype of dried flowers in front of me? Well, not on the surface— but yes, yes it did.

Because I started making them the summer I lost Ilse.

When I answered the question- there was a pause and she asked in a gentle voice: “Is that about your daughter?”

Without looking at her, I said “yes”.

Then there were tears and she handed me the kleenex box.

Standing in the small gallery room at the top of the stairs where you are let in from the busy city street by pushing a button to ring the buzzer and speak into the metal box.. With a large German Shepherd dog whom I have gotten to know over the last few years- someone I would normally be scared of, but who I now greet and pet as I would Lilly, she said there have been lots of tears in this room.

I joked how it was a pro move to have the kleenex box.

We laughed.

As I descended all those carpet covered stairs, I wondered how many other artists find themselves being carried by their art that comes through them not from them.

How many other artists make things that they bring here to share with the world in galleries, shops, markets, shows and tourist stores…. where people will see the image and as all art- make their own deliberations as to whether they don’t like it or they have to have it….that the Beauty speaks to them for some reason which they couldn’t describe in words…but it speaks to them in some way.

How many other artists are as in awe of what this whole experience is as I am.

How many other artists are as grateful as I am to be able to create Beauty for others to enjoy even when we don’t fully understand it ourselves, but are nevertheless moved by it.

Who partner with the sun.

And therefore with wonder.

And find joy by leaning into Beauty.