Seeking the Sublime in the Everyday

 I'm back from a wonderful visit to Chicago with Sam, Annye and Sunny, then on to Boulder, CO,  to celebrate the life of a dear friend, BettyVan Zandt, and re-connect with three buddies from my teaching days. It was a beautiful tribute, planned by Betty's children and grandchildren, with talks by dear friends.  I came away with a feeling I always get at funerals and memorial services, that is, "Gee, I wish I'd known that.  I wish I'd spent more time with her."  It's a reminder to keep reaching out and not to let time go by without contact--time goes fast enough!  Betty was--is--an inspiration. Once I heard someone ask her birthdate (July 3, 1924) and tried not to let my jaw drop--she was a year older than my Dad, but totally my contemporary. At her advanced age she was vigorous and steady on her feet and although her eyesight was failing, her vision was clear and her engagement with life was lively. Rest in Peace, Betty. Now I'll celebrate one who'

 You know what's a good way to get started again when you think you've hit a creative wall?  Clean House!  I tried that this week and I have a new lease on my creative life.  You see, when I left my studio uptown I had to give up my large flat file and that was a serious sacrifice because I had no place to keep my large pieces; the only place was under the bed.  That was a bad idea is SO many ways, so I eventually got our handyman, whose name is, appropriately, Angel, to build me a cabinet.  This is not a perfect solution as the work has to stand up and sometimes it curls up at the bottom but it's an improvement over under the bed.   I took a few pieces out to let them flatten and had a eureka moment; Two separate pieces fell together!  I love when this happens; it's just how my Pelican piece came together years ago!  Shooting big pieces is not easy--I have to put them on the floor to get enough distance and then my studio assistant has to have a say. But he's very

 I saw a terrific show this week, with work by my friend, Gwyneth Leech, one of the most generous and inspiring artists I know.  She was working in her midtown studio, enjoying the light and the long sky view from her window when she looked down and saw a construction site where there had been a low rise building.  She knew that meant the end of her beautiful view.  What did she do?  She started painting what she saw--the construction site, and painted the building as it rose.  That was quite a few years ago and she's still painting the buildings that spring up all over town. She sets her easel on the street and so has attracted the attention of a whole new audience for art-contractors and construction workers. You can see her work at  GwynethLeech .  Better yet, go see this show!  City Light,  a three-person exhibition of urban landscape paintings  by Gwyneth Leech, Valeri Larko and Pamela Tales, curated by Jennifer Roberts.  at the Galleries of the Interchurch Center 61 Claremont

I've been feeling a little doldrum-y lately with a drawing that is just not working.  I reminded myself that I haven't been doing my morning pages, that is, as advised by Julia Cameron in her 1992 book, The Artists Way , to write three pages, every morning, before I do anything else. I've been doing that faithfully for years and it pays off, in clarity of mind and the ideas that come readily. So why have I stopped? Russell needs an early walk.  But he's growing up and learning his manners and it's time to get back into my routine and so I resolve, as a late New Year resolution to get back to the pages. You heard it here--I promise.   I've started a new drawing, calling on Audubon for inspiration.  Yes, I know, we're not speaking his name because he owned slaves, but it's the old dilemma.  Can you love the work while disapproving of the artist? One thing I don't give up even in the doldrums is making collages in my appointment book. Here are some of m