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MUSINGS
12 April 2008
A line of thunderstorms rolled through last night. This morning everything is brilliant green.
That first fierce jolt of spring. Warm sweet air in the wake of the storms. Crystals of sunlight on the
carpet of grass that yesterday wasn't even the suggestion of lawn. Dozens of birds singing their claim
on the brand new worms and the brand new houses we've set out around the yard. A brand new
season has arrived.
The studio windows are thrown open to the spring and, as I write, we are now only days away
from launching this web site adventure. Since Peter first decided me on it last summer, many friends
have offered help along the way. A nod of thanks to Glen, who was there in the early days to walk me
through the new software, a bucket of thanks to Saren, Susan and the pups for listening on our walks
to the endless saga of the software learning curve and all manner of frustrations, and an ocean of kudos
to nephew Ross who took over the build and has creatively and patiently corrected all of my mistakes
and bumblings with a gentle kindness that my impatient self did not deserve.
And thanks most especially, to my dear partner Pat. She is my rock and my defender, my light and my heart and her humor and tenacity helps keep the world at bay which has not only given me the space to work on this site but every single day gives me the great freedom to follow my bliss and stay home and paint.
We've compiled for you, on this web site, a comprehensive portfolio of work completed since I
began painting in 2000. My first solo show was in September of 2001 and, to help in the transition from
Chairmaker to Artist, I wrote out some journal notes to accompany each of the paintings. These writings
have become an integral part of the paintings for me and for patrons so I've included them on the web
site.
Two years ago we found out the house next door to our little log cabin was for sale. We
took a running leap and bought it thinking we could spruce it up with a fresh coat of paint and turn it
into a badly needed larger studio space. Until we found the termites….or rather the thin slivers of wood
beneath the plaster boards that they had left in their wake. So we spent the entire summer demolishing
and rebuilding and I made Pat promise that if I EVER complained about anything again in my life she
would remind me that "you could be drywalling". We've included some of the "before" shots in our
slideshow tour for those who are curious just how much damage a few little bugs can do but the end
result is a space full of light and insulation and indoor plumbing and the muses are no longer tripping on
each other's robes.
The studio is open to all by appointment or by chance and we hope to see some more of your
faces in the visitors slideshow in the future.
I turned fifty a week ago and the synergy (to borrow Ben's word) of marking that milestone on
this journey, and of opening this virtual door into the future, seems just about right. We tell the
grandchildren that what you focus on expands. Waking up every morning and walking over to the
studio to spend the day immersed in the creative process is the discipline of art but it is what happens in
the spaces between the artist and the brush and the canvas that is my greatest teacher now.
While Gully and I were sitting on the porch soaking up the burgeoning spring this morning I was reading through a collection of Howard Pyle's work by his grandson Howard P. Brokaw and came
across this quote of Pyle's, "All great art is the expression of some great truth. Tell the limpid truth. The
great works of art are great because they tell the truth, simply and directly.". Sounds about right.
Enough of this day spent in front of the machine. Think I'll go outside and get some dirt on my
hands. Thanks for stopping by. Take good care,
Heather |
