Back to work…

Oh, The shoveling to do. March 14, 2017

( Truth: I wrote this entry several weeks ago. I had not let it go into the blogshere. In processing this idea further in the last month or so I have realized there is more than meets the eye in this slow recovery. The first thing out of my mouth Wednesday November 9, 2016 after my husband asked how was I doing that morning was, "Not good. I am not going to be good for a long time." I think I set myself up for a low grade depression, heading into winter because of the results that let the occupant in. Name it -  Tame it, they say. I will continue to make work of what I consider beautiful to remind myself that it is out there and we all need to look for beauty every day even when uglinessness seems so insistant. "Nevertheless, She persisted.) Onward.

It was a tough winter for me this year. I came down with the flu hard and graciously gave it to my husband. We were perfectly useless to each other for more than 2 weeks. Then it snowed 3 feet. Whew. Adirondack winters test one's mettle.

I had good intentions to spring back into action when we headed to Mexico to escape mud season. Bought pastels and paper. Painted the first day. I found I lacked the energy to give to the work no matter how small. I carried my supplies as penance for not following through.

During my recovery from flu I ran across a NYT story about Carmen Herrera. I had never heard of her. She is an abstract minimalist who began her career in the same era as Mondrian, Kelly and Stella. She has become my heroine of the year or longer.
Carmen Herrera is 102 and still painting every day. She has been discovered at a much later stage of her life than those bad boys of her youth. Most recently this winter Herrera had an exhibit of her work at the Whitney. Finding her was an inspiration. No, I will not be switching to her style. She is 102 and painting every day! I have a lot of work to do and years to get it done.

May Iris 8x6

It has only been this week (early May) that I am feeling up to my old feisty self. Maybe it was working in the garden, bu I finally kicked the lingering malaise of the flu out the door.

Since I have a pile of prepped 6x8 pastel paper ready, I am intending to warm up the brain and hand with a mini a day. Here is an iris from the garden. These are very early because they have very short stems only 12" high, but the color is luscious. I don't do it justice here, but it was great to get back into the work.

I will be posting the work on Facebook on two pages.  If you follow on one you will need to like the other to see it. The FB page with just my work on it will appear with only the work - no commentary on any desperate situations.

Stay tuned.
 Artliveslong, D

Still Snow Capped 12x18