little worlds

I love this! It's a card D's friend from Japan sent to him for the holidays. It is a 3-d layered world with little santa's running around. I've stolen it so that I can examine it. I would like to make little scenes like this and photograph them.

It is so hot today- I'm schvitzing and I'm just sitting still.

Things I'm thinking about:
1. illustrations of polar bears, igloos and eskimos
2. cardboard diaroma pictures
3. purchasing a boombox and cordless tea pot for studio to make it more cozy.
4. this quote from Letters to a Young Artist by Anna Deveare Smith:
"Forget about competition. Rather, commit yourself to find out the true nature of your art. How does it really work; what is the essence of it?
Go for that thing no one can teach you. Go for that communion, that real communion with your soul, and the discipline of expressing that communion to others. That doesn't come from competition. That comes from being one with what you are doing. It comes from concentration, and from your own ability to be fascinated with the story, the song, the jump, the color your are working with."

little ideas

I have started writing here 3 separate times and then lose interest and leave for a few days and then return and delete what I had started and not finished. I'm sitting upstairs in my newly painted green room listening to a rehearsal going on downstairs. People are singing the same phrases, practicing-- I can't sleep, I can't eat......I never knew someone could be sooo sweet.....
Perfecting their technique.

I bought a few ingredients to make zucchini bread using the two ginormous zucchini's we got from Erica's crate o' veggies. We get to pick up this crate of veggies that are delivered fresh from a farm while Erica and Denver are away on vacation for 3 weeks. The fridge is fully stocked plus the tomatoes I'm growing in the backyard are starting to ripen--- so I feel a little overwhelmed with produce at the moment.

I had a great studio day on Friday-- I have been having a really hard time getting to the studio for all sorts of reasons. Then, once I'm there, I'm not sure what to do, where to start. I think it's a pretty common feeling amongst creative people. But Friday was great because I brought some new materials to work with and just let myself have fun not expecting anything great or even remotely good to happen. When I felt bored I moved on to something new. For some reason, polar bears and igloos seem to be on my brain. Not sure where that will take me but those two items have been resurfacing repeatedly. The studio is feeling more comfortable now-- I have a new wall with a doorway that makes it more private and room- like. I still have a few more items on my wishlist that will make it super duper! Each time I go there, the first thing I do is draw a picture of a fish in a small sketchbook. It's like a daily ritual- and gives me an excercise to warm up with and a way to have something to do immediately when I arrive.

Otherwise, everyone at my work was reading Harry Potter last weekend and I felt left out so Kellee was nice enough to lend me book 3, which is where I left off reading way back when. It's fun to get back into reading the books- and they are such an engrossing read. I love the way JK Rowling creates this parallel universe- I would love to sit down and have a conversation with her about her creative process. I wonder what she will write about next?

Ernesto, if you are out there- I have been thinking about you and wondering if you have a wee Mendoza yet!!!

:-)

Great ideas

I can't believe it's already July 9. The summer is in full swing and it looks like I'm not going to go on an exotic vacation-- maybe next year......

I only saw highlights from the Live Earth concerts but I think they are such a great idea and I really hope it raises more awareness and action! I love the badge and banners they have on the website too- notice the addition to the right.

We've been doing a lot of work around the house. We pulled up a gross carpet in D's office and uncovered nice hardwood floor and painted the room blue. It looks beautiful! Now, I'm planning on painting the spare bedroom/my office two shades of green. One wall will be a Behr shade called "Pesto" and the other 3 walls will offset it with "Desert Cactus." Those Behr paint people know how to make a really nice website!

I have been trying to set up my studio as well. Luckily, D and I were driving down the street and saw a wooden door in someone's garbage- so we grabbed it. It will make a great workspace tabletop. Then, we were driving down another street and saw a wooden desk on the street and nabbed two of the shallow drawers which I'm using as containers for art supplies and paper. They are swell! Later this week, a friend is going to come over and build drywall for me- so I have a more private space and then I can get busy! It will be super!

PS: You must go see Ratatouille, it is delightful!!