I worked on putting together a powerpoint presentation for an event this fall at the Jordan River Arts Council show, Rare Threads.  As I sorted through my photos of the steps involved to make a batik piece, I was taken with the same reaction my customers have had after I explain how I make a batik, which is always, "Wow, that is a lot of work!"  Odd that when I am doing it, I don't "see" the effort, the planning or all the steps involved, I just, "do" them.  That, I believe, goes back to the most important concept of the arts and the creative process. It is a good thing I don't "see" the effort or work when I'm engaged in creating them because the goal is experiencing the process, not the piece or the result.  I find it somewhat amusing that after 35 years of creating so many pieces that I don't even have a clue how many I have made, that it is only now, with the advent of doing this blog, photographing some pieces step by step, that while I have taught the importance of embracing process not product to my students, I'm "seeing" and understanding that concept in a new and enlightened way.  To truly reap the multiple benefits of the creative process and there are many, all one has to do is surrender to the process.  

I found that this photo spoke volumes to me today.  Two beautiful tree trunks, but each so very different from the other.  Since we have learned that it may indeed be possible to build the studio we have thought about building on the hill near our small cottage, I now find myself thinking hard about, is this what we really WANT to do with our limited resources.  My husband and I have worked hard  as team to manage our resources, raise our kids, fund our life and now as we think about how would we like to spend the next phase of life, is building this studio what we both want to do with out limited funds?    We each have unique personalities, like these two trees we are different from each other.  I love the way they share the space in the photo, each brings out the best in the other, each fills half the space.  The photo reminds me that now as my husband and I plan for the future, we both need to be sensitive to our differences but more importantly look for those things that bring us balance, like the trees in the photo, how they share the space, and the things that help us to compliment each other.  Interesting how this shot helps me to clarify my thinking on this topic!  Art and the creative process does work in mysterious ways!  Once again I'm grateful for this way of seeing the world. 

I will be teaching a class on color theory starting Sept 30th.  Class times are 3:30 to 5:30 and another from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  We will most likely need two 6 week sessions to cover the material and I am looking forward to introducing this material to students.  We will be using Betty Edward's book, Color as out textbook, I feel she does a wonderful job of explaining how color works in our lives and in our artwork.   The text is interesting and the exercises are fun to do.  Contact me if you are interested in more information about the class.

Time is flying by fast, each day is filled with more interesting things and challenges.  The new window for the living room arrives on the 16th so the fun begins. I'm a little behind in posting my photos of the day but will catch up.  I recognize that the photos are teaching me things and I miss doing it when I let other things get in the way. No excuses, just need to do it!

I can relate to this photo in so many different ways.  First I see my face as a get the price for my,  "lets paint the living room" that has now turned into "lets spend a fortune and order a new window for the living room", before we go to all the effort to paint it.  Funny how 50 bucks in paint can turn into several thousand dollars in a window in the blink of an eye.  Then I see this photo and it just plain brings a smile to my face as I simply enjoy the "look of surprise" on this tree trunk.  It's a lighthearted moment created by mother nature and my imagination.  After an expensive day like today, I'm grateful for the smile!

You never know where the learning is going to come from, but you can be grateful when it comes.

I had a delightful couple who had seen my work at a show downstate stop in my studio to see more of my work. They were interested in two different pieces and planned on buying one.  For the first time in my career as a batik artist, I found myself resisting the idea of selling one of them, and of course it was the one they wanted most.

That feeling of resistance was a very odd feeling because as an artist, trying to make a living, you are grateful for every single sale and don't try to discourage anyone from buying anything, ever!

I couldn't put my finger on exactly why the idea of selling it was so difficult for me. Then, the woman made it perfectly clear, she nailed it when she said," I understand, you aren't done learning what this piece has to teach you yet." That was it, it was a piece that took me through a new set of doors.  I want to learn and grow from it, and in order to do that, I need to study it more. I need to have it in my sight to do that.

With this understanding I'm excited to see where this piece will lead me in the future and extremely grateful for her wisdom. I'm ready to learn now because the teacher is right in front of my eyes, I see it's purpose clearly now.  They graciously took the other piece, one which I  also like a great deal,  but for different reasons.