symbiosis

In the give and take between human and animal, a serenity is achieved while the knitter works and the sheep takes comfort in companionship.

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

going places

Delicately balanced through his forward momentum, this crow has places to go, people to see, and things to do. Busy, busy busy.

You know, sometimes we are so busy trying to get where we're going that we fail to enjoy the moment. Crowding our lives with so much activity that we don't even notice we've lost the ability to be still. How long has it been since you've laid on your back in the grass and watched the clouds go by? Or sat on a porch swing with your eyes closed and listened to the sound of birds? Or gone outside at dawn just to breathe deeply of the morning mist before the rest of the world wakes up? Try it. Slow your brain down and think of nothing but the enjoyment of the moment. It will fill your heart up.

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

in my studio

I keep the bits and pieces of works in progress on a small table in my studio. There they stay safe and organized. They also stare accusingly at me every time I walk past as if to say "hey! we're still not done, and yet you dare to start another piece?" That's right, my work gives me attitude! You can see glimpses of two different pieces in the photo above. The woman is part of a sculpture which will probably be titled "freedom". Gruesomely, her legs aren't yet attached to her body (not that she seems to care). Eventually, she'll be sitting on the back of a crow in flight, and the whole deal will be hung from the ceiling. Clearly I'm not done yet with the subject of flight because another piece is in the works which also explores that subject matter.

And here is a little vignette of one corner of my studio work table. I got this table third-hand and happily don't have to worry about ruining the surface since it was already pretty messed up when I got it. At times I think I should sand it down to make it nice again, but but so far have resisted the temptation since then I'd have to be careful with it.

a quiet life

"The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind."

Albert Einstein

Impossible for me to have said it better. I've been thinking about this in my own life recently and was pleasantly surprised to happen upon this quote. Living here on the hill for four years now, my life has become increasingly quiet, less complicated, more in tune. With my dogs for company as I work, farm animals for the occasional distraction, a garden for physical exertion, and a good book to read in the evening, I am rarely bored.

When we deliberately slow down the pace of our lives and stop allowing ourselves to be constantly bombarded by everything that screams for our attention, we are able to find the quiet moments to think and reflect. To allow imagination free reign to entertain us. To dream and to ponder the "what ifs". For me, that's where art comes from. That quiet place.

rainfall

For those of you who couldn't make it to the show, I'll be posting images of some of that work here in the next few weeks. I hope to continue this, posting images of new work as it is finished. There is so much in my head begging to be let out that sometimes I hardly know where to start. But what with the big push to get everything completed in time for the show, it seems I'm now back in creation mode - the long drought over.

And so here we have "Rainfall"...

Still in his shell and refusing to come out and face the world, this little guy is hunched in his nest and seeking protection from the elements with a rather flimsy umbrella. All within a glass cabinet, as though preserved like a specimen.

I sort of like the whole specimen concept. I may have to pursue this further... more little cabinets, more odd vignettes.

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

I hope to see you tonight!

So tonight is the opening of "In My Own Backyard" at Diddywopps & Keeffers. This will be my third show there in three years, but I'm still excited, thank goodness. The day it stops being exciting and showing becomes ho-hum is probably the day I should stop. Happily, that doesn't appear to be happening anytime soon. I continue to amuse myself while making the work and hope it strikes a chord with those who view it.

I'm a pretty private person and so putting this stuff out there has always been a stretch for me. Sort of a "here's what goes on inside my head, please don't smirk" kind of thing. But the reward of a piece making a connection with someone is worth the risk of disdain. I think. At least as long as I don't have to witness that disdain personally.

a preview of September 12, part 9

a preview of September 12, part 8

kreativ blogger award

Thanks to Michelle over at Boulderneigh for sending me the Kreativ Blogger award! One always likes to be appreciated - or maybe that's just me, hmmm? Anyway, as I understand it, I'm to list seven of my favorite authors and then seven blogs to nominate for the award. So without further ado, here we go...

My seven favorite authors:

Dean Koontz

Gene Logsdon

Jonathan Kellerman

Patricia Cornwell

John Sandford

Michael Crichton

Dean Koontz

Okay, I cheated and put Koontz in twice. But really, these days most of the books I read come from the library with the exception of Koontz. If he has a new book out, I buy it. Because what I've found is that they are good enough to re-read. More than once.

Seven creative blogs:

http://hilarypfeifer.blogspot.com/

http://meganauman.blogspot.com/

http://blackeyedsuzie.typepad.com/my_weblog/

http://stellarcafe.blogspot.com/

http://oneblackbird.blogspot.com/

http://sodabyamy.blogspot.com/

http://tollipop.typepad.com/tollipop/

I encourage you to visit these blogs and see if you don't agree that they are quite creative! Each one different and unique, but with something special to share.

a preview of September 12, part 7

a preview of september 12, part 6

a preview of september 12, part 5

a preview of september 12, part 4

a preview of september 12, part 3

a preview of september 12, part 2

a preview of september 12

Here's a little preview of what you can expect to see at the opening of "In My Own Backyard" the evening of September 12 at Diddywopps & Keeffers. The show is just over two weeks away and I'll be posting more of these tidbits between now and then.

change

I said before that I've been running in four different directions, but to be perfectly honest, it's only three - graphic designer, mixed media sculptor, and wannabe farmer. Which brings us to the subject of change... the designation of wannabe farmer is changing to just farmer. Okay, so in some folks minds, with just under 4 acres that's stretching the term quite a bit, but that's okay. It will be a micro-mini farm, or as I'm calling it, "the tiny little farm at Tulip Tree Hill". The core of the farm will be a greenhouse for growing heirloom vegetables and flower seedlings. Additionally, there will be a market garden for produce and cut flowers both of which will be sold at growers markets. I'll still be a graphic designer (my primary source of income) and a mixed media sculptor. And so this blog's somewhat split personality will birth a new blog about the farm. The only changes you'll see here will be a lack of gardening/farming posts and hopefully more emphasis on art. That way the folks interested in the tiny little farm won't have to wade through art posts and those who like art won't have to read my ramblings about farming. Unless of course, you want to.

Speaking of art, my new show at Diddywopps is opening September 12, but I need to have everything completed and delivered by the 6th. I. am. not. ready. Oh, I'll get everything done, and it will all be wonderful of course, but things will be hopping out in the studio!

in my own backyard

I have been quite negligent in keeping up with this blog lately and have no excuses, really, except that I feel like I've been running in 4 different directions at the same time. And when you're doing that, it's hard to get anywhere at all!

One of the directions will soon bear fruit with the opening of my new show at Diddywopps & Keeffers. The show runs from September 10 - October 19, with the opening reception on Saturday September 12, from 6-8 p.m. If you're in the neighborhood, do stop by - everyone is welcome. One of the reasons I like Diddywopps so much is that Tami has created such a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, without the pretensions. Just fine art and craft, presented beautifully.

Hope to see you there!

garden guests

Can you see my little friend here? It's a black swallowtail butterfly caterpillar munching on some dill in the garden. Upon closer inspection, I counted a dozen of them. But I don't mind, after all, there's more than enough dill for all of us. And who doesn't love butterflies?

a pastoral scene

This is the view from my back pasture, looking out into the neighbor's field. This scene is so much better in person - the quiet and gentle peacefulness of sheep grazing in a lush pasture, the single tree providing soft shade, and the bounty of the newly harvested field - it fills my heart up.