The current of the moon, the shadows of the sun, and the heart of the mountains have all inspired my soul. Their lessons have merged onto each highway with me as they follow me where I go. If it is not in the form of symbolism, it is so real in my dreams each night. My mind, my heart, and my courage uplift with the crust of the earth, as I find my place in the world, and the worlds place in mine.
A wise man once told me that crisis causes change; he was right. I held very tight to this idea and adapted to the energy swirling around me. I am glad I listened but now that life has settled down, I can’t decide if stagnancy should be considered a crisis or not. I certainly don’t want a crisis, so I have decided I must create the change I am looking for; I am starting with my runs in the morning. A new playlist and a new route connected me to my shadow. It is weird to watch yourself run, mainly because my arms resemble a T-rex, but it is cool, it takes self-reflection to a new place. It has helped me see myself from the outside in. I have been searching and searching for a new city to live in, or a new way to change my life, but none of the options felt right. I feel like I am supposed to be making grand moves or landing a great new job, but forcing these things upon myself, would only set me back. It would take me farther from my dreams of being an artist, something I am not willing to compromise. I am beginning to realize, I must take advantage of the present moment, I need to stop investing my energy in all the places I am not, and focus. As I prepare for August to fly by, I am excited for the switch in the seasons. This September I won’t change because of a crisis, but because I want to.
In my line of creating, there can be a lot of waiting.... Tonight, I find myself waiting for the glue to dry..... These moments can be frustrating, I know what to do next, but I must respect my piece enough to give it a rest. I find this realization symbolic as I just opened a fortune cookie that says, “Killing time murders opportunities.” In my line of creating, there is also a lot of chaos. There is glue and paper everywhere. There are ideas bouncing back and forth between the soul I am creating and the soul I am using to create. There are corners, backs, and sides just craving attention. There are colors and textures learning to get along. So...in these moments, when I find myself just waiting for my piece to breathe, I like to breathe..... When it comes to my art, I know my fortune cookie is wrong. I don’t think killing time is murdering opportunities, I think it is giving me an opportunity to enjoy the process and the beauty of what is blooming on my canvas.
Winter is a difficult time for me as an artist. The cold and colorless landscape makes my grey matter even greyer. I try to imagine the colors my incense would be as the smoke dances to my music. I need spring and I need inspiration. Here are a few photos of works/works in progress that came with the winter months. I welcome back the warmth and the color that nourishes my creativity and the season that brings life back to this little mountain town.
Proud to post a link to my new Etsy Shop!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/purpleMOUNTAINpp Check out my shop to see some new work! Living here has reconnected me with introspection. Just bitching it out to yourself, while you go through the motions. Slowing down has been a theme today. It's true. Maybe I move tooooo fast. It makes me super efficient, but it can also make me bitter. I am feeling very happy. I am feeling like it's right. But, I need a new goal. It's time for a studio, my art looks so good, but Asheville is tough, I'll tell ya. People are new, frequent, foreign, lost, and gone before you know it. Appreciation exists, but it doesn't last. Flowers have inspired me recently, but I'm mesmerized by the plants that I have been nurturing at Sweet Peas. I am amazed how I have helped them grow. They were struggling when I first got here and I am kind of surprised how well they are doing. They are so green and every morning it is joyful to watch them absorb the sun. The windows brew them coffee, as I help people brew theirs. A mutual appreciation, a mutual growth. An old professor told me, "Every artists experiences clarity after a great high." I don't even smoke anymore, but I am high. |