I am privileged to have a large studio in which to create my art. I have been in this space for about 15 years. Recently I realized that I am burying myself in my work. I have to shuffle things around to find workspace, storage space and display space. It is heaven.
I like going to museums, craft stores, estate sales, second hand stores and libraries. They fuel my ideas.
My friend Juanita brought a group of us to this store in Memphis. It holds every which way of fashion materials from Church Lady hats to walls of earrings and stickers. Need a sequined bustier? A tie dyed pair of leggings? A beaded purse in the shape of a football? We got you covered.
I also love puzzles. I give myself permission to do one puzzle each year. I know my tendency to obsess. If I didn’t limit myself to one you would find me buried under a card table filled with sky pieces, water pieces, and that little piece that has a stripe of pink with a yellow tongue that I have been looking for for a long time. I finished this puzzle last week and lo and behold a friend of mine sent me another one as a challenge. It is a drawing in black and white and gray of the anti-war painting by Picasso called Guernica. I changed my mind and will allow two puzzles this year. I remember being awestruck and losing my breath when I saw the original in Madrid.
I am hyper focused these days. While walking I will actually get down on my knees to see a mushroom emerge. My wishlist includes an electron microscope. Sounds emerge where there were none before. And don’t get me started on those little beetles that show up if you dig. The bounty of inspirations fuels me, astounds me and if I am honest it can stop me in my tracks.
Here’s my latest work. I haven’t figured out what to name it yet.
Food for thought
Here’s something we saw while driving through Arkansas. A jewelry shop is offering a free shotgun if you buy a diamond. It reminded me of a store here in Memphis that used to have a sign that said “Nuts and Furs”