Thanksgiving a week later...

                                   

 

There is something consoling at times about a long drive, maybe it's the motion, the road disappearing and reappearing in front of you, the sky stretching out above and beside you. I don't know. Thanksgiving took me to a town I had not visited for over twenty years. My head was filled with the colours of fall and memories that seemed like they were only yesterday. Thanksgiving for me this year, and I guess most years is just an excuse to be together with family, whatever assortment can get together. But I am grateful for this throughout the year. 

Because of the warm daytime temperatures, I hadn't even noticed that fall had arrived. The summer had somehow washed away and was replaced by rust, yellow and red - shocking vibrant red! And the next day closer to home, a trip to the escarpment meant more colour! I still haven't painted in months, though I have been drawing. No visual record to share, but it is loosening up some desire to do more. In the meantime, I am soaking in the warmth before all the leaves have been torn from the trees.

It's been a long time

sunflower table

We are in the midst of what I consider the most creative times of year for nature. The earth and the air are filled with plants and animals (including birds) all craving sun and water, growing and reproducing. So, what's happening creatively for me. Well, I have helped a friend create a nest lately and some artwork to "line" it with. And just the other day I started two paintings - not sure if they will reach completion, or get buried under gesso. They were frustration paintings - you know where you are waiting for something else to happen and instead of pacing, you paint. That's how I am feeling these days, waiting for something to happen and no amount of fretting and forcing is going to produce anything genuine. So, I look for distractions - luckily there are lots this time of year.

the pear came back, and the chicken and the sheep...

Sheep at the Royal

The process of showing paintings in a public setting is still pretty new to me. Throughout the years, until recently, there were half-hearted attempts - a juried show here and there, the odd group show, but no concerted effort to "show and sell". But now, it seems to have become part of the creative process. 

The return process is even stranger if you don't really have much feedback on your work, which could include objective comments by others, or sales. What direction do you head in next; do you follow your heart and just do whatever you want, or also seek some constructive criticism through additional sources to inform your work. 

Working in a vacuum has never been effective for me. Creativity can be a solitary process, or it can be collaborative, or stimulated by the world and others around you - or all of these. Joining a collective was one of my first ways to be in the company of others going through a similar development process (everyone at different stages of course). Having a strong and expressive support network of friends with a wide range of interests also triggers some provocative thought and conversations at times - may even present new directions.