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The work above is undone.
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While the colors are coming along, and the de Chirico doors are forming, I'm midway through drawing over a natural scene that is more gorgeous and meaningful than my work atop it could ever be.
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That's by design, and a routine self-challenge. AKA practicing craft.
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And I've been far more interested in the simple nature of things lately, which is probably why I don't have a pile of art this week. Up until now, I've drawn symbols and scenes atop photos – creating art that evaporates on inspection. There are over 400 of these works on Instagram.
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And, what's underneath is a moment of wonder I had outdoors.
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One of the most important things to me is that the actual place is tucked away safe, unlikely to be found. In this case a pond in Hope Valley. The photo (above and to the right), looks to me like a tic-tac-toe board with colorful little leaves as playing pieces falling away from the game. It also appears to me as if the image has tipped "up" to the vertical, which explains the falling aspect.
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I love the simple beauty of things falling away gracefully.
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In real life, the grasses and leaves that make up the dismantling grid are acted on by wind, sun, rain, decay, currents, and critters. The surface is actually horizontal, the movements continuous.
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It looks wildly different today than the day I took the photo. I can say that with certainty, even without being there myself.
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My creative process has developed like this, making art "atop" nature, because this means no actual paint marking up a cherished landscape. Making digital representations of moments = protection of place. It's also a portable way to work.
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Practice in the Back Yard
On the Buddha at the Gas Pump podcast, Karen Shanley, shared a workable spiritual practice is sitting outside for an hour.
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As a recovering/poorly practicing Zen Buddhist, I'd been beating myself up for not bowing enough, not meditating enough, not, not, not...
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So Sunday morning, I got up and did one of my favorite things: I sat outside and wrote. What came was a reflection on pink and red hues, as my relationship with the birds in my yard unfolded in real time. That essay link is below.
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While I wrote, a cardinal couple fed their babies. At one point the red male had a dust up with a grey bird, and stopped at the end of my table with a single feather in his mouth like Al Pacino might dangle a cigarette in his.
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Cardinals + Mafia in a movie. That's something I also may find delightful.
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The high drama I witnessed and permission to "just sit" left me with delight. The fact that I also wrote, another practice, is part of me building a future life.
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And again, there is no quick recap or final assertion to cleanly close this email. So all I can do I wish you combine your favorite practices into something special, and give yourself permission to do so boldly too.
If you don't know what that is, I hope you watch nature, share your photos with others and bear witness, protectively, of your favorite places.
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More Text & Images
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Also: needling noses, feeling for others, juxtapositions of color, spiritual practice, and shielding nature from unwanted gazes. I just heard1 an excellent spiritual practice is sitting outside for one hour every day. It's Sunday morning and I also like to write. Let me share it with you. Near my back gate, is a bush who's name I just needed to …
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Categories: For My Kids, Mommess, Spiritual Mechanics, Spirtuality, Uncategorized, Visual Art
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I'm a big proponent of the idea that we teach what we most need to know, so today I'm starting today to log my progress publicly. See, I wrote a complete book 20 years ago in 3 days flat. And I know there is so much good stuff there. There have been other book drafts and outlines since then, but …
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Categories: Mommess, Uncategorized, Writing
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You received this email because you signed up here, or I thought you might find this interesting and added you to my weekly roundup of text & images. You may unsubscribe at any time at bottom.
Your replies, questions and comments are welcome. |
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In the days of AI and excessive optimization, mess is leading edge.
Some content here is political, some personal, much of it philosophical, and all of it meant to shine some light into the lives of my readers, because it was written to shine light into mine.
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I hope my work stirs your soul, ignites your creativity, and helps you feel connected to all the good things this life can offer. If it doesn't, please promptly forget it! This work is my soul's calling. If you find value here, please tip or consider a paid subscription.
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POLITICAL ACTION AREA: It's best to connect with your local civic groups, and show up in the ways you can. Peaceful crowd sizes matter, as does your positive energy, community spirit, and adherence to non-violence.
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