Out Of The Mud, Into The Light: March's Gifts

Here in New England, we are finally thawing out. The snow is melting, little by little. With thawing, comes saturation, which creates mud. My life has felt much of the same way. I have been frozen, blocked creatively, for some time. I have personally been saturated with all kinds of issues and responsibilities in these last few years that have become like mud in my mind. I couldn't seem to make a clean step out of this deep stuff, to make real art that was soul satisfying. However, the last two weeks, I have experienced a shift, a thaw. I picked up the latest issue of Somerset Studio magazine to read on a relaxing Sunday morning. I opened the front cover, and turned to the "Letter from the Editor" page and within a few sentences, there was this quote: "Vision without action is a dream" by Joel Barker. Boy, did this hit home. I have been dreaming about doing more artwork, but if I don't actually DO IT, it will only remain a dream. I then came to the article on the artist Kelly Rae Roberts. I know her work very well, and purchased her book "Taking Flight" when it was published in 2008. After finishing it back then, I put it on my bookshelf with all my other fabulous art books. A few months later I would experience just the beginning of a personal deep freeze, dealing with several personal losses that would last into 2010. 

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, I read that article in which she describes her personal journey into art and how she started from point zero in skills and experience and just dove in and painted her way into becoming one of the most sought after mixed media artists today. I was so inspired. I went to my bookshelf and pulled down her book and re-read it in two days. At the top of the introduction page was another quote: "When once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return" by Leonardo Da Vinci. I so wanted to feel that deep satisfaction of "flight" that I have felt before. It happens when you work on something that just feels so right that you know this is what you were born to do. Between those pages of her book, she shares her feelings and her techniques with the reader. It was just what I needed to read at this moment of my life, not back in 2008. I felt inspired to start anew with a seed of an idea. I have been in the studio working on collages again and I am so happy with the results. I will share them with you soon but for now they are tender seedlings that need time.

Out of the cold, into the light

This month I have received so many gifts. First, let me thank Kelly Rae Roberts for sharing her journey, but maybe more importantly, her heart with us. You don't know how much you have helped so many hopeful artists with your thoughtful words. I am also thankful for friends who think of me, and send me things I love. My soul-sister Karen from A Scrapbook of Inspiration blog, brought me some wonderful fabric swatch books this week and Pat from Art 4 Liberty blog gifted me with this...

isn't it fabulous?!

Spring is a time for new beginnings. I went outside today and saw these tiny shoots breaking through the crust of dirt to emerge and grow in the light. 

This is how I feel creatively. Growing.  And eventually with much attention and nourishment, Blooming!