Return from Ireland

I spent most of September getting ready and touring around the west coast of Ireland. Here is a special journal I made using blank 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper, as well as already-painted folios. The outside cover is upholstery leather with an inside green fabric fused to it with HeatnBond. Dark green linen thread sewn in a long stitch holds the 6 signatures of 3 folios each in place. There’s a Celtic button and round leather string to close it up. By folding up a recycled painting and hammering in some mini-eyelets, I created pockets. My intention was to take this journal with me everywhere and to write poetry, prose, thoughts, feelings, and lists, as well as to sketch. Spacing the signatures far enough to allow for thick collage, I planned for an all-purpose travel companion.

Now, here’s the ironic part. I did one sketch, in Doolin, the first day, and then nothing. Nada, zilch, nothing! Although it was a small tour group—four paying customers, the tour guide and her boy friend—it was exhausting. So much to see and do and feel. Although the pace was better than a commercial tour, to me if felt like non-stop go, Go, GO! It didn’t help the boyfriend would voice anything that popped into his head and often got into arguments with the girlfriend while the “tourists” became uncomfortable witnesses. Stress was thick when we were all crammed into the one mini-bus. Being an introvert and a Highly Sensitive Person, I found the atmosphere akin to an endurance test.

There were a lot of physical challenges, too: climbing up ancient forts and mountains on slippery rocks and slick grass, hiking here and there, being outside in much cooler (and lovely!) weather, navigating unfamiliar city streets.

Using this small notebook (below), first intended to hold art ideas, I wrote daily activities even on bumpy roads. Thus, my new camera became my main creative outlet for the twelve days. Eventually, with reflection and time, using fliers and brochures, I will transform my unused book into a travel journal.

The Irish food was all good and nourishing; I even acquired a taste for Guinness! The land and weather became a comfort, the people helpful and friendly. And the changeable light—dark clouds, rain, sunshine—illuminated and obscured distances. Ireland touched my soul since I first visited in 1982. So, regardless of the trials of this recent trip, I know the frustrations will fall away, leaving only good photos and good memories.

Storm of Creation

Arctic Cold Front & New Moon
18” x 12”
acrylic on paper

Have you ever calmed yourself down by doing art? When you are feeling strong emotions, do you channel it into creative expression?

Crevice
12” x 18”
acrylic on paper

Recently on Mary Buek’s blog, she mentioned "art will save the world" and I believe it! Because it can save you, me, and countless others by re-focusing our current emotion—whether it be pain and turmoil or elation and joy—and coming out the other side with art born from pounding the keyboard, flinging paint, gouging stone or wood, or flooring the sewing machine pedal. Being such sensitive souls, artists have chosen to express their deep feelings by creating, not destroying. When our inner storm has passed, an expressive, heart-felt, even break-through piece of creation can be held in our hands. Looking closely, we may be even be communicating with ourselves, seeing a message only we can discover.

Beneath the Dunes
12” x 18”
acrylic on paper

Getting Noticed, Getting Rejected

Dancing Green Man

acrylic on paper

8" x 7"

Last week, I received an e-mail from an art instructor wanting to use some of my gelatin prints in his alternative printmaking workshops around the country. Dean Ebben had found my blog and liked the experiments done on different surfaces.

So, I’m preparing an artist biography as well as some .jpgs of my prints. I am really floored that my work will be seen along his and other big names in the printmaking field.

Earlier in the month, an online map company--Schmap--approached me through my Flickr site, short-listing a photo I’d taken in Killarney. Although I wasn’t able to reply in time, I was flattered and flabbergasted how opportunities appear when people locate you online.

In both instances, neither offer had any monetary offerings but would give me full credit and allow my work to be seen by a larger audience. That made me feel that perhaps the Universe was telling me I’m on the correct path and to keep creating. It’s pretty amazing since I’ve only put my art online since May.

Joseph Campbell said “…follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.” When I first highlighted that sentiment in The Power of Myth with Bill Moyers (p. 120), it applied to my writing. Now, it applies to my visual art.

As a sensitive, shy person I have very mixed feelings about showing and possibly selling my works. There’s one side that dearly wants to be accepted and acknowledged while the other side wishes to remain withdrawn and retiring.

While all this attention was happening, I entered three acrylic paintings in the local watercolor juried exhibit. Only one didn’t make the cut but it's my favorite and, what I think, my best work to date. Rationally, I know it’s a matter of taste from the juror, one person’s opinion, but that hurt!

So, is the Universe giving me a mixed message? Or will this rejection be the stimuli to enter other contests or even prepare works for selling at Etsy?

How do you deal with attention, selling, or getting rejected?

As the week closed, and I received an insightful critique (thanks, Steve!) on why the painting might have been rejected, I feel less bruised now and more philosophic. I realize I’ve come a long way. Having more courage with my art than my writing, I have progressed beyond shyness to show, exhibit, and blog. By risking rejection, I have won by just submitting. Having two out of three paintings in the last two annual juried exhibits is something to be proud of.

So, it’s time to find a different venue for my painting and time to think of the future.

Autumn Leaf

acrylic on paper

9" x 12"

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I’ve continued playing in paint with various strings, ribbons, and pieces of jute.

As an experiment, I’ve made ghost prints in my journal. Taking the remaining acrylic paint from my brayer, I roll the excess onto a hardbound sketchbook of 70 lb. smooth paper. The prints have turned out very well but I was afraid the acrylic paint would stick together, especially on a two-page spread. I’m so pleased it hasn’t. In addition, the pages haven’t wrinkled either, in sharp contrast to using water soluble crayons or pencils with water.

Roll, brayer, roll!

Not Beach Reading

Pondering a book to bring on my recent trip, I looked around ones I had just finished (“True Vision: Authentic Art Journaling” by L.K. Ludwig, which deserves a review in itself) or was in the middle of (Ted Sorensen’s “Counselor: A life at the Edge of History”; a great read but too heavy and bulky to tote around) and instead selected a title recently ordered—“The Mist-Filled Path: Celtic Wisdom for Exiles, Wanderers, and Seekers” by Frank MacEowen.

A step-up from other Celtic New Age books, this title is taking me on a profound journey. It is definitely not beach or summer reading. Yet beginning it far from home, away from the daily routine, has added weight to the words. I haven’t even finished it and already it has moved and altered my thinking.

For example, I am an introvert and a Highly Sensitive Person ((HSP); there are several good books and web sites explaining this trait). Thus, I am uncomfortable in crowds and in the midst of noise. I have great difficulty “chatting” with strangers or even initiating a conversation. But, prompted with some of what I’d read in “The Mist-Filled Path,” I said hello to my airplane seat-mate. Almost immediately, I reverted back to my shy ways and was about to move to a vacant seat near the window to engage in solitary pursuits--sleeping, reading, or watching the changing geography below. However, it turned out my companion and I began a conversation that lasted most the flight and brought out all the things we had in common. We both couldn’t believe how much we were talking! We exchanged e-mail and Flickr addresses and hugged after retrieving our baggage, not saying “good-bye” but “until we meet again.” How often does that happen? For me, usually too reserved to even say more than one sentence, it’s very rare.

Although I am just 1/8th Irish, it is that bloodline I feel most strongly drawn to. Growing up away from most relatives, I have a great hunger for my heritage. Recently, I’ve learned more about my maternal great-grandmother, whom I actually resemble from her wedding photo. I visited Ireland twice so far, once in my early twenties and again two years ago. I am fascinated by ancient Irish Neolithic times when my tribal ancestors built stone circles, cairns, monoliths, and other monuments, as well as Irish Celtic times when my tribal ancestors spread their culture into Britain and Europe (perhaps some of my German heritage was Celtic, too). Some ancient sites can still be seen and some ancient ways still reverberate in modern life.

My vacation book will engage me long after my holiday.

Flowing

acrylic on paper

7" x 9"

Celtic Stones

Watercolor crayons on paper

7" x 9"

Spiral Lessons

acrylic on paper

7" x 9"