“It’s difficult to look up.” Said my brother in law. I don’t know what he’s talking about. When I walk through Seattle between my loft and my studio my head is cranked up to take in the skyscrapers. I keep looking over my shoulder to see how the view keeps changing on each street. Every block is so beautiful and dynamic. Traveling on foot is all about looking up. It takes a lot of convincing to get myself to walk across town. It’s so easy to drive. 10 minutes in the car vs 45 minutes walking. I never regret the walk though. I feel refreshed by the movement, inspired by the scenery, I get perspective checked as I pass all the homeless people, hospitals, and storefronts covered up with plywood since COVID and protests. I get to walk by the big sports stadiums and I feel myself in the presence of human greatness — people who have dreamed, pushed themselves and accomplished. I listen to music and daydream but mostly I observe. I’m super present, not thinking about much, just enjoying what I’m looking at. I often play audio meditations as I walk. It’s peaceful having Gil Fronsdale tell me to breath and relax my shoulders as I walking across sidewalks and passing by allyways. Plus, once I’m at my studio I feel so free to stick around for a long time and create…not parking meter to pay attention to. That’s the trickiest thing about my new art studio…parking is on the clock. This distracts me from getting totally immersed in my work. I want to disappear for hours and lose track of time when I’m making. Knowing that my parking meter is ticking makes me feel rushed and far too aware of the outside world. So I realize, to get the full deep creation experience I long for, I must walk. I walk across town for the fresh inspiration and the timeless creation session.
And I spend a decent amount of time lying on the fluffy carpets in my studio eating chocolate. When I took this photo I was listening to this podcast episode about gathering with Brene Browne. The box of chocolates came from one of my photography clients. My head is resting on my new pink patterned yoga bolster — I have wanted my own yoga bolster for YEARS. A yoga mat is necessary and a bolster is a luxury! Finally, I invested and I love it. It’s such a versatile pillow or seat…or headrest while eating chocolates. I savor the chocolates, slowly melting the chosen ones on my tongue. I love the caramels and crunchy ones best. A box of chocolates feels so luxurious and even more so that I’m keeping this one entirely to myself. I thought about sharing it with Davey and then decided…nope, just for me. MINE MINE MINE! hehehehe
And this is a painting / drawing I’ve been working on this week. I’ve decided to start practicing drawing faces again. When I was in university, I drew women’s faces and bodies often. Most of the artwork I’ve made in the past few years has been abstract. I have a dream of being able to paint goddesses. Charmaine Olivia has inspired me for years and if I can learn to paint even remotely like her I’ll be over the freaking moon!! She’s been my favorite painter for almost a decade. I just love her colors and the spiritual vibe. Follow her on Instagram and OMG it’s rainbow explosions. Her hair is died rainbow. Her house is painted rainbow. For years, I drooled over photos of her art studio and the studio I’m now working in is my own manifestation of that dream. Since seeing her paint in a big room with tall ceiling, big windows, paintings everywhere, brick….I want that for ME! So finally, here we are. My studio is a slow growing space. I need to buy more plants and bring in a big mirror — because I LOVE staring at myself in between art projects. I feel like I’m hanging out with myself, like a friend, smiling at my own face. Maybe that’s what happens when you grow up in the countryside and spend a lot of time alone as a kid…you befriend your reflection. Truth for me.
So I still feel like the faces I’m drawing right now look a little strange, clownish, tense. I’m so excited to have blending tools now so I can practice shading. I just love drawing and painting because I get to create something with my hands and get messy. I miss that tangible element when I’m making music, which is so invisible and also when I’m taking photos with is so digital. I believe it’s really healthy to express creatively with many different senses. I get to use my eyes and hands for painting. I get to use my hands, ears, mind’s eye and whole dancing body for music. I get to use my hands, eyes and a running around body for photography. I’m not doing much with my nose or tongue right now in terms of creativity…so to be more well rounded, perhaps I need to spend some time cooking and growing flowers. ;)
LOVE, CHA🍍WILDE