Being asked to describe my “arc” was an excellent opportunity to reflect on where it began, where’s the middle and what’s next.

Then to have genuine interest and respect for the vulnerability of putting art out there was heart warming and made me realize I’m not quite as vulnerable as I was – or more properly said, I’ve learned to manage the vulnerable states.

One student asked us: Have you ever had someone completely trash your work?

My answer was a self-reflective chuckle as I said, “not really, but that’s because I’ve been so cautious about to whom I show it and at what stage.” I explained, that I had sometimes given a ong preamble to someone about “I’m showing this to you but you don’t have to like or not like it, or pretend to like it or say anything about it. I’m just sharing something with you.”  Then I’d watch for whether they “got it” and if not, they didn’t get to see very much at all.

That said, I do have people who’s feedback I appreciate, for many different reasons. I do have teachers and mentors and fellow artists whose “crit” I appreciate. From non artists, I’m more interested in, “What do you see?” “Is there a place that draws you in?” “Can you say why?”

I have one piece in the current exhibition where three different people have unsolicited offered me their reasons for liking a fairly ambiguous part of it. One says it seems like a city-scape in the middle of the forest; another feels it’s a desert and another gates to an inner world.  They’re all right. But I didn’t know that when I painted it.

The students’ assignment after our talk was to choose a piece, sit in front of it. First they sketched it, and then wrote a description as if it was to someone who’d like to see it but couldn’t and then thirdly write their own interpretations, impressions or reflections. Boy, was it neat to turn around from a conversation and see all these people, cross legged on the floor, looking so intently at my art.

Thank you, students, for feeding the artist with your attention and your questions.

Surfers. I’d cut out a photo from an old National Geographic of a closeup of a seal. And when I turned it over to glue it, I found these “surfer girls” and fell in love with them.

I am weak. I’ve spent so much time creating SMART goals for myself and others, the R for realistic side of this was just way too compelling to not do it.  But what now? Will I just get another goal assigned to me? Is this how my staff felt about our regular goal setting discussions?

But the LED lights are up and there’s a lull between festivities so I’m engaged in my annual time for reflection on my life so far and how I might want it shifted in the coming year. When I was younger I followed all the good advice about setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-based) goals but I’m feeling more relaxed or possibly lazy or apathetic, depending on your view of these things.

More This; Less That – is the frame I seem to be working on. I remember a poem based on this being in some curriculum package from the government on stress management, but can’t find the original. If you know it, please post or send.

Anyhow it encourages slight shifts; gentle leanings forward and back; rather than the left-brained, logical, ego-driven goals that, less face it, often fail anyways. More exercise isn’t as daunting as exercising three times a week and possibly less expensive. I believe fitness centres and yoga studios do a great business in the first month of the new year.

Instead of lose weight (the #1 new year’s resolution, according to some), maybe more vegetables; less meat or more walk; less car.

Or to add the S for specific, which is often quite yummy and more interesting than generalities.. more buttnut squash; less hamburger; more walks along sandy beaches; less traffic jams.

Join me? Post your more or less resolution, why don’t you? I’m curious!

Wikipedia article needs help. Can you help?

Home, neat, home, is the top resolution on this Canadian Living article. The word “execution” scared me off the site.

Here’s what popped up:

http://www.glassmementos.com/lobby.html

http://www.artfromashes.com/faq.htm

http://www.evrmemories.com/Cremation-Art-Painting-s/241.htm

http://www.seaviewartglass.com/

http://denicelewis.com/

http://torchedart.blogspot.com/2011/03/cremains-beads.html

http://www2.sacurrent.com/news/story.asp?id=72168

Cremains used in Pet Portraits and

12 Weird Things to do with Cremains

(don’t go yet – wait till post Hallowe’en)

The morning glory–

another thing

that will never be my friend.

I’ve been crocheting morning glory vine – most recently made two big “spider” webs for Hallowe’en decoration.

I’m trying to be a good friend..