Art of Creativity

Experimenting and Self-Critique

2012-01-29T11:21:00.001-08:00

I'm taking a super, exciting class in illustrating children's books. (See link below ~ How To Be A Children's Illustrator). Our first painting experience was to use two colors in water color! So, I chose orange and blue and the magical mixture of their colors. They are the basic colors I will be using in the picture book I'm writing and illustrating with Heather Rowley. This was so much fun, I nearly forgot about my day job! I like the way I got the colors, though as always I need to learn to go darker. I tried outlining with ink, but the outlines are too heavy. For the final picture I will use a fainter outline if any at all. Also need to practice how to draw a soccer ball (smile). All in the fun of learning and expanding my skills. The old adage of constant practice is never truer.

Also, here's an image of the fine art painting I submitted to the Millicent Rogers Museum annual Miniature Show. I loved painting this no end. Now to decide what to wear to the opening next Saturday night! Yes, I'm girlie enough to think of that.

"Petroglyph," acrylic on canvas, 8" x8", Judith Nasse, Jan. '12

I hope that for you in this new year you too will find your creative practice to be such a joy and creative critique.

Dreaming and Daring

2010-10-03T14:40:00.000-07:00

Blue Lizard, ink on wood, 3x2, April 2010
Judith Nasse

More often than not for me, my art pushes me beyond myself, beyond who I am as a person and an artist. It's helping me become slowly, so slowly become the person who I have always dreamed of being. And sometimes, it's tough going, even downright painful. Like the lizard who loses part of its tail and has to wait for it to re-grow, keeping his balance as best he can in the meantime. Most challenging for me is to put my art out into the world. This month I had two pieces featured in the NM SCBWI newsletter! And in my Book Writing World forum, I'm practicing out-loud the pitch that I will use in a query letter to agents for my book. I'd rather write or paint than do the marketing. Yet, I'm daring to put myself out there a little bit more. As much as we dream our dreams, we have to dare to put them in action! What is your challenge and action for this week?

Ah, New Sights!

2010-09-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

Sunset in Chaco Canyon,
Sept 14, 10, Judith

I was reading a newsletter this week by the artist Robert Genn, who urges his readers to try painting differently so that they can inform themselves about new ways to approach their canvases. [ www.robertgenn.com ] An art trip can do the same thing when you can get away. I just got back from a camping trip to Chaco Canyon where I sketched, painted, and photographed to my heart's content. Some of it was a challenge as to how I could sustain an ink drawing to the end ~ of the myriad, closely mortared, small vertical stones in the ruins. It sure takes a lot of patience when the sun is beating down & flies are determined to land on anything. The end result though is always so dear, the perseverance paying off in drawings to draw from in the long winter months to come. The inspiration one gets for one's media, like the A.S. Byatt book I'm reading [Virgin in the Garden], that feeds me new words to sing in my head & to write into my book, is the treasure one receives when one paints a new way, plays a new note, or sees new sights. What has inspired you this summer that will last through the autumn and winter?

Harvest

2010-09-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

"Chokecherries"
Judith

I picked a colander full of chokecherries yesterday, and my abundant raspberry crop is resting in the freezer for me to make into jam this week. Not sure yet what I'll do with the chokecherries (and yes, I left plenty on the bush for the birds): jam, syrup, liquor? I'm visualizing containers for them for holiday gifts. I also finished my novel this week. Strange that I don't think at all about when the raspberries or chokecherries will be ripe. Nature has its own timing, which I trust.
The novel, I worried about a lot. Would I finish it? How long would it take? Am I taking too long? I don't have answers. Now that it's done, and I look back, this novel had to take this long ~ nearly 20 years. It's the one I was learning with while I finished raising my children and while I gained skills and confidence in writing, not to mention research and research trips. I'm thinking now that each novel, each creative piece, has its own pace. Isn't nature a wonderful analogy for our own growth and progress as creatives?

The Biggest Hurdle

2010-08-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

We all have an area of our creativity that is our biggest hurdle. For some it's the plot, for others it's the daily discipline, for yet others it's the self-doubt about the rendition, and for yet others it's the facing the blank page, canvas, stage, or musical score. My hurdle is putting my work out there whether it's a piece of art or a piece of my book. Last week I did get brave & sent a couple of my paintings to the SCBWI-NM (Society of Children's Writers & Illustrators) newsletter. They were graciously received. This week I have to do a reading from my novel to my writing group. After that, in the autumn, it's sending pitches & query letters.
Oh, my! The only way I can get through it is one little step at a time. Yesterday I received inspirational help when John Dillon & Viv Nesbitt came to the bookshop for a multi-media presentation of John's wonderful new book about the creative life, The 20-20 Creative Solution. John shared that he used to be ultra shy, and now he sings on their syndicated radio show "Art of the Song" as well as in concerts! My on-line writing community on http://bookwritingworld.com/ is also committed to help each of us. Maybe soon I'll be able to pitch my own work as well as I can pitch John's book here, our book signings at the store, or others' books and art!
What is your biggest hurdle, and what kind of support do you find to help you jump over it with ease?

When we can celebrate!

2010-08-15T10:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the illustrators from SCBWI-NM (Society of Childrens' Writer's & Illustrators-New Mexico) met at Lois Bradley's studio in Albuquerque. Lois' illustrations for the award-winning picture book Blind Tom were the featured topic as Lois took us through her process from winning the illustration commission to the final reward of seeing her book in print. For those not familiar with the, sometimes grueling, always gratifying process of creativity, no matter the media, note that it takes diligence, discipline, sometimes bleary eyes, and lazy dust-bunnies to get the final song, dance, painting, or book out there. The trick is to love it with a passion, to go step by step as Lois did, and then celebrate when your piece is published, sold, or performed. Do look for Blind Tom in the childrens' section of your favorite independent book shop! Blind Tom was a famous blind horse in his time who helped build the Transcontinental Railroad commissioned by President Lincoln. Enjoy & keep on with your wonderful creativity.

Inspiration

2010-07-31T14:20:00.000-07:00

"Ghost Rider"
London Wilder, '10

At the Taos Summer Writer's Conference this year, one of the author/presenters Rob Wilder had us happily sell his young son's postcards! Ah, childrens' art, my first and favorite style of art. My love for childrens' art and picture books led me into wanting to be an illustrator, which led me into wanting to also be a fine artist. This month I will finally have a chance to go down to Albuquerque to have fun with my illustrator's group! It's been a year since I could get together with them ~ way too long!
Also inspiring, and so useful at the conference, were two new books out. One is John Dufresne's Is Life Like This? The book takes one through six months of writing a book, including all those wonderful anecdotes and moans we writers have such as life's time eaters and how to write anyway. It's all done with humor and real advice. John lives the writer's live! Priscilla Long's The Writer's Portable Mentor is the new fun tome that combines the Chicago Manual of Style advice in exciting palatable form along with fascinating exercises, plus how to write and get your book out there. So far my two favorites are making my own word journals for my current book and playing with verbs. I finally have permission for using the same verb over and over in a paragraph for emphasis! It's all in learning the skill!

Build It and They Will Come ~ Eventually!

2010-06-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

Mountain Bluebird
stock photo

Two years ago I put up a bluebird nesting box in my yard. No birds came, and no birds came. A couple of days ago, I was watering and a bird whizzed by & went into the nesting box. All I could catch was a glimpse of brownish colouring and wings whirring. I could see straw sticking out of the wee round hold and was happy that I finally have a bird tenant! I haven't seen her since, and now am beginning to wonder if she was an illusion. I don't think so as I have plenty of blackbirds nesting in my eaves. Is she a bluebird, sparrow, or some other bird? I'll let you know when I see her again. Her nesting renews my faith that whatever we truly wish for, from our deepest being, will eventually find its way to us. Since I last wrote I have dived deeply into my art and writing. My creativity is something I wish so hard for over 20 years ago when I first discovered I had a creative gold vein, un-mined, deep within. Now, it's coming fully into being, fully into the core of who I am! Like the bird now nesting, it has been worth the wait along the road of learning and practice. What is your inner gold mine?

Recent Fantastic Reads

2010-05-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

Instead of coming straight to the computer after lunch to write my blog, I sat riveted to the ending of Maytrees by Annie Dillard. Likewise I just re-read Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway. When I was quite a bit younger I couldn't get enough of Virginia Woolf. I did my Dip Ed at the University of London and would roam Bloomsbury imagining it like Virginia and Leonard would have seen it. I am also raving to everyone about Hampton Sides latest page-turner Hellhound on His Trail, the Stalking of Martin Luther King Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin. Dillard, Woolf, and Sides are all masters with writing words and narratives. Sides creates his non-fiction to read like fiction and have his real-life characters come to life on the page. I am fortunate to work in the bookshop as one of my jobs is the event coordinator; so I called Hampton Sides to ask him to speak at a special luncheon on 23rd June at Downtown Bistro! He loves Taos and accepted! If you are anywhere near Taos on that Wednesday, do call the restaurant at 737-5060 and make reservations to have lunch with Hampton Sides! Hope to see you there. And continue to have those who are the best in your media inspire you!

Revision

2010-04-27T10:14:00.000-07:00

Shakespeare my hero!

I'm deep in the revision of my novel and there are moments when I want to throw the laptop off Taos Mountain. And then there are flashes of time when I finally solve a verb or scene or character flaw. Revision is the hard slog of writing, or painting, or composing, kicking the soccer ball into the goal, or getting the dance move just right. It's practice, practice, learning, and more practice. Sometimes just as I think I'll have to scrap a painting, it suddenly becomes right. I read Shakespeare and wish I could write like that. Yet, I know enough about the theater that I know he had to constantly revise his plays as he got new insights as the actors moved across the stage and something didn't work just right or could work even better.
Life is that way too. We think we have just conquered a big portion of our life, like forgiving a hurt by a friend decades ago, when it rears it's ugly again, and we have to revisit and revise our pov! It's hard and we do it, and then we feel the joy of resolve rush in. Now to go work on that drawing again where I made one object too dark for the composition. I hope your week resolves itself ever so nicely.

Creativity as Labyrinth

2010-04-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

"Over There"
ink on wood, 3" x 2"
Judith, March '10

I've been thinking of labyrinth's lately, how after you start out, they somehow circle back on themselves at several spots before reaching the center. I find that my art and writing do that. It's nearly like a deja vu of being at this point before: do I dare to paint differently this time, or the same? Do I dare to make my characters seem a little crazy, have big flaws, step into their unknown, make huge mistakes, or do they play it safe like so many of us try to do? This weekend I moved my studio back into its own room from a table in the living room where it is much warmer in the winter. Sitting at my "real" art table, I looked at this painting above that I mentioned last time where I dared to make the ground red. Oh, I was so tempted to use the accepted colors in my new painting, you know green grass & blue sky in back of a yellow daffodil. Ah, I've been there before! Yep, it was scary, but I decided to make a fuchsia, orange-y background instead. When I paint the daffodil will it be yellow, red, turquoise, or ...? I'll let you know. At least I past this point of the creative labyrinth & am closer to center. Now to make the main characters in my book both a little more crazed and bold! Where are you on your labyrinth of creativity and life?

Art Is Daring!!

2010-03-31T08:43:00.001-07:00

Let me tell you about Leigh Hyams. I first met her on an art camping trip in the wilderness of the high Sierras in California. It was a trip another art teacher, Medora Bass, organized, There we were without any amenities, so close to the stars they seemed to sing at night. Leigh is a great inspiration as it was on that trip that art became alive for me and I forgot to be afraid, partly because of her example. I went out on trails that were so foreign I didn't know if I could make it back to the tent. I sketched and sketched and painted with watercolors by a stream. Later I was in a class in Leigh's studio/home in San Francisco. That class was organized by the wonderful, inspiring teacher, the late Charles Miedzinski. Again Leigh's daring to paint on canvases cut to the shape of ancient pots helped me to see outside the box. Yesterday I painted a red ground instead of green or brown. Last week I wouldn't have been able to do that. And this is a huge step for me as in the beginning of my painting I shunned red as it frightened me for some reason, and now I'm painting it big. What is your creative and life daring today?
Happy Spring Holiday week!
P.S. Visit Leigh's web site: http://www.artsreal.com/ and get her juicy book, How Painting Holds Me on the Earth, Writings from a Maverick Painter and Teacher, ISBN: 9780557012855

Inspiration & "finish what you begin..."

2010-03-23T17:32:00.000-07:00

TheTurtle's Dream and Keys
Benrali, Author & Illustrator

I recently decided to begin writing book reviews again after Benrali sent me her query. At first I thought I shouldn't, but her amazing images haunted me. And now that the book project I was semi-ghost writing is into the publishers, I have time to indulge my love of childrens' books and talking about them.
As creatives we all need inspiration whether it's from nature, others' work from our own media or cross-over inspiration from another media. Go to http://childrens-book-reviews.blogspot.com/ to see my review of two of Benrali's books.
And, sometimes, like happened to me this week, something we view, read, hear, or see just doesn't inspire us. I was starting to read a novel that is being raved about. It bored me, and I had to put it down. Now, that was hard as - remember - we were taught as children to finish the food on our plate, our homework, our chores, etc. As creatives and adults we have finite time; therefore we can give ourselves permission to chose what inspires us. If it doesn't, then we can put it down and dash to the studio to work on our latest creation. What inspires you this week?

When will we get there?

2010-03-16T13:34:00.000-07:00

"Old Reliable," 3 x 2, ink on wood
Judith, Feb. '10

Remember when you were a kid and you would ask your parents, from the back seat, on that interminable car trip, "When will we get there?" That question sometimes pops up when we work long and hard on our creative project. I just came off a marathon writing project where I was a semi-ghost writer. The project was sent to the publisher last Friday. So, I knew when it was due, but with my own book there is no due date, just milestone, daily, and weekly goals as I go along. And the question is a variant: "When will it be finished?" How do we know when we have that piece of art, that score, that novel really polished and done? I'm not sure except I know with my art that it is a matter of practice and instinct, and in the early days my teacher Fred Reichman helping me to decide. In the ghost writing project, though I'm glad it's done, a part of me wishes there was a little more time to proof read. I'm was not satisfied 100% when it went in, and I'm thinking perhaps that's when we know. When we feel satisfied. I feel that way now about the first quarter of my own book. It feels just about there. When I'm close to finishing a painting, I'll put it in a different place in the house to just look at it for a few days. I usually see something to tweak with that different pair of "observer eyes." Then, when I don't see anything amiss or to add, I just know it's done. Have you found a way to know when your piece is done? Let me know. It's an art in itself to know when we are there.

Bragging Rights

2010-03-09T16:00:00.000-08:00

"On a Telephone Pole," acrylic on canvas
6" x 4," August '10, Judith Nasse

I have to "brag" as my miniature sold at the annual Millicent Rogers Miniature show! This means I can really call myself a "Beginning Artist." The next step will be to work my way up to "Emerging Artist." I learned recently that it's o.k. to brag in spite of the early training most of us had that it was not polite to brag. It's one thing to aggrandize ourselves, but another whole thing to just let others know about our progress. By the way that increases our own inner creative confidence too. Have fun with your bragging rights this week!

Snow & Creativity

2010-02-23T17:51:00.001-08:00

My Blue Spruce in the Snow today!!

I was glad for our big snow yesterday, nearly 8"! It meant that I had an excuse/permission to stay in, with the wood stove blazing, & catch up on my novel & paintings. I was determined to work hard on my creativity today no matter what, but the snow is the perfect backdrop! I even had time to read & play my piano! Ah, the perfect creative day. It's one of those rare days that we creatives dream could happen every day, but so ecstatic when being in the grove happens at all. It's the juice that keeps us going & keeps us connected with our soul and passion. It's the time that we remember & look forward to when the going gets tough. Happy Creative Day to you!

Time Out = Inspiration

2010-02-16T15:51:00.001-08:00

Photo by Artist Florian Maier-Aichen

When we get depleted how can we renew? For me, having almost completed a huge project that took up my creative time & physical energy for weeks, I took a complete day off today & finished reading a novel, then watched the Art:21 episode that included Mairer-Aichen's photography. It's just what I needed: to see how a photographer can combine abstract with representation in one image! The day with just resting with creativity has filled my cup. By the weekend I should be finished with the other project (not my own) & I'll have images and good writing (Little Bee by Chris Cleave) simmering in my sub-conscious so that when I do get back to my own work, I'll be raring to go! Do you give yourself time-out?

Barbara Kingsolver saved my day!!

2010-02-09T16:24:00.000-08:00

Barbara Kingsolver

Do you ever have those days where your day jobs overwhelm you & even seem to "possess" you? I've been up against it lately with a non-fiction project due next Monday!! Yikes! So, how do you keep up with your own beloved creativity? Sometimes barely, unless you can manage to lose sleep. I can't. So, this morning I took an hour to listen to an interview with Barbara Kingsolver about her latest book Lacuna and about her writing process. Oh, my goodness, just doing that settled me back into my true writing self. I even managed some time to work on my latest painting. After the deadline is over, I'll pretend to be on a sunny beach just reading and catching up with my own creativity! Can't wait. The link to the Kingsolver interview is
http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R911181000 Enjoy!

Materials

2010-02-02T13:46:00.000-08:00

Bombay India Ink Chart
DocMartins.com

I'm in a crunch of a countdown, having to get a book finished & edited to the publishers. No, not mine, but a project for someone else. That's why I "forgot" to write last week. Yet, I've managed to slip in a 15 minutes here & there for my own book and art. And, I have made a couple of trips to the local art store, Artisans of Santa Fe (their branch in Taos). I had discovered that, alas and alack, I was using the wrong kind of ink for my small paintings on wood. The synchronicity is that the time on the other book project prevented me from doing too many paintings. Now I'm on the right track, ready to roll with lovely India inks in color!! I had been using only black, brown, & blue before, with a tinge of red. Now, I'll expand my colors as I do love color more than anything! Another bit of good news is that the media teaches us. When the non-permanent inks started to change if water accidentally got on them, I knew I had better do more research. It's not egg-on-our-face if we goof, it's just part of the learning curve. I still use Ralph Mayer's Handbook of Materials and Techniques. It's so thorough. Oh, I can still save all the previous paintings with spray varnish! Have fun experimenting and working with your materials!!!

Nursery Rhymes, Pianos, and Creativity

2010-01-19T15:24:00.001-08:00

"Hey Diddle, diddle."

I just finished writing an extra fun article about the importance of nursery rhymes for the young child for Tumbleweeds parenting newspaper. Before I knew I had art and writing talents, I studied the art form of nursery rhymes, singing and chanting them often with my youngest siblings, my own children, and the children in my preschool. Before that, as a young girl, I played my piano for comfort and "art." This week I've had to make a hard decision to sell my piano as I may soon downsize and can't take the huge upright, with the tone of a Steinway, with me. So, until it sells I'll play it as often as I can, singing and humming along (privately of course as I haven't a musical gift like my art & writing gifts). I will buy a keyboard as I can use earphones so as not to disturb neighbors. I like to play to segue myself into the studio or my manuscript. My art teacher Fred Reichman told us that it is helpful to use other art forms to inform our own art. Music is one of these to me.
As a side-note, did you know that nursery rhymes and music enhance a child's spatial, math, and science learning? Smile ~ spatiality is so important in art!!! Try singing your old favorite nursery rhymes while easing yourself into your creativity!

Troubles and Creativity

2010-01-12T11:05:00.000-08:00

My House, Judith, 2001

My question is, "How do we maintain our creativity in the midst of a hard knock in life?" I had to go to the courthouse today to begin evicting a tenant who broke a major agreement plus hasn't paid the rent. I had the foresight to take the recent issue of "Poets & Writers." The article by John Dufresne (he presents at the Taos Writer's Conference each year!)helped me to keep my calm & focus while waiting for the paperwork. To be honest I have only done a modicum of art & writing in the past week and a half because of this issue and the broader question of possibly downsizing in order to free up more time from troublesome tenants & too many outside jobs. I no doubt will downsize; so does this time of taking care of a lifestyle problem count toward one's greater creativity? I'm not sure, just as I'm not sure if cleaning one's studio or writing files count. In the meantime if you hear of anyone who wants to buy a lovely house in Taos, let me know? Happy Creativity in the midst of your life!

Time Out

2010-01-05T17:16:00.000-08:00

Author A.S. Byatt

I did an unusual thing for me ~ I took a week-and-a-half off day jobs & some creativity. The only things I did were to take some photos, do a few sketches, and read A.S. Byatt's Possession, which is 200% better than the movie. Am also reading her newest book The Children's Book! Oh, yes, last Sunday I put on an A.S. Byatt high tea replete with a huge teapot on my wood stove, home-made curry pasties, & of course scones with clotted cream. We listened to Byatt talk on the City Arts & Lecture on KQED, San Francisco, streamed on my laptop! My friend/mentor Elizabeth Stark was in the audience & asked a great question about the writing process. I'll let you know when you can go to the archives and download the lecture. I did see Byatt once in a lecture at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA. She is warm, witty, and cozy. I also used to see her sister Margaret Drabble, another good writer, on the high street & near the secret garden in Hampstead, London when I lived there. It was wonderful to have time off to re-group & to set my goals for 2010 & for this next decade. I didn't lose my momentum as I'm now back in my studio & working on my ms. Do you give yourself time out to re-group, rest, and let your creativity percolate?!

Happy Holidays to You!

2009-12-15T08:39:00.000-08:00

"Taos Winter Medley," ink on wood
2.5 x 3," Nov. 09, Judith Nasse

I was reminded this morning in Alyson Stanfield's newsletter [www.artbiz.com] to make my list of all my accomplishments in 2009!
We somehow always think of what we haven't done or how we could be better; but in truth we do get things done & forget to remind ourselves! O.K., here's part of my list: I got my art into two places and have steadily done deep revision on my novel as well as work on another person's book. What will you pat yourself on the back about?
I do hope you have a jolly holiday and that 2010 will be your most creative year ever!!

Christmas Cactus as Art Metaphor

2009-12-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

Christmas Cactus with
Snow Storm outside
Dec 09 by Judith

Every year my Christmas Cactus blooms well, and every year it grows bigger. I wonder if it will ever grow as large as the one in a neighbor's window in London. Hers was the size of a small bush and it made the winter doldrums glow. Sometimes too we have to wait the proverbial "year" (a long time) for our creative ideas to grow and blossom. And, if you're like me I have much more patience with my cacti than my paintings or my novel. I guess it's due to the concept, that is I conceive of an idea, but then to execute it can take grueling weeks, days, months, years even. And that's o.k. because in the end one has a finished project that is as perfect as it can be. The huge cactus in London must have taken her years to grow with a lot of tender loving care. Have a great creative week!

Snow and Holiday Whirl

2009-12-03T10:06:00.000-08:00

My Blue Spruce in snow
photo by Judith

I'm glad we're having a snowfall today! I was going to go out & do errands & meet a friend for coffee. The coffee was canceled and now I get to stay in and slow down. We all know that life gets extra busy at the holidays, yet things like chores, bills, work, our creativity, and those myriad small and large problems that show up at our doorsteps don't step aside to make room for the extra holiday things we want and need to do. Perhaps we should calendar in a slow-down day or hours. I will do that for next week, and hope I don't forget. Today I will play catch-up especially with my art. I've had to do so much outside work that my art has consisted in doodling in the margins of my notepad while taking notes for a book I'm typing and editing for someone else! I'm also making headway with the "problem-to-solve" in my novel! I hope you can take some breathing space for yourself and your creativity in this holiday whirl.

Hidden gems!

2009-11-18T06:46:00.000-08:00

Leonids Meteor
stock photo

I happened to wake up at 4 a.m. & looked out the window & saw the meteors. How inspiring! Unless we are star gazers, we don't usually see the awe-inspiring spectacle of the stars and planets in the clear night sky. They are a hidden gem of nature to us. How wonderful to be able to open one's eyes and see the hidden things all around us: the sparkle of the sun on a patch of snow that we usually walk right by, our minds on our errands or a problem, the raven strutting across the yard, or the laugh of a friend. I'm glad I looked out the window. I could have jumped right back under the duvet as it was quite chilly, but I would have missed the sight that will be an inspiration for a painting! We must remember to put the looking for hidden gems in our daily planner next to the errands & appointments!

Art Vending Machines ~ Yes, there are!

2009-11-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

"Winter Medley," ink & acrylic on wood
Judith, Oct. 09

In my on-line art marketing class today, I will learn about bragging rights! Ouch, I was carefully taught as a child not to brag! Yet, I will learn to tout my work more. Here goes ~ I was accepted by Art-O-Mat to be one of their artists. My goal now is to paint 50 original paintings in a short order of time! Do go to their web site http://www.artomat.org/ & see where there is an art machine near you. It's so much fun (now I'm bragging about them!). Remember those old cigarette vending machines, those of you old enough? They are outlawed now, but the chap who owns Art-O-Mat has bought them up & has converted them to vending art, each piece original, for $5 each. Now, you can't say art is too expensive to collect!
The piece above that got me in was inspired by my beautiful Taos Mountain and my gorgeous, giant blue spruce tree in the unusual early snow storm here. Now, we have Indian Summer & I found some blue bird feathers on the mesa yesterday. How will I incorporate those into my art? The art muse will tell me in time. Also, just started A.S. Byatt's The Children's Book. Amazing writing! May your creative week be so inspiring.

When There Are More Questions Than Answers

2009-11-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

"Misty Meadow," ink on paper
4x6", '09 by Judith

There's a book being passed around among a few of us at the book shop, Translate This Darkness, The Life of Christiana Morgan, The Veiled Woman in Jung's Circle, by Claire Douglas, Princeton Univ. Press, 1993. It's in my hands now & is creating a stir within me, questioning where I am in life. Christiana was the same age as my grandmothers. Yet, in spite of "the subtle footbinding of her talents" by her family and society, she paved the way for women to become more, just like her contemporary Georgia O'Keefe in art. Yet, she could only break-out so far, and only with the help of others. I wonder how far my generation has really come in spite of women's lib? I'm not sure. I was never a strident feminist, yet I'm glad I can be more than my generation dictated, which wasn't much at all. And, where do we go from here? I don't have what it takes to act like a man, like women lawyers & politicians seem to have to do. How can one stay a sensitive, creative woman in this world & yet make her mark? That goes for all the sensitive, creative men too by the way. I suspect we each have to create our own unique self and hope it takes us as far as we dream. I'll let you know if I ever have an answer. In the meantime, create and develop your talents each day, without fail, especially in the middle of broad existential doubts and questionings!
It is Indian Summer here in Taos after last week's snow! Gorgeous and inspiring.
Be inspired!

Dancing Out

2009-10-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

"Dancing Out," acrylic on canvas
12" x16" by Judith

O.K., the art, writing, or musical score is done. You even have a venue, yet "things" take up your time & you don't get it out the door. What do you do? That's what I'm figuring out this week. How do I get over the terror of stage fright? I even asked my friend Bonnie Ann how she did it when she used to whistle, dance, and sing on stage during the time of the Big Bands. She started very young, at about 12 or 13, so it was second nature. By the way some of the bird song in Walt Disney's "Snow White" are Bonnie Ann's whistles! We all have our reasons for our stage fright, and I know what mine are. Do you know yours? Knowing is half the battle. I'm glad it's Halloween and Day of the Dead as I feel like the skeleton ~ more than naked, dancing out the door. Yet, this time of year also reminds us that we can put on the "costume" or mask of professional artist, writer, musician, dancer & do it, never mind the jello guts inside. And, to do it one task at a time. For instance I just printed out the labels for some of my mini paintings while typing and watching snow falling out the window. Tomorrow I'll package them and take them to the post office. That gives me breathing space to calm my nerves. I'll let you know how it goes in a future blog.
Have a fun Halloween/Day of the Dead celebration!

My Invented Life!

2009-10-20T07:56:00.000-07:00

New YA book by Lauren Bjorkman!

Saturday before last Lauren Bjorkman had the signing for her debut novel at Moby Dickens Book Shop! A huge crowd showed and it was more like a party than a sedate book signing! I love it that Lauren has published her first book and that her launch party was such a success. Lauren was one of the first people I met when I moved to Taos & we have watched each other struggle to get our books done. Yes, writing is a long, hard slog, but for those of us who have it in our blood, it's a passion worth pursuing.
I just finished reading My Invented Life. In it Lauren displays a wicked sense of humor and describes so accurately the Northern California I know so well. Best of all, like all well-written books it is provocative. While it wasn't at all like the teen life I knew all those many years ago, it struck a deep chord, that is resonating with me still. The big question I came away with is how do we invent our lives in ways that either hurts and hinders us or leads us forward into the person we want to become? That reminds me of a mask class I took where we had to make a mask and perform with it. I danced my angst & passion. It was a horrible scary thing to do. And, I'm still dancing that dance as I attempt to widen my audience for my art and writing. I'm so proud of all of us, like Lauren, who dare to "dance" their passion and share it with the world!

Almost as Good as Being There

2009-10-14T06:42:00.000-07:00

"Composition VIII,"Wassily Kandinsky

1923, Oil on Canvas

My daughter went to the wondrous 5 floor exhibit of Kandinsky at the Guggenheim yesterday. Oh, man, how I 'd have loved to be there as Kandinsky is high on my list of favorite-of-all-time-artists! I devoured his book On the Spiritual in Modern Art and still refer to it. Well, since I can't be in NYC anytime soon I went to the website and viewed the virtual tour of the show. The link is www.guggenheim.org/new-york/exhibitions/on-view-now/kandinsky
It is important for me to immerse myself in others art, writing, music, for inspiration and ideas for technique! Tonight the next episode of the 5th season of Art:21 is on PBS. Oh, what a week of immersion! How will you dive into the waters of your favorite creative this week?

How to get to the studio?

2009-10-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

"Forest Dawn", 36x24, acrylic
by Judith in Taos Open, the
bright yellow one at top
middle.

I'm wondering how I can get to my studio. I have a mega-list of writing jobs and etc. to do today, and, though I know the easy answer is "set a time," it's more the mental list and other deadlines swirling in my brain. And, some days it's darned hard to prioritize that list. Now, I changed my blog to Tuesdays, so I could have Sundays freer, it's a press on Tuesday! Ah, life happens, and I must work my art around it. I must because I want to see what my new painting(s) will look like. It's always a surprise, and one I look forward to. Taos is now colder & the autumn leaves are going from yellow to brown. May your creative week be a slow, steady brush stroke of wonder!

Leaves Are Turning Brown

2009-09-20T12:22:00.001-07:00

Taos Autumn, Judith
5"x3", 11/08

The first leaves are turning brown & the nights are cooler. It's transition time in the Northern Hemisphere. Symbolically it's a time for us to take stock and gather our resources for winter, both physical and in spirit. Last night I watched the movie about Georgia O'Keeffe. I won't go into the merits of the film, but rather was struck by the courage it took Georgia to maintain her artistic integrity, leave her abusive husband, and strike out for the land of enchantment here in Taos. I hadn't known before why she came here. Of course all of us who come fall in love with the stark beauty and artistic possibilities. Perhaps we too come, like Georgia, to let the mountains and desert heal our artistic souls, to make that greater transition into who we truly are as creatives.
Happy, Creative, First Day of Autumn to you!

Near Autumn Contentment

2009-09-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

Hollyhock photo by Judith

As I looked out my studio window the hollyhocks have their last blossoms of the season on them. I love hollyhocks, and in my wildflower garden I'm letting them grow where they want. So lovely & so nice to have a patch that can grow itself, kind of like us humans saying we'll go with the flow. It must be close to autumn as this morning I picked the last onion and then came in and cleaned my mud room cum larder/pantry! And, yes, the countdown to the Taos Arts Festival Open is looming, so working madly on my large canvas. I groan at every "mistake," then fall into the challenge of "how can I fix this?!" Yes, I am content today with my painting, deep-cleaning a room, and gazing on my last hollyhocks! I hope your countdown to autumn is as lovely for you.

Autumn Anticipation

2009-09-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

"On A Telephone Pole," Acrylic on canvas
4" x 6 " Judith August 2009

I won't have a long weekend, so yesterday I acted as if it were Labor Day and moodled around my house and garden, getting out sewing projects for Christmas presents, reading a mystery, and puttering in the kitchen. Oh, yes, I did paint on my latest painting. Just try to keep me out of the studio! About this time every year, I get into my "what do I make for the holidays & create over the winter mode?" The good thing is by this thinking ahead I minimize the "holiday mad rush." But, more importantly I re-remember that by "goofing off" it opens that creative door even wider, so that more ideas can rush in. For instance my studio gets down to freezing in the winter & takes 2 - 3 hours to warm up, so the idea that dashed in was to do my smaller works and my anticipated encaustic experiments in the kitchen this winter! Brilliant!
Before I discovered that I am an artist and writer, my creative outlets were cooking, sewing, and woodworking. So, it sometimes helps to fall back into these in order to dash ahead into my higher creative work.
What is it that you can fall into in order to bring up that deep well of wondrous creativity? Hope you can have time to do that this week. Happy Labor Day!

Overcoming Odds ~ Luis Alberto Urrea

2009-08-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

The Writings of Luis Alberto Urrea

Some stories can be told again and again. Urrea re-tells the story of "Seven Samurai" & "The Magnificent Seven" in his latest, page-turner, Into the Beautiful North. In this version the hero is a 19 year old heroine, Neyeli. Against all odds, she travels north into the US to search for her father and to bring men back to her village. The story has humor, beautiful prose, and pathos, all of which Urrea does superbly. His former book, Hummingbird's Daughter, is a novel based on his great-aunt Teresita, who became a folk saint in Mexico, after being beaten & raped, then receiving supernatural gifts while in the ensuing coma.
Good literature can be life-changing. Indeed, Robert Boswell declares, "...it's what it must do." Urrea's books help me reach for that knowing that I can overcome odds, like Teresita & Neyeli, that we are all our own Samurai. This last week was one of those dragon-fighting weeks for me. I'm still not sure if I have overcome the odds, but with great literature, and great art, I have a much better chance. Read Urrea if you can.

Miracles and Dancing Elephants

2009-08-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

from my art Journal this week!

This week our illustrators group from SCBWI (Society of Children's Writer's & Illustrators) went into the wilds of northern New Mexico to visit Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaws' studio, meet her new baby Tulsi, chat over potluck with pesto carrots, drink her yummy Chai, & watch her work on her next picture book. See her website at http://www.dancingelephantstudio.com/ It was a wonderous, imaginative, miraculous experience for me. To be honest I was throwing in the towel about ever doing picture books again. I have worked diligently this past year on my novel & doing my fine art. That coupled with a devastating critique a year & half ago, I thought, O.K. I'll just put my passion elsewhere. But my great illustrator's group & Jenny's example have given me back the miracle about my passion for picture books., their history, and their evolving nature and good for young children. Maybe, I'll put my beloved Henri Rousseau book out into the slipstream of publishers again. Dare I? Yes! I hope that this week will bring you a creative miracle or synchronicity!

Art Camping

2009-08-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

"Ruffled Feathers," ink on wood, 2.5 x 3 "
Judith, June 09

Quite a number of years ago now I went wilderness camping with a group of women artists: Leigh Hyams, Lyn Haxton, and Medora Bass in the High Sierras of California. It was glorious, just painting & exploring nature all day long. Ever since then I try to get away to create whenever I can. I went for four days last weekend (hence no blog). It had been four years since my last creative retreat ~ far too long! Needless to say, I got so inspired just by living directly in nature with a pair of hummingbirds visiting me severl times a day humming their hummingbird song. The chamisa was just beginning to bloom. And, I could stand on the rim of the Gorge and watch the tiny ribbon of the Rio Grande wend its way far, far below. I did get a lot done on the revision of my novel plus some spot drawings & paintings & a painting. Sunsets, in particular, captured my fancy. Perhaps that's because they set over the rim of the Gorge with the first of the evening's coyotes howling to the nearly full moon and to one another.
I wish for you to have at least one day of such a creative retreat for yourself this week!

When in Doubt ~ Two Brains Dialogue

2009-07-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

"Two Men Meet, Each Supposing the Other to Be of Higher Rank," Paul Klee, etching, 1903
This week I was given a practical tip by Elizabeth Stark & our writing forum. I was stuck on how to solve a couple of anomalies while revising my novel. In our forum we talk about our Storyteller (right brain) and our Brain (logical/left). I write from my Storyteller or intuitive brain and so often can't see some small, but pertinent anomalies. Elizabeth picked up on them immediately, & in trying to figure how to bridge the gap, she suggested I have the two writer parts of me dialogue on paper. I did, and got an immediate solution! If only the world's politicians could come up with solutions so easily!
I know this is an often used conveyance in making decisions, but sometimes we forget to apply it to each riddle, or area, in our lives. Now, I'm off to re-write those parts of the book to bring more clarity. Oh, the Paul Klee etching immediately jumped into my mind when I was searching for a topic for this blog. No one, no one part of our brains, cannot meet and find common ground. I'm not sure if that's what Klee meant, but I'm sure if I could have a chat with him we'd have a wonderful conversation.... or maybe, we'd just sit down & take out our sketch books & draw in silent communication.
Happy Last Week of July!

Writers are Ladies and Gentlemen

2009-07-18T17:13:00.000-07:00

Taos Summer Writer's Conference

Symphony of Color, Ed Sandoval © 2004, TWC poster artist & Taos artist

The Taos Summer Writer's Conference is winding down after an intense, wonderful-learning week. Working on the Moby Dickens' Bookshop concession, I saw participants and presenters coming and going, stopping to browse books, or chat with one another. What a superb literary vibe enveloped me. What strikes me most is how congenial, kind, and easy to be with the authors are, especially the ones with deserved accolades: Wally Lamb, Elizabeth Strout, Robert Boswell, Pam Houston, and Antonya Nelson to name a few. They are all ladies and gentlemen in the true, old-fashioned sense of the world. I, me the shy one usually, could natter with most of them like I natter with my friends. Maybe one day I'll be a true colleague of theirs when my novel is published. It's an honor to say I'm a writer with such down-to-earth talented writers to model.
I'm off to water my parched garden that is suffering a Taos heat wave. Ah, evenings to water, watch the sun set, and then read one of the novels of our mannered writers.

Anticipation

2009-07-11T16:35:00.000-07:00

Starting tomorrow I will be manning the Moby Dickens' book concession for the Taos Writers Conference. I look forward to being in the melee of great writers and serious students of writing. This year the conference hosts Wally Lamb as the keynote speaker and Robert Boswell, who just received the Oprah book pick, and who also wrote the great book on writing Half Known World. Elizabeth Strout will also give a week long workshop. I couldn't put her Pulitzer Prize winning Olive Kitteridge down. It is a wonderful book in character study and development. One way writers learn is to read, read, read! I look forward to telling you all about my experiences next week.
This week I submitted my first 20,000 pages to my teacher/editor Elizabeth Stark! I love the "super red marks," her commits, and encouragement. What a joy it is to be a writer & to let one's imagination run with the story! Oh, I also just finished the ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) of Margaret Atwood's forthcoming The Year of the Flood. A real page turner, mesmerizing and page turning! Look out for it in September. What are you reading, and how is it informing your life and/or creativity?

2009-07-05T15:47:00.000-07:00

"Horse" Ink on wood,
Judith, May 09

This week my art and writing have been my haven. Do you ever get weeks like that, where you need a retreat from other stresses? I count myself very lucky that my creativity can now do that for me. For years I was trying to find space & time to create, while trying to use other things like reading or a movie for a haven. I wish now I'd realized all those years that it was the other way around. If I go into my creativity haven, then I come out energized to relax and read or to face the stressors head on! Right now the sky is clouding over here in lovely Taos. I do hope we get that late afternoon rain as it's always so refreshing! May you find your true havens this week.

Trees

2009-06-28T16:14:00.001-07:00

Tree I photographed on Hampstead Heath, London

Lately, I'm spontaneously painting trees. They are not what I'd call landscapes, but trees as portraits perhaps. I notice trees a lot, especially watching the seasonal changes of my own two giant willow and blue spruce trees. This morning the magpies were having a chat fest in the blue spruce. I also love depicting trees in my novel, keeping a special British tree guide that my son gave me nearby. Ron Ranson in his book Watercolor Fast and Loose has an excellent chapter on how to paint trees. What is currently drawing you to paint, compose, or write about?
HAPPY FOURTH!!

Grendel or the Shadow in Creativity

2009-06-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was part of a writing group that was discussing the bad guy in literature & that sometimes writers, especially in film and t.v., often bring in the villain at the end as a way to justify the crime & the hero's solving it. But, I realize more & more that the villain has to be more fully developed in the way that John Gardner wrote a whole book Grendel about one of the monsters that Beowulf had to defeat. Grendel, in Gardner's book, is basically only trying to defend what he knows as well as trying to find food.
As a creative, I find that it's necessary for me to allow more shadow in my works both as a way to make them more juicy, but also as a way to allow me to look at the images or baddies as symbols of my own unvented, dark side (my old patterns that want to defend themselves) & to allow them to come up to heal. It is always life-changing when the hero in a book or film overcomes the shadow, and it is the same in our creative life when we face our creative grendels > our fear of showing our works, writing the next page, advocating for our inner creative, etc. And, let's face it the life-changing is scary, even if it is a dream come true.
By the way eight of my paintings were taken this week by Lumina Gallery, one of the most spectacular galleries in Taos! I'm still pinching myself! (see Lumina link on left)
Happy Summer!

Art Intimacy & Passion

2009-06-14T07:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the illustrators from SCBWI-NM met at Moby Dickens to tour an independent bookshop and to mostly hear Jonathan Warm Day from Taos Pueblo talk about his creativity. I realized that what makes Jonathan so good & publishable is his passion and obsession with his art, his downright enthusiasm. He couldn't wait to get back to his studio after the conflab to play with his art. I had a question given to me by Eric Maisel that I haven't answered yet: What connections, if any, do you see between cultivating productive obsessions and personality growth and change? For me there's a huge connection. As I go deep into my art, my paintings, drawings, and fiction compell me to change, not only my creativity, but me, the person who is letting go of past fears and daring to become a more confident me, the person I could have been all along if I didn't have the garbage (patterns, false beliefs, fears, and erroneous self-image, da, da, da) from the past. I'm committed to cultivating both my art and revealing the real me! I'm glad to know Jonathan and his innate ability to do this. I too came back home & drew, then had a dream last night about how I would illustrate the chapter headings for my novel & draw the maps!

Hippie Dippie Parade & Art Fun

2009-06-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

"Dog," Judith, ink on wood, 3 x 3.5"

I had a barrel full of fun yesterday. I attended an art workshop by Christopher St. John! We played with ink, wood, oils, & encaustic to our heart's content. As we played we heard the sound of pipes and whistles & dashed out to the main road to watch the Hippie Dippie parade go by. It's part of the "Summer of Love" celebration in Taos, when 40 years ago, the film "Easy Rider" was partially filmed here. Dean Stockwell was Grand Marshall of the parade. He lives in, & is a Taos artist, when he's not filming in Hollywood. The painted buses & cars were fun & colorful. That lent even more energy to our work back in the studio. I love working on wood as wooden toy making was my first media. But, to do fine art on wood panels is thrilling! Hooray for art fun!

Freedom in experimentation

2009-05-31T15:18:00.000-07:00

Ron Ranson, "Bluebell Wood"

I'm experimenting, and it's so freeing! I've always thought, because I have such limited time, that I have to go straight from painting to painting. However, this last week I picked up Ron Ranson's book, Watercolour Fast and Loose," from my shelf & just began to play with brush strokes, colours, and tones. What fun! Plus, I discovered by playing how to solve some of the problems I've always had in executing my watercolours. Can we do this with life too!?!! Who knows what we'll discover about the world and ourselves if we dare.
Ron Ranson's web is www.ronranson.com
Happy June!!

Sea Turtles and a Prize

2009-05-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

"Sea Turtle"
acrylic on canvas, 6" x 8"
April, 2009, Judith Nasse

I'm still very excited about art, obsessed in the positive good way. This week I won a contest writing about obsession and intelligence. My prize is Eric Maisel's book A Writer's Paris. Now I wish I could ride on the back of my sea turtle and go to Paris to write! However, I'm doing a good job of it here in Taos! I've started the deep revision of my novel. And, I'm painting & drawing each day, going deeper & experimenting. I'm using this holiday weekend to holiday in Taos by going to a couple of gallery openings & making a gourmet dish here in my own kitchen/cafe!
Here's my essay:
3. What, in your estimation, is the relationship (if any) between productive obsessing and intelligence?

I've been thinking of this topic for some time now. The way I see it is that it rather depends on how one defines intelligence. I, for one, don't think that innate intelligence, as defined by IQ tests, has as much to do with productive obsession as an emotional spark (emotional intelligence) and a learned ability to obsess. Here a higher IQ can help one reason and negotiate with the mind on how to obsess more productively.

I've seen a 3 year old run into a preschool classroom every morning, for days on end, and dash to the easel to paint one picture after another. This is an example of productive obsessing at a rudimentary level. The child doesn't reason "I'll paint for 30 minutes each day." She just does it.

On the other hand there are highly intelligent, it seems, religious leaders and politicians who obsess to the point of destruction. For instance, as a gross example, Hitler could have developed his painting and art instead of destroying lives and countries. I doubt he lacked intelligence. He lacked productive obsession about his true creativity.

For me, productive obsession means developing one's innate brain intelligence to further the productive obsession. This can be done through studying techniques and learning from the masters in art, literature, music, acting, etc. Then, and more importantly, finding ways to apply what one knows into how to productively obsess about it. This takes a growing emotional maturity and therefore willingness to schedule inviolable creative time, balancing day jobs, family, unexpected events, finances, and health with creative flow. (Creative flow is productive obsession.)

Another aspect of this creative maturity is learning to discern between a fear and a true need. Is my headache due to the fear or am I getting a cold? Is this painting too reminiscent of that mean mom or do I need to learn to paint the shadows better? Is my "depression" this morning because I'm in a blue state over my progress or because my sinus' are blocked or I have to face the day job boss about an issue?

This learned productive obsession may need support at times, like here in Eric's group. It also requires commitment, discipline, and persistence, all of which are learned over time if one, like the 3 year old, allows the productive obsession to obsess! Allow the obsession to teach us how to obsess.

Have a most enjoyable rest of the Memorial Day weekend!

Life's Little Gifts

2009-05-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

"Spirit ", Audio CD by Willie Nelson

I'm chuckling to myself as I was, I admit, a bit whingy last week. Then, this week, I had a couple of my day jobs canceled, and had extra time to work on my latest painting, which is a challenge, both technically & emotionally, a challenge like being a dectective to solve a mystery. Well, that time is a gift. I used it as well, to clear old stuff out of my studio and to study deeply how I'm going to make the next revision of my novel as great as I can (I'm reading Donald Maass' Writing the Breakout Novel ~ GOOD).
Oh, another gift: I was getting a coffee at my favorite coffee stand in Taos, Roosters, & Jack had wonderful music playing that touched my soul, a cross between blue grass & jazz (e.g. Django Reinhart) ~ so lyrical. It was a little know album of Willie Nelson's, "Spirit". I found the CD on-line for very little & the music is still touching me! It even encouraged me to play my piano a bit!!
Time is precious, perhaps the most precious thing we have. I keep myself very busy, so I hope I'm not squandering time. Yet, as I'm somewhere in the last 1/2 century of my life, I wish I had more time to paint all the paintings in my soul, write all the books in my head & files, and give all the time I wish to my loved ones. Today, I received a photo of a former student of mine. I was happy to have the gift of 5 minutes to e-mail her and her mother! Now, I'm off to the studio to solve the next challenge in that painting. I hope your week was full of precious little gifts & time for your heart's favorite things.

In Spite of It All

2009-05-10T11:36:00.000-07:00

Forest Twilight
Berol pencil, Judith
May '09

Happy Mother's Day to all mother's and caregivers!
This was one of those challenging weeks, you know the kind ~ when you vow to do something important and monkey wrenches get thrown at you from all directions.

I vowed to make a magnificent obsession of my drawing and art, adding edge & stretching myself. Well, the day job was extra demanding, my house & garden were nagging me, I went to dog-sit my friend's 8 dogs, and I felt I was neglecting my editing, never mind the art. Okay, there are hours, days, and weeks like that. We all have them. I realized Friday, after I dragged myself to an art opening, that even artists who've made it, have their challenges when I observed the famous artist looking very pale and probably nervous. Then, in spite of exhaustion I came home & drew 3 drawings, one of which is above. I also realized that I have made it as an artist and writer, maybe not as far as I dreamed I would 21 years ago when I got my M.A. in art. My persistence (I was born with that, whew!) is paying off, and some years it's been baby steps and tiny progress in confidence. Oh, yes, in those years I finished raising two fantastic, creative children. So, my week went better than my monkey mind was telling me. And, I did get some garden & house work done too. Course, I love the garden part, so it wasn't nagging me so much as me itching to get out there as well as into the studio!

I hope your next week is full of creative fun in spite of anything else that comes your way.

An Inspired Adventure

2009-05-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

Untitled
Ed Corbett

Today I went to the Harwood Museum here in Taos to see the Ed Corbett drawings. It was closed. Then, serendipity stepped in. A woman asked what I was there for as they were closed due to filming upstairs. "I just want to see the Ed Corbett drawings," I said. She let me in, and we tiptoed through the small, eye-popping exhibit. I'd only ever seen Ed's paintings, so his drawings, especially the pen and ink were informative, a surprise, and an inspiration. I vowed last week to put an edge in my own paintings & drawings. Ed's drawings are pointing the way. His drawings are different from his paintings, and just as powerful. His art deserves to be more well-known. He's a painter's painter, and he taught with and inspired Richard Diebenkorn, Clyfford Still, and Mark Rothko. He deeply inspired my own art teacher Fred Reichman.
I also reached a milestone by finishing the first revision of my novel. I hope this week is one of your most inspired ever!

Magnificent Obsessions

2009-04-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

Blood Angels 111
Christopher St. John
Christopher St. John has a show, "Haven" up at JandreauArt Gallery in Taos. He gave a gallery talk last weekend, and I was so impressed by Christopher's dedication to his art and his ability to carry through his latest magnificent obsession into paint and drawing about the human ability to find havens in the midst of emotional and social difficulties, especially for children.
The next day I joined Eric Maisel's group exploring the idea of positive obsession in our creativity. We all obsess, goodness knows I do, about things like getting the next check, will I have enough energy to get through a day at the day job, or whether we'll have time today to get through all the chores on our list and still have time left to paint, edit the novel, or to read that latest well-written novel. I listed as my next, positive, magificent obsession, and taking a cue from Christopher, to add more edge to my paintings! Now, that is a stretch again for me as it's scary to add a dash of red or a screaming color like orange. I did add a dash of coral to the latest painting, a sea turtle in subdued undersea colors. Now, I'm committed. I am drawing knives & beaks, and scimitars on paper. I'll translate my literal drawings into paint, not sure how, but stay tuned!
I hope your week will be full of at least one magnificent obsession too. The guidelines are passion, scary, gusto, climbing out to the edge of your creative limb, and daring ~ just to name a few. Now, it's spring we can all get out of our comfort zones & have magnificent fun.

It's been awhile!

2009-04-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

"Taos Butterfly" by Judith
Hello! I haven't blogged in a long time. It is partly because I haven't had the courage and partly because I've been debating whether to change the focus of my blog. I have still sent out my creativity coaching newsletter regularly and didn't want this to be a repeat. Well, some of it may be at times, e.g. my latest painting to the left.
Then, this morning I received a jolt as I found a web site just for women called "Braveheart." (see link in Gadgets at the bottom of the page) How wonderful for a woman to be called that. And, it gave me the courage to change my blog to one of talking about creativity, and the creative process.
I have been in deep transition the past several months, getting braver in putting my art out in the world and being accepted into a gallery. This is hard for me, like for many women, as we were so carefully taught (I'm in a generation before women's liberation) to be quiet and serve others without thanks. However, if we discover a talent and a passion, then we must put it out there to share, no matter the cost. And, the transition to be seen and heard is a journey in courage in spite of the doubts and fears. Well, I have, as well as showing recently at the JandreauArt gallery (see link in Gadgets at the bottom of the page)in Taos, put my on-line gallery up! Check it out at the link on the left.
My writing has deepened too as I am now in the stages of revision and learning in even more detail writing techniques. We can never learn enough in our craft, can we? I have been working with the excellent teacher & editor Elizabeth Stark and a supportive group of men and women in finalizing my book. My goal is to finish it by June 15th!
I will post this more regularly now as it will be more up-to-date than my web site (I am working on how to up-date that.) I hope you are having a delicious and happy spring.

Restrictions and Freedom

2008-07-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

"Taos Door" and photo of real door
10x12, acrylic on canvas, Judith, 08

A Mid-summer hello!
I promise I'm not lazy, since it's been 2 months from my last post~ just restricted. You know how it is, you get so busy that some things have to go to the bottom of the do-to list like fun blogs and dust bunnies. I've had some big free-lance writing jobs plus the little studio I rent out is being vacated, so I'm converting it into a vacation rental (let me know if you're coming to Taos & I'd be happy to rent it to you), and that means a bit of re-decorating.
As I mentioned in my newsletter (if you're not on my newsletter list, do e-mail me & I'll put you on) I've felt a bit restricted in my creativity. Like the men in the film "Shakespeare Behind Bars" one gets bound by one's circumstances, and forgets that that new wildflower seed one sowed last autumn is now in full bloom or that the noise in one's ear is the hum of a hummingbird seeking the flowers one planted in hope two years ago. The prisoners, in the maximum security prison, can't get out, but they transform their lives by putting on Shakespeare's play "The Tempest." They see the prison as an island, and they see parallels to their own lives in the characters cast on an island after a tempest at sea. It is redemption at its most creative.
Our daily lives are also like an island with little and large restrictions and boundaries, yet we can fly beyond them in our creativity. The door I just finished painting would have been a huge restriction if I had painted like I see it when I pass it several times a week. Yet, it was freedom to paint it in an expressionistic, symbolic way. My need to earn my daily bread can drive me nuts sometimes, yet my freedom is in the wildflowers, my studio, and my friends and family. The daring to have cretive fun/joy in life is what it's all about. One friend even took me flying & had me operate the joy stick during take-off. Now that is exciting freedom!!!!
My Berkeley workshop is looking like it's going to take-off on Sept. 13th! E-mail me for more details if you think you can join us by the Bay!( nasse@kitcarson.net )
Do have a freely, creative summer for yourself

Don't You Wish For a Lazy Day?

2008-05-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

Durer, "Young Hare," 1502 Watercolor

I very seldom get those days where I don't want to do anything except sit & read the latest novel. I really have too much to do to take much time off. Yet, today is one of those days, especially as it's been raining & thundering here in Taos, even a touch of sleet! Plus, we are heading into the Memorial Day weekend and that's a societal signal to slow down!
Memorial Day in Taos is interesting. It's a-buzz, literally, with bikers arriving from all over to attend the annual Memorial Day commemorative at the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial up in Angel Fire. I live on the road to Angel Fire, so the buzz is constant. However, what is fun it is to see the parade of all the different varieties of bikes and biker outfits! What a colorful array! In 1968, local artist Dick Spas took a photo "Peter & Dennis - Easy Rider" at Taos Pueblo! (When they filmed part of the film here) The postcard is so popular at our local independent bookstore, Moby Dickens, where I work part time. So, bikers have a long history in Taos.
I'm learning, as an artist-writer, that we do have to take time off sometimes. It's where our creative juices have a chance to fill back up. Now, I'm the first to admit that I have more trouble with marking this kind of time in my calendar as there is always soooo very much to do, but I'm always glad when I do. Hey, maybe I'll take Memorial Day off, grill some portobello mushrooms, & just laze in my garden.
Before I even dared dream that I could be an artist, I took an art appreciation class at University of Hawaii & wrote a paper on Albrecht Durer. He's still a favorite of mine. I recently got a book, Classical Painting Atelier by Juliette Aristides as my MA program did not include classical training & I want to teach myself that aspect of art. My first exercise is to copy a Master, so I'm choosing Durer. I do admire his meticulous attention to detail as my own preferred style is more abstract! I'll let you know how I do with this.
Happy Memorial Day!

When Our Buttons Get Pushed

2008-05-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

"Boat" 1998, 7 x 91/2 "
Craigie Aitchison

I haven’t done my blog in two weeks. (sad face) I thought it was due to lack of time; and it was as week before last I attended the SCBWI-NM conference in Albuquerque, then last week I was slammed with some freelance work, and also determined to carry on with my own novel and painting. In truth, however, I wasn’t facing a deeper hole of sadness at the brutal critique I received for my portfolio at the conference. There’s more all about that in my monthly newsletter, “There’s No Such Thing As Rejection.” Happily my coach at Jack Canfield coaching helped my out of this current prairie dog hole and gave me a great technique to help me when my old buttons get pushed. I'll share it with you in the newsletter, so look out for it in your e-mail. If you're not on my newsletter list, just e-mail me and I'll get you on straightaway!
I was disappointed to hear that Eric Maisel won’t be coming to Taos later this summer after all, however he is doing The Writers Telesummit at about the same time. And, you can attend from the comfort of your home! The Art of the Song hosts it. Go to http://www.telesummits.com/ for more details.
I discovered Craigie Atichison’s art last summer when I attended the Royal Academy Summer show in London with my friend Ellie. We had a grand time viewing the show, going down to the tea room for tea, viewing some more, and chatting up a storm. Since then, Ellie sent me a catalogue of Craigie’s work. What a wonderful, inspiring gift! I love the seeming simplicity of the work, yet if you apply the classic harmonic geometry principles to his paintings, he works like the old masters!
It’s raining here in Taos today, a rare treat and the birds and plants are in heaven. The arts and crafts fairs and Farmer’s Market have started up here. The rivers are flowing almost up to their banks with the spring run-off from the mountains, a lovely time of year! Have a wonderful rest of May, and may you receive deep inspiration!

When the Going Gets Tough

2008-04-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

The Sleeping Gypsy, 1897 Henri Rousseau, 51 x 70"

We are having on and off snow flurries here in Taos today! At the same time my daffodils are starting to bloom. It is always spectacular here in our high mountain desert setting. The last few weeks I've been driving around Taos and its outer environs for some writing I'm doing for a special friend's web site. The beauty and shifting scenery are awe-inspiring. One can be driving past high cliffs one minute and going past orchards 3 minutes later; or, from flat sage landscape to alpine splendour in 15 to 20 minutes. I love it! And, I'm remembering to take my sketchbook and camera with me.
Remember the old saying, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going!" I've had quiet a few people tell me they are going through tough patches lately, and their reactions are varied from devastated to fear to despair. Yet, at least half of them are continuing on with their creative goals. Why? They know innately that by doing so, it is an anchor to get them through their current troubles. Of course when a tough patch happens, we do have to stop to take care of it, e.g. getting up that money to pay for the taxes or fix the car. And, yes, we can stop to cry & get upset when a friend or partner lets us down or we, or a family member, gets sick, etc. We do need to honor our feelings. However, the bottom line is us: you & me. We count and our creativity counts. And, in the midst of the toughness, if we can do one little thing to keep our creative momentum & vision going, e.g. read a novel or poem in our genre, pick up an art book, clear one square foot of our workspace, draw a tiny sketch, or edit 3 paragraphs, our day is that one little bit brighter. This keeps us from falling into that prairie dog hole of despair, & maybe, old, bad habits.
My featured artist today is Henri Rousseau. He had day jobs all of his life, blue collar day jobs, was ridiculed, all but one child died, he was self-taught, and he died in poverty. Yet, he kept going on huge canvases in a small studio. His life is such an inspiration to me to keep on going in the toughest of times. Have an up-lifting week!

Symbolism in Art...health

2008-04-10T11:48:00.000-07:00

Oveja de Noche Judith, 2008

I'm going to keep this short as I've already written a "mini-article" today in my monthly newsletter :-) [If you're not on my mailing list, just e-mail me at judith_art@yahoo.com ] I've studied symbolism in art, more deeply I've studied spiritual and emotional symbolism in art. There, that's the first time I've confessed that since my MA days! So, when I painted this painting, I knew it had to symbolize something, but I hadn't a clue as to what. A few weeks later a dear friend suggested I go to a local, excellent homeopathist for my chronic sinus problem and vertigo. I did, and my health & energy have gradually and greatly improved since. I realized two things: that the oveja (sheep) symbolized my need for deep, proper nutrition and that without feeling top notch I have to force myself, with extra, ultra discipline, to do my art and writing, and my day jobs! I won't go into what exactly I've changed in my nutrition as I dislike dogma & preaching, plus I am still experimenting. So, in doing your creativity, do take care of you first for without your health, you can't run on optimal energy for your creativity and passions. Have a fantastic, creative week!

Practice, Practice, Practice!

2008-04-04T09:41:00.000-07:00

Remember the cartoons of the kid sitting at a piano with his teacher hovering over him while he looks wistfully out of the window? Kids are supposed to hate practice, but where would Picasso, Tiger Woods, or William Faulkner be without it? Yes, good old practice gets us where we want to be in the creative world. Daily practice is preferable. Jack Canfield put it succinctly in his book, The Success Principles, where he gives the example of two athletes of equal ability, but one practices more than the other. Who do you suppose will get to the top? I love to practice, but I get stumped on "it's not good enough" and so often will be reluctant to sketch when I'm out in public. I'm gradually getting round that, by doing it anyway. I can write quite easily in public now, after years of practice at my old stomping grounds in Berkeley, The Junket, and now here in Taos, either at Loka or Tazza. You can find writers any hour of the day beavering away in Taos coffee shops! Another way I get around it is to try new things. I'm working on a painting where I put a lot of impasto under the gesso. It's helping me look at a painting differently whether I ultimately go that route or not ~ fun and practice all in one!
Speaking of Taos, El Rito writer and illustrator, Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw just had her book My Travelin' Eye published by Henry Holt. That's the cover in today's image! I was lucky enough to do a review for her (click on Children's Book reviews on the left). I'm sure Jenny has put lots of practice hours into her art and writing. Also, if you're in Taos this weekend, you can catch Art of the Song presenters John Dillon & Viv Nesbitt, Sunday April 6, 9:00 am at
"Creativity and Spiritual Health" John & Viv will be keynote presenters at The Higher Truth of Health conference.
News: I'm now an official member of the Creativity Coaching Association! See their website at http://www.creativitycoachingassociation.com/
Have a fantastic, creative week for yourself!

Happy First Day of Spring ~ Transitions

2008-03-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Paul Klee, Untitled, 1940
watercolor, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Here in Taos today, the first day of Spring is warm and sunny with cloudless, bright blue skies. A March breeze is up, making for clear vistas especially of our beautiful snow capped mountain. Spring Arts Festival is in the air with galleries, shops, & museums preparing for the May-June events.
I didn't choose a Taos artist this week, but the Swiss artist Paul Klee as his little landscape reminds me of Spring on the Mediterranean. I grew up near San Francisco and every time I go back to visit, I go to the Paul Klee room of the SFMOMA to view Klee's works. This is one of my favorites. Klee means clover in Swiss; clover, a sure sign of Spring. Klee was one of the harbinger's of modern expressionism, a "transitioner" if I may coin a word. I'd like to dedicate this blog to the late Charles Miedzinski, Ph.D., my art professor and friend, who was my first teacher in my transition from my art as craft & hobby to my fine art painting. Charles loved Paul Klee; and, though I've had many wonderful teachers, he was the finest, most inspiring.
In creativity transition is always a factor. I make a transition from my computer to my easel. We decide to try out a new media. Our gallery closed and now we must find new opportunities. We can't find a publisher soon enough to satisfy our excitement about our work and our impatience to launch it out into the world. Sometimes transitions are quick and breezy, and other times would try the patience of a turtle. In these times I find it helpful to keep my eye on the goal, not on the delays. For example, I had planned to start my Art of Creativity Writing Workshop this week. Alas, the wind blew down my posters and the newspaper put my ad in a most obscure part of the paper. Delay! However, I keep visualizing the workshop taking off next week, Wed., March 26th, a very good day as it's my grandfather's & sister's birthday, a good luck day! And, I know from experience that new businesses, any new endeavours, take time to gain momentum. So, I shall exercise patience, and, in the meantime, head for the easel now! Have a most lovely Holiday/Easter Weekend! Happy Creativity!

Welcome to My Creativity Blog

2008-03-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

La Luz New Mexico, Harold Joe Waldrum
I'm so excited about this new endeavour that I barely know where to start. First I want to thank Eric Maisel, who just guided me through 16 weeks of Creativity Coach training. I just "graduated!" Not only did I have a most wonderful experience with my clients-in-training, but I came into a deeper place of having my own art and writing matter! I can now say "I am the artist," whereas before I thought of myself as becoming or not quite there. I also now have a regular daily practice, creating in the middle of life. And, I am daring to put myself out into the greater creative community even more. This doesn't mean I don't still have doubts and trepidations. Sure, I do. However, I'm practicing how to keep from letting them take me into despair. This exciting new progress in life is what I also want for my creative clients, family, and friends.
I shall share, in this blog and in my coaching, ways to achieve meaning and mattering, routine, positive self-talk, overcome depression, and so much more. I will also talk about creating here in Taos, the original Southwest art community. That doesn't mean I'll neglect artists and writers elsewhere in the world, as there are so many I am fond of.
To start I've posted a Waldrum etching. Waldrum lived in Taos from 1979 to 1990. I love the simplicity, with depth, that Waldrum expressed. His colour combinations are unparalleled and have given my own paintings a whole new daring. If you ever come to Taos you can see his etchings at Lumina Gallery!
I'm available now for Creativity Coaching (all artistic endeavours), either by phone or in-person, e-mail coaching, or workshops and support groups. Contact me for more information. My first Taos Art of Creativity workshop for writers, of all levels, begins on March 19th for 6 weeks! It includes free weekly e-mail support! Hope you can join us at the Lumina Gallery for this exciting adventure in making your writing a success!

2008-02-28T12:05:00.001-08:00

Hello! My first post will be up by Tuesday, March 11th! Please come back and visit me then.