Thursday, November 19, 2015
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Returning . . . and a New Beginning
Ahh, Returning,
Well, as we all know, you can never step into the same river twice. And since I seem to be blogging with the impressively dedicated discipline of once every six months (or so) it should be no surprise that the path, and the tumbling stream, has covered quite some territory. The future as a gleaming path of snow, ah, what a dream! (actually delusional - sweet, but not very interesting). Even the more challenging unexplored field, now seems more like a fun trek.) The past few months ( literally exactly five months today) have presented some of the most physically and emotionally traumatic experiences of my life!
But, here I am, Returning, with eyes wide open to survey the gleaming field of a new Beginning. My energy is fueled by the two simple phrases that stay deeply and permanently in my mind - the first, (which I made up for myself to carry me through life's assorted difficulties), has become my personal mantra: "Rise above and go beyond" and the second: "Renew yourself everyday".
I share these because they helped bring me back here, to the studio, to the work, to the ever emerging beginnings. The pain and traumas I referred to are unimportant. It doesn't matter what happened - it only matters that things happened, that I survived and my recovery is slow but steady, and that these past five months have left me profoundly changed.
Well, as we all know, you can never step into the same river twice. And since I seem to be blogging with the impressively dedicated discipline of once every six months (or so) it should be no surprise that the path, and the tumbling stream, has covered quite some territory. The future as a gleaming path of snow, ah, what a dream! (actually delusional - sweet, but not very interesting). Even the more challenging unexplored field, now seems more like a fun trek.) The past few months ( literally exactly five months today) have presented some of the most physically and emotionally traumatic experiences of my life!
But, here I am, Returning, with eyes wide open to survey the gleaming field of a new Beginning. My energy is fueled by the two simple phrases that stay deeply and permanently in my mind - the first, (which I made up for myself to carry me through life's assorted difficulties), has become my personal mantra: "Rise above and go beyond" and the second: "Renew yourself everyday".
I share these because they helped bring me back here, to the studio, to the work, to the ever emerging beginnings. The pain and traumas I referred to are unimportant. It doesn't matter what happened - it only matters that things happened, that I survived and my recovery is slow but steady, and that these past five months have left me profoundly changed.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
The Future Lies Before You . . .
Many (many!) years ago, the most perfect girl in my class wrote this lovely, and ominous, poem in my yearbook and the words have echoed in my mind throughout the years.
"The future lies before you like a gleaming path of snow,
Be careful where you tread, for every step will show"
Standing in that old classroom, I imagined the vision she saw when she thought of these words - an elegantly curving garden path glowing with a coating of 2 1/2 - 3" of pristine whiteness waiting for her impeccably shod little foot to trace the delicate line of her passage to perfection.
I was horribly intimidated.
Don't get me wrong. I liked this girl. I wanted to be like her, but, reading this poem, I knew - with this message, the jig is up! - She knows the truth about me - she knows!- I'm messy! :-(( ! and in her exquisite kindness she was warning me.
Immediately after imagining her vision, I saw my own vision and, omg! no path! In my mind I was standing somewhere in a wilderness and, from an elevated vantage point, overlooking a vast wind swept field stretching to the far distant horizon. Was it beautiful? Oh, God, yes. There were places of smooth gleaming whiteness, but also rocks, and rough patches, hills and slopes... but, no path!
Years later, I found another version of the poem which read, "a gleaming field of snow". Mmm, that I could relate to, but by then, I had learned to ski, jump, run around, fall down, get back up, roll around, dance and carry on in every direction and in every condition.
"The future lies before you like a gleaming path of snow,
Be careful where you tread, for every step will show"
Standing in that old classroom, I imagined the vision she saw when she thought of these words - an elegantly curving garden path glowing with a coating of 2 1/2 - 3" of pristine whiteness waiting for her impeccably shod little foot to trace the delicate line of her passage to perfection.
I was horribly intimidated.
Don't get me wrong. I liked this girl. I wanted to be like her, but, reading this poem, I knew - with this message, the jig is up! - She knows the truth about me - she knows!- I'm messy! :-(( ! and in her exquisite kindness she was warning me.
Immediately after imagining her vision, I saw my own vision and, omg! no path! In my mind I was standing somewhere in a wilderness and, from an elevated vantage point, overlooking a vast wind swept field stretching to the far distant horizon. Was it beautiful? Oh, God, yes. There were places of smooth gleaming whiteness, but also rocks, and rough patches, hills and slopes... but, no path!
Years later, I found another version of the poem which read, "a gleaming field of snow". Mmm, that I could relate to, but by then, I had learned to ski, jump, run around, fall down, get back up, roll around, dance and carry on in every direction and in every condition.
so now it's
January 1, 2015
(and I have also learned
(and I have also learned
the future always lies before you.)
It's been a long journey from that schoolroom and I am so grateful that my personal field of gleaming snow has been reflected and celebrated on canvas. This year and this month mark a significant passage for me.
I have chosen this small landscape of an field of snow to start this year's blog specifically because it was done very early in the morning and celebrates one of our greatest blessings, the curious miracle we all know - the beginning of a new day.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
"Looking for a Studio Assistant. . . "
YESTERDAY'S POST (tues.Oct.14) :
(... I am looking for a studio assistant (or two!). No money to be exchanged, but I promise to make it a valuable creative experience.
This would be ideal for a student artist, but would also be wonderful for an adult with time on their hands (retired, or maybe kids at school).
I'm in Old Fort, just two miles from Rt. 40.
828 803 4858 anne@annebevan.com
(... I am looking for a studio assistant (or two!). No money to be exchanged, but I promise to make it a valuable creative experience.
This would be ideal for a student artist, but would also be wonderful for an adult with time on their hands (retired, or maybe kids at school).
I'm in Old Fort, just two miles from Rt. 40.
828 803 4858 anne@annebevan.com
TODAY'S POST (wed. Oct. 15)
RE - "Looking for a studio assistant" . . . .
I forgot to mention, the Perks! In exchange for the time you spend on the tasks you perform as studio/marketing assistant, you will enjoy the following benefits:
*#1 Free art lessons! As anyone who has come through my door can tell you, I love to teach and I will love to see you flourish as an artist.
*#2 Free studio space! My home is my studio and there are plenty of spaces for you to work.
*#3 You will want to have your own materials, but while you are learning a new technique or medium, I'm happy to let you "play with my toys"
*#2 Free studio space! My home is my studio and there are plenty of spaces for you to work.
*#3 You will want to have your own materials, but while you are learning a new technique or medium, I'm happy to let you "play with my toys"
I truly believe this will be a valuable, pleasurable and ultimately profitable experience for anyone who gets involved. Call or email me and we'll talk about the possibilities.
Monday, October 13, 2014
"I'm back"
And I'm really making great progress with my grand plan of having everything properly organized . . . well, maybe a few glitches -
They used to think it was the turpentine that drove painters mad. It wasn't. Today I know it's trying to make sense of nine thousand small paintings 4x6, 8x10, 5x7, 7x7, 8x8, etc. 9x12 etc. 12x12, 6x12 etc …. take their pictures, write the descriptions, save to files, and match them up with mats and frames. oh, don't forget to post them here and there, oh, and blog, don't forget to blog . . . It's so easy to be an artist! All you have to do is….. (madness has nothing to do with turpentine!)
They used to think it was the turpentine that drove painters mad. It wasn't. Today I know it's trying to make sense of nine thousand small paintings 4x6, 8x10, 5x7, 7x7, 8x8, etc. 9x12 etc. 12x12, 6x12 etc …. take their pictures, write the descriptions, save to files, and match them up with mats and frames. oh, don't forget to post them here and there, oh, and blog, don't forget to blog . . . It's so easy to be an artist! All you have to do is….. (madness has nothing to do with turpentine!)
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Dashing "Back and Forth" to the Finish Line
Sunday, July 27, 3024
This "Today in the Studio" blog will certainly be much more organized when I am actually IN the studio and not dashing back and forth between the house where I am living and keeping my office, computer and some of my working activities and my home at Harlowe Noblitt Road, which I am completely reorganizing and establishing as my one and only all inclusive studio - with everything - work, works in progress, computer, office, photography/video, marketing materials etc etc etc beautifully organized and accessible in one place.
Whew! Are you as glad to be out of that sentence as I am?!
Fortunately this sentence (and all this activity!) leads to the vision of the goal - days and months - a Life! - of being in the studio. The serenity of having everything where I need it to be, and the sweet, deep, intense calm of being absorbed in my work.
Bliss!
This "Today in the Studio" blog will certainly be much more organized when I am actually IN the studio and not dashing back and forth between the house where I am living and keeping my office, computer and some of my working activities and my home at Harlowe Noblitt Road, which I am completely reorganizing and establishing as my one and only all inclusive studio - with everything - work, works in progress, computer, office, photography/video, marketing materials etc etc etc beautifully organized and accessible in one place.
Whew! Are you as glad to be out of that sentence as I am?!
Fortunately this sentence (and all this activity!) leads to the vision of the goal - days and months - a Life! - of being in the studio. The serenity of having everything where I need it to be, and the sweet, deep, intense calm of being absorbed in my work.
Bliss!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)