I realized when I woke up this morning that I have been neglecting the blog. I thought about letting it go, but I don't really want to. I have been writing and have been working on art, either of which I should just start sharing here instead of direct to social media. That's something else I have toyed with letting go, but for now, while the pandemic is in full swing, I'm sticking around. Instagram in particular has been a boon recently for art sales. You can follow me here. I post new art and process videos for my printmaking.
Which, after a fairly long hiatus, I have returned to doing. I took a break because I wasn't sure why I was doing it. Before the pandemic I decided to take some time off from doing art fairs. I thought to myself, if I can't sell art why produce art? Of course, that's not really the point of making art, is it? I guess that was a mental rut that I found difficult to crawl out of.
But crawl I did. Although the initial goal, as it were, was not necessarily get back into printmaking. What led me back was my determination to start a daily sketch practice and a daily journal practice. Each of these served to clear the clutter and cobwebs in my brain. Each was a kind of daily meditation. I have come back to printmaking with a renewed passion and still try to maintain the daily practice of journaling and sketching.
I still am not planning on returning to art fairs. The pandemic has altered the art fair universe. I doubt I will go back.
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And I have started writing poetry again. Typewriter poetry. Twenty-five years ago I wrote poetry, aspired to be a poet, read my poetry at Poetry Slam open mikes. The well dried up pretty fast. I lost the poetry that may have been inside me. At the time I guess I blamed (or credited depending on your point of view) that I stopped drinking. I couldn't get on stage without having a few belts of liquor in me.
Yet recently I was inspired by a fellow Instagram artist blackadderpress who posts their typewriter poetry (which is amazing) on Instagram along with linocut prints (also amazing). I started jotting down poems that usually came to me when I was unable to sleep (which is often). Or I would try to sleep and a seed would be planted. I have learned from experience you never say "I will write it down later, I will remember it" because you don't. Not ever.
And I bought a vintage typewriter.
I was afraid that I would be viewed as a copycat. I messaged blackadderpress and let them know that I was inspired. I was given their blessing.
I have rambled enough for one post. I will, as always, endeavor to write more often. This blog is my mental warehouse (or dumping ground for less organized days). I hope to expand my readership. I guess that goes without saying. No one wants to write things that no one reads, right?
Peace and Blessings to you all.
M
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