I’ve been doing a lot of writing this month. I joined a challenge to write a book – or 50,000 words, in 30 days. It has been in the back of my mind to write about some lifetime trauma and struggle – often started and stopped due to the voice in my head that insists no one will be interested. In October I came across this quote from Sandra Cisneros – whose first book in 28 years was being published – she said, “I’d throw my poems under the bed, like Emily Dickinson,” she said, ” One of the things I learned from Emily – Miss Emily, I should say with respect-is that you don’t have to publish in your lifetime, but you have to write.”
That completely freed me. I never have to share, but I do need to write. Words and memories have been pouring out of me. Each old wound up for re-examination, for feeling and letting go of, and hopefully, to earn a new narrative once I’m through processing.
This painting was made during the first 15 or so days of the writing process. It doesn’t look like my work to me, and I’ve been curious to see what shape it would take. A friend and I examined it one morning – and we both began to see a figure on the right hand side of the piece. I saw an owl, a caldron at the feet of the figure, some hands, and a discarded mask in a corner, and my friend said, ‘oh – that looks like your liver and a bunch of your insides…and that’s your third eye falling off the side of your face looking at the guts you’ve taken out…” We both got goosebumps and saw the expression of the writing process making its way onto the canvas.
The intuitive art making experience is so cool. I did start off with an idea for this work, but it quickly disappeared as I added colors and shapes randomly – and then the painting revealed itself
UPDATE – THIS HAS FOUND A NEW HOME – THANK YOU! :-)
I’ve become attached to having this one hanging on my wall . . . but it’s now varnished and ready to find a new home. It has changed ever so slightly from the previous post so these pictures are the final painting.
All photos have been taken in natural light to show the true colors to the best of my ability.
Acrylic and oil sticks and other things on wood panel. SOLD
UPDATE – THIS HAS FOUND A NEW HOME – THANK YOU! :-)
‘sail away’ will be available once it dries and is sealed [in about a week].
I’m loving being surrounded by all these colors . . . especially when the light hits it just right. I’d been trying to resolve this painting by attempting to reign in the chaos . . . then started to love how everyone who looked at it used their imaginations to see vastly different things within the chaos. . . . and witnessing their journeys made me happy. :-)
18x24x3/4″ acrylic, oil sticks and other things , on wood panel. SOLD
UPDATE – THIS HAS FOUND A NEW HOME – THANK YOU! :-)
For Sale – ‘Gypsy Soul’.
I’m really loving this one. It’s been a lesson in patience and layers and really trying to let the painting lead me. I listened to a lot of music while working and ‘Into The Mystic’ was on repeat … the painting revealing itself as ‘gypsy soul’. Hoping it will find a new home and give someone else the joy it’s given me. :-)
16x20x3/4″ on wood panel. Sealed with satin varnish.
$175 local / cash SOLD
$200 shipped in U.S.
**colors in the video seem off on my computer. please note several images posted here and on Instagram in different lighting settings to do my best to show true colors**
I’m not much of a selfie person … but every once in a while I’ll throw one up so you know who you’re interacting with. I know when I’m making a decision on whether or not to do business with someone, I like to know something about who I’m supporting … especially with a profession like massage therapy.
This morning I started a Summer Training Camp. It’s a supportive online community with women of all body shapes and sizes where we’ll spend 12 weeks either prepping for anything from a 5K to a half marathon or doing a weight lifting program. I choose both 😳🏋️♀️🏃♀️. I’ll probably stick to walking … but the encouragement of the program may get me to run (ahem…slow jog) again. We’ll see.
Either way that’s not really the point. It’s about finding joyful movement…whatever that means to you…in whatever body you’re living in right now …without intent to change it – just to enjoy and care for it. :)
Anyways … they asked for us each to post a pic so we can get to know one another … and that’s why I even have a pic to share here…
Anyone local want to sign up too? They’re leaving it open for the rest of today. It would be fun to have in person community along with the online one. 😊 In fact I’ve been wanting to start a walking group for those of us who move SLOW for a while. I’d love to hear from you if you’re interested.
Self-care for me today meant … walking in the woods, taking pictures, saying hello to strangers and their playful puppies and … reading poetry. What did it look like for you?
Keeping Quiet
by Pablo Neruda
“Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still
for once on the face of the earth,
let’s not speak in any language;
let’s stop for a second,
and not move our arms so much.
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines;
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would not look at his hurt hands.
Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victories with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about…
If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with
death.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.”
“We are like children building a sand castle. We embellish it with beautiful shells, bits of driftwood, and pieces of colored glass. The castle is ours, off limits to others. We’re willing to attack if others threaten to hurt it. Yet despite all our attachment, we know that the tide will inevitably come in and sweep the sand castle away. The trick is to enjoy it fully but without clinging, and when the time comes, let it dissolve back into the sea.”
In my quest to support “all things local” I have joined my first CSA this year. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. You buy into a farm before they start their growing season and they give you a share of what they grow each week. Fresh. Local. Delicious. Driving out to the place where my food was grown and meeting the people who put so much care and hard labor into growing it has upped my appreciation for what I’m eating this week. One of my regular clients recommended the Hurst Family Farm to me – saying they grew the best veggies she’d ever tasted – and I have not been disappointed. The farmer let me wander around a bit to take photos and what attracted me that day were lots of cute birdhouses, friendly livestock and the textures on the fence. Can’t wait to see what I’ll get to eat next week. :)
I’m breaking all the rules with this post. It’s a day early for one. Wednesday already feels like it’s going to get away from me – so I’m grabbing this free moment and squeezing every ounce out of it to make sure I blog my photos. For two – though I initiated the “let’s shoot with the same lens” idea and agreed to shoot with my 50 – I didn’t do it. My 35 came in the mail and I just had to give it a test run. I’m really loving it – and am so glad you nudged the project a bit because it totally rejuvenated me. Thanks lady!! :) My photo walk wound up being a few different days – from the first image made with my 35, to a trip to the beach – the one summer thing I’ve done this year!!, and one from an inspiring portrait shoot I did today. Here you go! Love you. Can’t wait to see yours. :)
The first image from the new 35 …. yay!! Wide open and sharp.
Beach cottage playfulness. Love the fluff container turned flower vase. When is the last time you had fluff? When I lived out West I met people who had never heard of it.
Photographer HEAVEN!! The perfectly blue sky turned cloudy and I began to salivate! Can you relate?
I bid so long to my beach buddies and moved on down the road. I just had to chase the stormy moodiness.
Lastly, and respectfully – one image from a recent portrait session. Carey just had a double mastectomy and we are going to document the changes, the scars, the recovery. She’s given me permission to share all the images – which I will do one day. It was an honor for me to do this with her – and she said it was very cathartic for her. ♥♥♥
Lydia is a photographer in NYC and I’m in CT. We decided a while back that we wanted to work on a project together – and we’re still figuring out what that is. Here is a LINK to my first post which explains the idea and here is a LINK to Lydia’s last post in the project.
Tania Palermo [Studio on Main] 