Yearlong Project has a Brutal New Influence

It is 3.5 months into the work.

Large local fires (CA wine country) have caused death and immense pain for those who have survived and lost their security (physical and emotional).

How do I address this monumental event?
     First is by getting over my initial paralyzing shock (a strong fear of fire and many close call occurrences of the real thing have been in my life since I was 11 yrs old.) This involves checking on loved ones and attending to maps, wind directions, and future weather patterns.
     Next is by realizing that this traumatic event joins many others in the world, and so is part of our natural course in history. Set up prayer patterns that incorporate the near and the far if I haven't already. Try to see if there is anything physical that I can do to help.
     Third is by putting my ink to paper and not worrying about what I create.

This is not a time to judge the artwork, but is instead a time to let flow... pour out onto the canvas what is inside. Artists throughout the ages have kept themselves sane during difficult times by releasing their honest flow. To be honest about one's own humanity is a natural and very healthy way of easing into change.

Yearlong Art Project into the Third Month

For the months of August and September I created every day, inks or gouache on paper. I work both at my studio and at home, simultaneously, so that this flow of art never leaves my awareness. I am hoping to keep this process up for a year, until next August. We will see where the flow of creativity goes. In September of 2018 the artwork will be installed at the Peninsula Museum of Art.

So far I have created through the influences of marvelous readings from literature, poetry, magazines and even newspapers. The news is difficult right now, but I'm trying to get to the essence of humanity within the chaos. Perhaps there's important things to be learned these days that will lead the planet to a better future.

Additional influences have been the community around me. This includes the untimely death of a dear friend, Bur McAllester. Perhaps I will write about him one day. Right now I create art with him on my mind.

There has also been the birth of a beautiful baby boy to another close family friend. I met the baby while surrounded by wild nature in Northern California. They named him Bodhi. He, too, influences the work.

A loss of connection and birth of connection seems to be the theme of the day in many more realms of my life and of those close to me. I am of the opinion that whatever comes to me can reveal wisdom, if I can get out of my self-centered psyche long enough to see it. (Artists by nature have to be self-centered... sigh.)

Just as poetry can appear to have a handle on balancing the dark and the light, I am hoping my art will reveal similar insights.

Be well as we head into October.
Leigh