Two sides of the studio

On the right hand, ladies and gentlemen, you have the neat and orderly Laughing Chicken Farm sales area,

on the left hand, well...., you can see the mess that I'm still trying to organize as my art space.

Whew. Micah helped me drag my large screen desk computer out here, and I've been trying to find a way of seeing screen with all the light from the windows reflecting in it. I've paired down my frame stash and taken them inside the office in the house. (I've got ideas for that too.) Now if only I could figure out what to do with the large compressor taking up the middle of the floor on MY side of the building. Still waiting on a sink and counter top. But I've got some ideas brewing and simmering for painting projects. 

My Daughter the Artist.

If you open my Bible to page 25 and look toward the bottom right quadrant of the page, you'll see blue ballpoint pen scribbles across Genesis chapter 22. It's one of the reasons I've resisted getting a new Bible even though the pages are falling out and I have to be careful to tuck a section of Matthew back in as I close it. Somewhere around twenty years ago, one of my children drew on those pages. I'm thinking it was Catherine. She usually had a pen or marker in her hand. Now these days it's a paintbrush filled with oil colors gliding across a canvas.

This same scribble-maker just had her first solo show and this Mama couldn't be more proud. She has done nineteen paintings of the history of Judson College for their 175th anniversary celebration. You can see them at http://jclegacyproject.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/fine-art-prints/
and her website at http://catpope.com/


Sending her to school in Alabama was one of the hardest things we've had to do as parents. Somewhere deep inside I knew she'd be gone from my nest. My all-grown-up daughter now lives with her wonderful husband of two years in Alabama, but even with her being so far away, she and I have connected on a level we never had while she was living at home.

Painting had always been "Mom's thing" and, though I encouraged her, she really didn't find art more than a hobby. Something must have happened at college to turn her focus to the art that was inside her just waiting to burst out. I'm so glad it did. Now we talk about art, critique each others work, commiserate over failed attempts, and rejoice in each others triumphs. It's a strong, thick thread that runs through our whole family on both sides, and now we all can see it will continue on.

Thank you, Catherine, for digging deep and letting God express the creativity He's designed there. And thanks for being a great encouragement to me to keep going forward in art no matter what.
Love,
Mom

Windows

Last week, we skipped a week butchering. Wow. What a vacation week. We didn't even want to go anywhere. There were so many projects just waiting for attention, where does one start? On my studio of course!

Bill and Micah worked together very well. Micah is now inspired to dive into set design at Santa Fe community college this year. I was soooooo staying out of their way.  I just fed all the animals and they went to it.

As you can see, the windows are very big. Boy, do they let the light in. Yes, I was still hesitant about how they take up so much wall space, but I'm getting used to them. I had to chuckle. I told Bill that all we need now is a set of eyelashes because they give the shed two big eyes.

Can't you just see them blinking?

Last night we went to a friends house and picked up a beautiful exterior door. It even matches the windows with lots of glass.
Today I'm rearranging the spare bedroom we use as an office to accomidate some art space. My muse just can't wait until everything is done on the shed. At least I'll have a place to go until the electricity, insulation, and walls are done.
So, no art to show today, but I'm looking forward to painting something in the very near future.

Progress

The sun is up, drying up the puddles on the tops of the chicken tractors. I know the longer I wait to go outside, the hotter it will become. Bill has gone to the post office to pick up chicks. So I'm stealing a few moments, still in my pajamas, sipping a cup of green tea and wishing for just a little longer morning.

It's a very satisfying feeling to walk past a small canvas with wet paint on it from the day before. Evidence that I really did pick up the brush for a little while. Second week in a row, by the way. I'm feeling pretty proud of myself.

All day long yesterday Bill worked on framing in the windows in the shed. They are going to be HUGE. I'm feeling a nervous tickle in my stomach about them now. Too late to change things, but what if there is just too much window and not enough wall space? What if I'm making a green house instead of a studio? I know my husband well enough by now that I better not say to much about my worries. He's on a roll and I'll only frustrate him and the work will stop. He so wants to please me and sometimes I change my mind too much. I just have to remember that he's the construction expert here. If he says it will work, we'll go with that.

So while he's outside with hammer and nails, I'm inside with the music cranked up.
Here's the painting I did last week:

 I'm thinking about using it in my next collage piece. I didn't get a picture of yesterday's beginning, but The pallet is still full of paint and I'm planning on getting back to the easel when all the day's work is over. It's going to be a busy day.

Last week I was discouraged, but this week I feel hopeful. I think this blogging thing is just what I need to stay committed to the pursuit of being an artist here on the farm. No, I didn't actually paint anything yet, but does it count that my outlook is positive? Yes! Inside, something is stirring. I feel like God is saying, "Go ahead and trust Me. See what happens." I don't have any new shed progress pictures to show today, because all the stuff is still in the same place. But....Bill finished the gate. He did a great job like he always does, and now he said the windows are next. So maybe next week I'll be able to put some new pictures up of the shed's transformation. I did, as a matter of fact, accept an invitation for the 2013 Kanapaha Gardens Paint Out coming up on Sept. 13 - 15. Their website is www.kanapaha.org. Plus, I was invited to teach at JC Campbell Folk School next August. (Today I HAVE to get that paperwork in the mail.) The website for the folk school is www.folkschool.org So here's to moving forward!

Standing

Obviously it's been a long time since I have mentioned art in a blog. There is always a reason to put it off, always a reason to get something else done on the farm. I didn't know that embracing this dream of farming would endanger my other life as an artist. It's easy to get overwhelmed, to complain, to give up. But just this morning I was reading in my Bible about the armor of God. Ephesians 6:13 (Amplified Version) "Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]." Maybe I'm overly spiritualizing my personal struggle to keep art in my life, but I feel a connection. Do I have a crisis? It feels like one to me. Standing my ground means not letting go. Standing my ground means not giving up. My faith shield has been full of holes and needs repaired. I can start there. I know my Father is on my side. He has put this creative spirit inside of me and He keeps letting me see the possibilities of working together with Him. I can close my eyes and see a finished studio and artwork that comes from my fingertips. When I open my eyes I see an unfinished shed, a pile of dusty paint tubes, and an empty canvas on my easel. Here's a picture of the shed where my new studio will be. I am so grateful to have it. It was a gift from my parents. The inside is full of stuff from the kids, extra junk we don't have a place for and of course, feed. (Who can just let a shed sit there empty?) My wonderful husband has promised to work on putting in new windows to let more light in right after he finishes putting in the gate on the fence. My job is to get it cleaned out. I promise to keep you posted on our progress. I think it will inspire me and give me a creative outlet while I wait, and of course, STAND, keeping my joy and not losing hope.

Studio Disaster

Yesterday,Bill came into the kitchen and told me he just let three chickens out of the studio. They must have gotten themselves stuck in there the day before. (I think they got through a whole in the screen door) And he added they had made a huge mess. Well, that didn't begin to describe it. I started walking towards the RV when the tears began to fall. Yesterday was supposed to be my art day. I was looking forward to a whole day of creativity. As I walked into the space, the first thing that hit me was the smell, then the devastation. Every surface was covered in poop, and everything I had been working on was now on the floor. Nails and screws covered my work table. Brushes that were soaking in cleaner were tipped over and my projects were scattered. There was chicken poop on my computer keyboard, and even on my Bible. I couldn't even sit down on the couch. It was the worst. They must have been pacing back and forth in front of the window on the back of the couch.

I couldn't touch a thing. I could only cover my face and sob. I walked back outside and sobbed some more. Bill hugged me and let me cry on his shoulder, but there was nothing either of us could change about it. Finally I got control of my weeping and blew my nose. I grabbed the broom and a roll of paper towels from the house and headed back to the RV. All day long I cleaned, and sorted, and pitched things. Thank God, none of my special work was scratched. A few paintings went into the trash, but nothing noteworthy. As I worked, I felt liberated in a way. It was easier to throw away things and organize what I should have gotten in order before. I finished it today and put the worktable back in business. I actually got to drill a few new holes in a piece I've been working on. I don't have a vendetta against the chickens anymore. We've made peace. I've got a new start on a cleaner space.