The Artist...

Painting dry spell. It’s been since I let go of my studio in Fall of 2023. Before I had a Professional Art Studio, I’d paint anywhere. It could be a corner of a room by a window, so I know I can get there again. As time moves forward, I think it’s a form of grief. Having to let go of my dedicated creative space was necessity, and on many levels, a relief, but it was another huge loss.

Priming Canvas

This level of stop and start painting is something I haven’t quite experienced before, but the urge to paint never leaves, and is growing in me. I’ve been painting in some form or another since pre-school, so I know it’ll all be ok. We’ll see what happens next.

Even when painting’s on an extremely pregnant pause, creativity finds me in different forms. I also, write. I’m always writing something. Most consistently, I write this Art Blog. I’ve been writing this blog in some form, or another for two decades. I never, or rarely have a plan what I will write next, but somehow I always find aspects of living the life of an Artist revealing themselves to me, and I have to write it out. I’ve been writing poetry, and various forms of prose since I was a little girl. Writing is the most consistent expression of creativity in me, though I think of it as an extension of the painting.

I also sing. Recently, I made the BIG decision to leave Sacramento Valley Chorus, and Sweet Adelines International, leave the world of women’s Barbershop. I had many reasons for this decision, but mostly I left with the intention of finding new avenues for my singing. I look forward to exploring voice lessons again, and will hopefully find my singing path.

In times of erratic creativity, I have the thought, ‘am I an Artist if I’m not actively painting?’ The answer, of course, is yes. Any Artist will tell you, even in times of not-making, the Artist is always thinking of creating, or exploring different avenues of their creativity. In a sense the creativity never stops, the Artist is always working. This is the life of the Artist.

Happy creating!

Michelle