On The Side Like Fries

When I am stressed out, I often reach for a pen and whatever notebook I am using at the time. I have done this since middle school, when angst first knocked. I keep writing in my back pocket, and I pull it out when I need to work through things in my life. I do not use pen and paper to let anyone else into my world. I write to untangle thoughts.  Writing is usually a calming activity for me. I am Linus and writing is my security blanket. My pen and paper might be the most useful item I have in my toolbox. The last thing I want to do with this valuable exercise is make it into some type of work or chore. For all of my life, I have placed writing exactly where I like it – off to the side, like fries. 

This is why I have resisted writing about my artwork. Have you ever heard an artist say, “I just want my work to speak for itself”? She does, and so does he. We want our work to speak so loudly and so articulately that we do not even need to come up with titles and descriptions. Abstract 89443, anyone? Many of us feel that these details should be nothing more than extra credit. This has always been the boring part for me. It is one of my least favorite parts of being an artist. I have little to no desire to create a meaningful, snappy, or creative title for a piece. I would rather be making new work, not talking about something that I finally convinced myself to stop fussing over and put down. I think that pricing my artwork might even be more fun than writing about it. 

This is the part where I should say, “but that is another topic for another day." Maybe it can be that easy. Maybe this is all that a blog needs to be. If that is the case, it is not so scary after all. I did not bear my soul with you here, but I opened up, sort of. That is why I am an artist after all. I did not go into this field because it screamed of opportunities and job security. I am here, painting and collaging, because I do have some things to say. 

My coffee grew cold while I was writing to you, and that is saying something. This is going to work.

​Thank you for taking the time to read. I think that now that I have prattled on and on about how I do not want to blog, I have finally started a blog. I have been making art for years, and I am to the point now where I know that if I want my work to last, I need to write about it. I do not know how to do this, but I am going to figure it out. Dear viewer, I promise to make you a dear reader as well. Bear with me as I strive to love God, love people, and make art. 

Are you a maker who needs to start sharing? Tell me all about it! I would love to hear about where you are.