CHARM AND CHARISMA

I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT TRYING TO CAPTURE THE IMAGINATION OF A TIRED SOCIETY.IT'S SO HARD TO TRULY BE TRUE TO YOURSELF AND MAKE SURE "YOURSELF" ISN'T SOMETHING THAT IS DEFINED BY OTHERS.  I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING DOWN A SELF-ACTUALIZATION TYPE ROAD.  WHEN MY HUSBAND (25 YEARS)  LEFT ME FOR THE DOMINICAN CHICKY - POO I REALIZED THAT I WAS LIVING FOR HIS LIFE...I HAD CHANGED SO MUCH TO BE WITH (AND PLEASE...AND KEEP PEACE) THAT I DIDN'T KNOW MYSELF ANY LONGER.  WHEN MY HEART WAS BROKEN I TURNED TO WRITING,  WHEN I COULD NO LONGER FIND WORDS TO EXPRESS EMOTION I CAME BACK TO ART AND IN A VERY BIG WAY.  I LOVE DEFINING ANGST BY SYMBOLS, GESTURES, OBJECTS AND POETICS.   I THINK WE CAN ATTEST THAT IS A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO DRINKING...AND STUFF. I BET YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER ITEMS LAYING AROUND THAT JUXTAPOSE AND CREATE A STORY BALLAD.  TRY IT.

I LOVE A GOOD LAUGH

I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT MY BOOK, I HAVE A BOOK THAT I AM WORKING ON WITH A HERO THAT NEEDS A MIRACLE ...SHE BELIEVES IN SOME MIRACLES BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT.  LAUGHTER AND DREAMLIKE CROSSOVERS ARE FEATURED AND RHE CHARACTERS ARE EXTRORDINARY PEOPLE IN AN ORDINARY LIFE...IT TAKES PLACE IN A GOSSIPY SMALL TOWN BUT LAUGHTER BECOMES A HERO ITSELF.  WHAT DO YOU THINK??

I AM AMAZED ALMOST DAILY

ONCE UPON A TIME WE ALL SHARED COMMON EXPERIENCES, STORIES BEFORE BED, FAIRY TALES THAT CAME TRUE, DINNER WITH FAMILY, CONVERSATIONS AT THE TABLE, THE GOOD GUY WINNING...I HAVE BECOME SO SKEPTICAL AND CYNICAL ABOUT LIFE IN GENERAL.   IF YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES, CAN IT BE SO LONG IN THE COMPLETION OF DREAMS?  DO YOU SEE A BIT OF THIS IN US ALL?

EAT...

I HAVEN'T REALLY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT I HAVE A SHOP, SINCE I STARTED THIS BLOG, I REALLY DON'T ADVERTISE...THAT'S GONNA CHANGE, 130 WATER STREET EXETER NH ART&TIQUES.  COME MAKE, REPURPOSE, CREATE, DECORATE ...ALL FUN & FUNCTION

CAPTURE A MOMENT

IF YOU'RE EVER LOOKING FOR AN INSPIRATION FOR MAKING A MEANINGFUL ASSEMBLAGE THINK OF ONE MOMENT IN TIME...WHAT DID IT LOOK LIKE?  WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE?  HOW WERE THE PLANETS ALIGNED?  THAT PARTICULAR WAY THINGS EXISTED AT ONE MOMENT CAN BE ADDRESSED IN A BOX OR A COLLAGE...WHAT COLORS DO YOU REMEMBER?   I LOVE THE IDEA OF TRYING (WITHOUT A CAMERA) TO RECREATE A MAJOR MOMENT...A WEDDING.  A 16TH BIRTHDAY...YOU GET THE IDEA.

CAN WE CALL IT ART?

SOMETIMES I'M ASKED IF ART IS SOMETHING THAT EXISTS OR IF IT HAS TO BE MADE.  ART IS EVERYWHERE.  ALL BEAUTY, TO ME, IS ART.  IF A WALK MOVES YOU...ART.  A WELL PLACED VASE...ART.  IT DOESN'T HAVE TO EXIST ON AN ARCHIVAL CANVAS.  HANG UN A MAJOR MUSEUM, IT'S ALL AROUND US.

DO WRITERS ALWAYS HAVE TO?

IT SEEMS TO ME WRITERS ALWAYS MUST SHOW US HOW SMART THEY ARE...I'M GUILTY OF IT.  IT SEEMS A RIGHT OF PASSAGE TO ENGULF THE READER WITH BUZZ WORDS, FORESHADOWING, HISTORICAL REFERENCES, I JUST FINISHED A NOVEL THAT LEFT ME A BIT CREEPED OUT...I KNEW THE WRITERS STRUGGLE BUT IT WAS LIKE WATCHING A WRECK, COULDN'T LOOK AWAY... STARTED SKIPPING PARAGRAPHS, FEELING REAL BAD FOR THE WRITER KNOWING HE WAS TRYING TO WRAP STUFF UP;  BUT SEEING THE SEAMS, IT WAS BRUTAL, BUT ALL WRITING HAS MOMENTS WHERE CONVICTION AND ARTISTIC FREEDOM AND BAD FORM MEET AND GREET...UGH UGH.  DOESN'T EVERYONE HAVE THAT FEELING?  READ ANY WASTE OF TIME LATELY?   BESIDES MY DAILY PARAGRAPH QUIPS.

TAKE IT FOR GRANTED

IF YOU THINK ABOUT LIFE IN TERMS OF PERIODS OF TIME...FIRST YOUTH,  RELATIONSHIPS, CHILD REARING, DEVELOPING SKILLS,  AND IF WE'RE LUCKY WE CAN FACTUALLY FOLLOW OUR DREAMS ....

PREPARATION BEGINS

WHEN YOU START TO PUT TOGETHER A LOOK, ALWAYS THINK ABOUT CLUSTERING LIKE THINGS AND STACKING TO THE RAFTERS.  THAT IS, ESSENTIALLY WHAT I DO.   SOLID STUFF ON THE BOTTOM...STACK UNTIL YOU CAN'T ANYMORE, THEN PUT A CHERRY ON TOP.  IF YOU THINK COLOR AND SHAPE. YOU REALLY CAN'T GO WRONG.   I LOVE THE NOTION ON DANGER, IT MAKES THE COLLECTIONS SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING. 

LAYER BY LAYER

SLOWLY WE TURN LAYER BY LAYER .  IF YOU WANT THE LOOK TO BE WELL WORN AND FILLED WITH AGE, TAKE CUES FROM DISPLAY PEOPLE AND START FROM THE TALLEST ITEM ON A SURFACE WORKING YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE EDGE.  TAKE HEAVY AND LIGHT UNIFY BY COLOR AND THEME.  CALL TO MIND A MEMORY AND TRY TO CREATE IT IN OBJECTS (OBJI?) .  LOOK, MOVE STUFF, SHOW NO FEAR.

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

SOMETIMES I CAN GET INSPIRED BY THE PLACES RHAT I GO.  IF I AM LOOKING AT THE GROUND, I'LL SEE A WORLD UNFOLDING,   IF YOU GO TO THE BEACH,  YOU CAN DISCOVER SMALL STICKS, SEA GLASS, SHELLS...THEY BECOME INSPIRATION FOR A PILR NEXT TO YOUR BED OR ON A DECORATIVE BOARD.  LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD.

CARRY ON, SET SIGHTS HIGH

IF YOU EVER WANT TO MAKE ART MORE INTERESTING TAKE ONE IDEA AND EXPRESS IT TEN DIFFERENT WAYS.  SOMETIMES IN THE SAME IMAGE.   OTHER TIMES A SERIES EXPRESSES IT BEST.  YOUR IDEA HAS NO RIGHT OR WRONG.   GET THAT, IT'S IMPORTANT ...

ART OF MAKING ART

ART HAS TRANSFORMED THROUGHOUT HISTORY.  JUST PAINTING (OR SCULPTING, ETC.) WHAT YOU SEE IS NO LONGER A GLIMPSE OF OUR WORLD.   WE NEED MORE...IT IS NOT ONLY WHAT WE CAN SEE, IT IS WHAT WE IMAGINE.  INSPIRATION IS TIED TO IDEA AND EXECUTION.   I HAVE TRULY UNDERSTOOD THAT MAKING ART BECOMES THE STAR.  IF YOU MAKE A CONTEMPORARY PIECE OF WORK YOU ATR IMBEDDED INTO THE CULTURE THAT PRODUCED IT.  MASS MEDIA AND THE SPEED AT WHICH WE OBTAIN THE NEWS BECOMES AN INTERESTING SUBJECT FOR ARTISTIC INSPIRATION.

HEARD OF JOSEPH CORNELL?

I HAVE LOVED HIS WORK SINCE DISCOVERING IT ON A FIELD TRIP TO THE ART INSTITUTE IN CHICAGO AS A CHILD.  FUNNY, I SHOULD BECOME A COLLECTOR, ANTIQUE DEALER, AND ARTIST LO THESE MANY YEARS LATER.  CORNELL'S PROCESS INTRIGUES ME.  HIS ASSEMBLAGES ARE TIMELESS,  SIMPLE YET OTHERWORLDLY.   IT AMAZES ME THAT HE CAN CREATE A UNIVERSE IN ONE SMALL BOX.  CONNECT YOURSELF TO HIM, ENJOY HIS HIDDEN IMAGINATIVE WORLD.

WE CAN'T LIVE IN A VACCUM

GOOD ART LIKE ANYTHING GOOD IS BASED ON A CLEAR IDEA AND AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.  I HAVE OFTENED THOUGHT THAT AN EXCEPTIONAL ARTIST LIVES INSIDE OF ALL OF US.  THERE ARE SO MANY YOUNG WRITERS WITH GREAT STORIES TO TELL AND RHE SAME IS TRUE OF ARTISTS, WE ALL HAVE STORIES...BALLADS...HISTORY THAT MUST BE TOLD.   EVEN THE CAVEMAN MADE HIS MARK FOR US TO FIND.

HOW I DO MY HOME "LOOK "

ATTITUDE AND ASSEMBLAGE CAN CREATE A KNOCK - OUT LOOK.  HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO COLLECT : BASKETS (OLD & CRUSTY), BINS, SILVER, STATUES, MASKS, TRAYS, BOOKS, MAPS, RULERS, SHELLS, PINECONES VASES, PLANTS, NIFTY FABRIC,  ANYTHING OLD OR DISCARDED MAKE INTERESTING ACCESSORIES FOR DECORATING.   MIX MODERN AND ANTIQUE FOR A FABULOUS LOOK.  REMEMBER TO MAKE EVERYTHING "LIVE "ABLE...

HOW TO REDO A CHEAP STOOL

SAND SAID CHEAP STOOL AND APPLY FLAT SPRAY PAINT IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA.  DO

ORGANIZED FOR ART

I AM NOT USUALLY AN ORGANIZATION FREAK, BUT WHEN I AM TRYING TO KEEP THE SPARK OF CREATIVITY WORKING I HAVE TO AT LEAST BE ABLE TO DECERN BETWEEN DIFFERENT IDEAS.  IS IT PAPER (FLAT), THREE DIMENSIONAL, A JOURNAL ENTRY, A SKETCH,  A NOTE TO SELF...I NEED DIFFERENT AREAS TO COMPLETE EACH TASK.  WHAT IS YOUR SPECIAL NEED?   THESE PHOTOS ARE FROM A BOOK OF ORGANIZATION.

ART IS EVERYWHERE WE ARE

WISH THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO CREATE SOMETHING FROM A SIMPLE OBJECT?  TRY TO MAKE SOMETHING FROM A CIGAR BOX, GET ONE FROM A CIGAR SHOP...THEY ARE USUALLY CHEAP.  ALTER IT TO BEGIN WITH. PAINT, STAIN. DIRT...TRY TO NON-DISCRIPT IT, SO THAT THE CONTENTS BECOME WHAT THE WORK IS ABOUT.  LOOK FOR OLD TICKET STUBS, ANTIQUE LETTERS,  ANYTHING THAT SCREAMS NOSTALGIA. 

CARRY AROUND A NOTEBOOK

IF YOU'RE LIKE ME YOU CONSTANTLY FORGET THINGS LIKE THE COLOR YOU PAINTED YOUR WALLS, WHICH PERFUME THAT YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW PREFERS,  ANY DETAIL YOU RHINK OF BUT CANNOT DRAW TO MIND.  I LOVE A SMALL SKETCHBOOK, THEN I ADD RECIPES,  COUPONS, SKETCHES, CLIPS OF THIBGS I WANT RO MAKE OR ORDER.  I WRITE DOWN FLEETING IDEAS THAT I HAVE BECAUSE I CAN'T RELY ON MY MEMORY ANYMORE ...I WILL GET STICK GLUE BUT INLY SLIGHTLY APPLY IT SO THAT I CAN REPOSITION IT ON ANOTHER SKETCHBOOK OR PHOTOCOPY IT.  I LIKE A SMALL DATEBOOK IN IT AS WELL.  I KEEP A RUNNING LIST OF GROCERIES AND
PAPERGOODS.  IT'S NOT THE PERFECT SYSTEM BUT IT WORKS FOOD FOR ME.   I ALSO HAVE MY BACKUP PHONE LIST,  THHOUGH I MUST CONFESS I HAVEN'T UPDATED IT IN A LOOONG TIME.  A. BACKUP AND A FREER METHOD FOR MOST. SMALL FOR YOU PURSE.

USING THE PYRAMID

WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO DESIGN A JUMBLED TABLESCAPE USE THE TALLEST, CHUNKIEST PIECE AND PLACE IT IN THE BACKGROUND.   WORKING YOUR WAY FORWARD, PLACE THINGS TO SLIDE DOWN TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE PLANE...USE DIFFERENT ERAS AND ELEMENTS MAKE THINGS STAND TOGETHER WITH SOFT FABRIC OR WEEDS, FLOWERS...ETC.

GETTING INSPIRED BY THE WORLD

IF TOU EVER THINK ABOUT INFLUENCES, THEY AREd EVERYWHERE, AT WORK,  PLAY, ON THE INTERNET...WE ARE INUNDATED WITH IMAGES AND IDEAS THAT NEED TO BE EXPLAINED AWAY...I THINK. IF A WRITER COULD SAY ALL THAT HE KNOWS, ART COULD BECOME OBSOLETE.   THAT IDEA MAKES ME SAD BECAUSE I ALWAYS LIKE TO THINK WE ARE CONSTANTLY SEARCHING DOR MEANINGFUL IMAGERY TO UNDERSTAND OUR WORLD.  IF ORWELL'S BLOCKBUSTER WAS THE ONLY INTERPRETATION OF WHAT'S. TO COME I'D BE PRETTY SCARED.

IF I KNEW WHAT I NOW KNOW

WHATEVER CIVILIZATION BECOMES ART ALWAYS SEEMS TO FOLLOW (ACTUALLY LEAD)  THE SOCIETY THAT PRODUCES IT.  I HAVE DISCOVERRD THAT ENJOYMENT IS BASED ON UNDERSTANDING.  I FEEL ART IS CREATED BECAUSE WORDS CAN'T EXPRESS THE REALITY.  THAT BEING SAID IF I WANTED TO. MAKE LIFE WORTHWHILE,  I THINK SHARING AND CARING ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE CAN ALL DP TO BE BETTER AS HUMANS...

SETTING UP A HOME FOR WORK

I LOVE THE IDEA OF MAKING SPACE FOR ART IN A SEPARATE SPACE.  IT'S NOT WORK AND IT'S NOT HOME.   A SPECIAL LOCATION FOR THE CREATIVE SOUL TO FLY.  I'M SO EXCITED I CAN'T STAND IT!

RANDOM ELEMENTS AS ART

THE KEY TO ADDING ELEMENTS TOGETHER IS SCALE AND SHAPE.  I HAVE FOUND THAT IT'S EASIER TO PLACE THINGS TOGETHER BY COMPLETING AN IMAGE AS A SERIES.  THIS WAY WHAT'S NOT SAID IN ONE IDEA CAN BE COMPLETED IN ANOTHER.   WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE SEE CAN LIVE TOGETHER RANDOMLY IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT...

ALLOWED TO MAKE MÉSTAKES

THE BEST PART OF MAKING THINGS IS THE MISTAKES THAT HAPPEN WHEN DECISIONS GO WRONG.  I THINK THEY'RE CALLED "HAPPY ACCIDENTS " IT'S ALWAYS AT A POINT WHEN YOU'RE LEAST PREPARED TO DEAL WITH IT,  IT SEEMS TO ME.  I

OuE-MAIL AND NEWFANGLE STUFF

IS EVERYONE OUT THERE USED TO COMMUNICATING BY A SCREEN AND FINGER?   I GUESS I AM THE LAST OF A FOSSILIZED COMMUNITY OF OLD FARTS TRAPPED IN THE OLD FASHIONED WAY.   WHAT WAS ONCE A QUICK PHONE CALL IS NOW A MINUTE JOT.  HARD TO DESCRIBE A PROCESS IN A JAUNTY PARAGRAPH.   TELL ME IT'S TRUE. 

JUSR AS I THOUGHT

WHEN I WAZ THINKING ABOUT AN EXAMPLE OF

ART FOR ART'S SAKE

SOMETIMES IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO EXPRESS YOURSELF, THE BEST EXPRESSION OF SELF IS THE WRITTEN WORD.  THE ACT OF PUTTING PEN TO PAPER (OR FINGER TO PAD,  ETC.)

HOW DO YOU NARROW IT DOWN?

ALL OF MY SEARCHES ALWAYS END WITH A KIND OF THEME IN MIND.  WHENEVER I AM LOOKING FOR A
PARTICULAR EVENT I THINK ABOUT MOOD,  ATMOSPHERE, AND AMBIENCE.  CLASSICALLY TRAINED ARTIST AND CRAFTSPEOPLE ARE ALWAYS. ON THE LOOKOUT FOR INTERESTING FORMS.  I LIKE TO TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER AND JUXTAPOSE DIFFERENT IDEAS AND IMAGES TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT COMES UP.

THINGS ARE NEVER AS THEY SEEM

WHATEVER BUSINESS SENSE I HAVE IS UNRELIABLE.  I KNOW ART AND DESIGN BUT I KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW MONEY, MERCHANDISING, MASS MEDIA, IT SEEMS THAT GORILLA MARKETING AND ME ARE THE ONLY EASY WAY TO GET NOTICED.  I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT HOURS...STUFF TO PURCHASE AND I CAN MAKE CHANGE.  I TRY TO BE CORDIAL...EMPHASIS ON TRY.  I AM LEARNING DAY BY DAY.  I WOULDN'T ENCOURAGE ANYONE INTO THIS BUSINESS BUT ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS.  IT'S ALOT OF FRICKING HARD SCHLEPPING WORK.