Down the rabbit hole and back again
Falling in and out of Wonderland
Hi, from the other side! I am on the side of the Universe where picking out an appliance pull becomes a long and complicated endeavor. Who knew? For those of you who have remodeled or built a home, you know the ongoing cycle of little "things" that pop up can seriously consume your time.
But here I am, standing on top of the not-quite-done stairs. At least we can get upstairs without climbing a ladder now. Soon, I'll write a post that doesn't feel like I am writing from a place where I feel like joining a recovery group.
On the "Is she still an artist?" front, my paints are staying in use in the studio, which is a good thing because Michael and I will both be showing at The Other Art Fair in Brooklyn May, 16-19th. I am happy to have that on the calendar.
These are the books that I am currently reading or looking at in the studio.
It feels indulgent to sit and read since packing and cleaning are such a monumental task, but hey, all the cabinet hardware is finally picked out, and what feels like are fires are only smoldering now, so I thought I would jump into some "light reading."
My much-needed "art thinking" has pushed me promptly into a painting that I needed to get out of my system.
I haven’t quite put the finishing touches on my latest work, but it involves Dutch and Italian sculpture and a deep dive into reading Greek mythology. Again, me with the light reading! Here's what I was working from.
There's something here for me, though. There's a nebulous curiosity that is swirling inside me.
I've discussed in a previous post how my trips to Italy have me wholeheartedly engaged with the drama of Baroque art. Yet I am also interested in painting the drama from a very female perspective. I recently heard Elizabeth Peyton discuss the need for femininity in art. Naturally, I couldn't agree more. I didn't realize how much I was pushing against just how female my work is until I heard her say this.
While I toy with how the use of space plays out in a painting, I am exploring the mix of vigorous marks paired with delicate singular lines and how these play out across the surface. The juxtaposition of solidity and softness offers contrast and harmony and is a characteristic that makes up almost every woman I know.
It's the ultimate portrayal of grace, and you know this when you see it: the strength and ease of someone who is not at war with themselves or anyone else.
It's a balancing act, for sure; within our humanness, it is an easy default position into a warring stance, pushing against something rather than accepting, embracing, and being at peace with where we stand in time.
Grace in its female form is a sensual and complex choice made over and over again until we embody it. The balancing act rests in the space where we demand to be seen and heard, with the other space being self-possessed enough in our existence and worthiness that it invites in freedom.
This is the balance I am hoping to capture as well as embody.
Until next time, Monica
P.S. If you are interested in my online Abstract Watercolor Course, you can easily access it by becoming an annual paid subscriber to this Substack. Just follow this link below. Thank you so much for following The Smart Creative.
Stairs look amazing! What book are you reading on Greek mythology? I’ve always wanted to do a deep dive, but not sure a good book to start with.