On My Nightstand, on My Easel (8)

On my nightstand

Think of a ballet dancer
at the barre.
Plié, 
elevé, 
battement tendu.
She is practicing,
because she knows
that there is no difference
between practice and art.
The practice
is
the art.

Dani Shapiro, Still Writing


On my easel

detail with dictionary collage
work in progress, 18 days in, 5/6/20
24 x 48" canvas

On My Nightstand, on My Easel (7)

On my nightstand

Straining to know the whole of the story before you set out 
is a bit like imagining great-grandchildren on a first date. 
But you can start with the smallest detail. 
Give us the gravel scattering along the highway 
as the pickup truck roars past. 
The crumb of food the wife wipes from her husband's beard. 
The ripped bottom of a girl's faded jeans. 
Anchor yourself somewhere—
anywhere—
on the page. 
You are committing, yes—
but the commitment is to this tiny corner. 
One word. 
One image. 
One detail. 
Go ahead. 
Then see what happens.

Dani Shapiro, Still Writing


On my easel

detail
work in progress, 16 days in, 5/4/20
24 x 48" canvas

Flood and Ebb

I'd hoped this week to reach flood tide, with the water high and full, paintings completed and framed.

But with the tide as with so many things, I appear not to be in control! I am here in the right now, just the way it is, and the way it is appears to be an ebb tide, with framing steps still in process.

I will be off traveling starting this weekend. I'll pick up the narrative sometime after my return.

A marker to hold my place:

detail