tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61738853577928041412024-03-06T02:52:00.394-06:00t . b e s o n e n . a r ttibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-90486550328110787072020-06-24T12:31:00.006-05:002024-03-02T22:33:14.846-06:00New Artist Website!<a href="https://tbesonen.com/" style="text-align: center;">https://tbesonen.com/</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcRDTSZgDMzdwDs9eYmZfYc1M3ZRfJmsBB86zAiVJJdWyqPEDArdHS6qd_2mV1JOwFVa7Gm1HJh3qDKKLTAlhjcFzi9zebIyGh0fsx_7C1d3MRkUILaLs6B0JdpOizB0jZlELYKe5waQ/s1600/IMG_1102.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1600" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcRDTSZgDMzdwDs9eYmZfYc1M3ZRfJmsBB86zAiVJJdWyqPEDArdHS6qd_2mV1JOwFVa7Gm1HJh3qDKKLTAlhjcFzi9zebIyGh0fsx_7C1d3MRkUILaLs6B0JdpOizB0jZlELYKe5waQ/s400/IMG_1102.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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tibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-3483901642901497802020-01-02T11:51:00.003-06:002022-09-18T15:39:17.515-05:00Hope in 2020<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;">2014 Brave, </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><b>2015 Color</b></span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">, </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;"><b>2016 Free</b></span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"></span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">2017 Curious, </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><b>2018 Connection</b>,</span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">2019 Joy, </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>2020 HOPE</b></span></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">Since 2014, I have selected a word of the year. Like I said in 2016, <i>"This one large word/idea, like a block of basswood, begins the new year with a promise. If I will work at it with both wild abandon and careful hewning, something from within it will be set free." </i>Now at the beginning of 2020, I want to add that approaching one chosen word for a year opens me up to chance and synchronicity, as well as building trust, confidence, and patience during difficult times. </span></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">In 2019, I've found that authentic joy must not be pushed down or ignored as it bubbles up. And, I am learning to celebrate the view when I reach a goal. This leads me to my word for 2020, <b>HOPE</b>. </span></span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Allowing yourself to feel joy grows hope. I think both joy and hope die with excess anger, anxiety, and fear. </span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">What else grows hope? I will explore that in 2020, although I am open to hope having a life of its own. Most growth does have a life of it's own. </span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-1938361210768116612019-12-17T13:58:00.003-06:002022-02-11T16:44:23.363-06:00Joy grows HOPE, my word of 2020<br />
Recently, after picking up our older daughter from college, we started with a lively conversation, driving home in the December darkness. Twenty minutes into the drive, it got quiet. I turned back to see our two daughters snuggled up to each other, one with her head on the other's shoulder, sleeping. <i>My nest was floating home.</i> Instead of imagining all of the things that could go wrong, or reviewing the long to-do list, or feeling the weight of the winter darkness, I simply felt joy--and took photos, of course. Maybe in 2019, my year of <b>JOY</b>, I have learned to sit in vulnerable, joyful spots and be still, although not so still that I go without taking photos.<br />
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In other 'joy' news, my large painting <b style="font-style: italic;">Path to the Tamaracks</b>, below, sold last week from our small artist-run gallery. Wahoo! I must celebrate, right? Especially after saying in my post just two weeks ago, "At the pinnacle of an achievement, I tend to downplay it, and immediately push myself to the next goal... I like to have goals, and it is okay to stay humble, but girl, take a breather and enjoy the view every once and awhile." The view is good. Thank you, art collectors and patrons! ALSO, a big thank you to my gallery partners, Laura, Dawn, and Jeremy (who sold my painting)! My first instinct, again, is to downplay the sale or worry about how I can repeat good things in the future, but why not be still in this vulnerable, joyful spot and enjoy the moment?<br /><br />In 2019, I've found that authentic, unforced joy, must not be pushed down or ignored as it bubbles up. I also learned that joy is usually the result of overcoming challenges and struggle. This leads me to my word for 2020, <b>HOPE</b>. Allowing yourself to feel joy grows hope. I think both joy and hope die with excess anger, anxiety, and fear. What else grows hope? <i>Hoping</i> to find out in 2020.<br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-56840348474269947242019-08-04T15:34:00.003-05:002020-03-03T12:39:31.973-06:00Seeds of JoyAt the beginning of this year, I chose JOY as my word for 2019. At the time, it felt a little cliche', but I kept coming back to it. In January I said, "Hearing my daughters laugh is one of my favorite things. Of course, it cannot be all joy all the time, but I live for sharing joy with the people I love. We have to have trust and patience that joy will come."<br />
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Fast forward 7 months later... In a few weeks, our oldest daughter goes off to college. During this bittersweet time, I choose joy. I worry and fret, but then realize, this is a joyful time. It's her time, but also it's my time to enjoy some of the rewards of having an adult child. </div>
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And apparently, it is time to open an artist cooperative gallery. I came in on the tail end of the planning stages, but just last week in a huge leap, three other artists and I opened a gallery in our town. It is called <b>Studio 176</b>, and it is truly a joyful space! My recent <i style="font-weight: bold;">Seeds of Joy</i>, 8" painted collage panels, now hang in Studio 176, as well as other recent work by three artists that I admire and respect. </div>
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The title <i style="font-weight: bold;">Seeds of Joy </i>comes from my list, Why do I make Art? The first list item, "To plant the seeds of joy, hope, and my truth." And new to the line-up, actual almonds (sealed with a finish), Lake Superior stones, and air-dry clay assemblages on wood panels. I've had the sculpture itch and wanted to include actual seeds, so we'll see where that may lead. As I said in January, "Joy is the opposite of my least favorite words: greed, hate, shame, hopelessness, fear, cynicism, and despair... Joy is an antidote." Making art is a hopeful state of being. At times making and selling art is a struggle, but I've been doing this long enough to know; these seeds will sow something nourishing.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Seeds of Joy </i>panels, top left (acrylic paint & my wallpaper designs)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY7r4pEtgKwNJ4Fh6z09K1nLYLrPweUfIm3K9CcnQ1vFDK3846U-BDY_FOw-n5_RfknZVUlN83d3CHumoxEl6Dac5HxhJXcw91OVJ8dGSdwuZyjk8BZ37ooSomZ-mutVMNFhQ1VkIjMA/s1600/IMG_4973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1555" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY7r4pEtgKwNJ4Fh6z09K1nLYLrPweUfIm3K9CcnQ1vFDK3846U-BDY_FOw-n5_RfknZVUlN83d3CHumoxEl6Dac5HxhJXcw91OVJ8dGSdwuZyjk8BZ37ooSomZ-mutVMNFhQ1VkIjMA/s320/IMG_4973.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Arc-Nest</i></b> panels, air-dry clay & Lake Superior stone</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPwKtpQa4msNSHeJwDjyG3ddBvPrEwsNd309xCmqWLymqHK0zjj28MhqsKumIjzcGcdQh6fgrPoecmXI9mWIvxGVf83cxeM2_65UR2rR_8b71uCQAKx22-nsemY7rRw7wlXCQewZoPlA/s1600/IMG_4876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPwKtpQa4msNSHeJwDjyG3ddBvPrEwsNd309xCmqWLymqHK0zjj28MhqsKumIjzcGcdQh6fgrPoecmXI9mWIvxGVf83cxeM2_65UR2rR_8b71uCQAKx22-nsemY7rRw7wlXCQewZoPlA/s320/IMG_4876.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Arc-Nest</i></b> panels, air-dry clay & Lake Superior stone</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnyNooCZCTsfaBRkzGPjtMTGE0LLkH3sEHQE5_oAv3H1uPpQlH9Xi8TGaxfbos0SDMENCKk87C_GrdlNSUoJiocDXHhZNSazPd8MPHoKp7g6uuXG48PNBk82bDzxNms61neEbMTkbzAM/s1600/IMG_4970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnyNooCZCTsfaBRkzGPjtMTGE0LLkH3sEHQE5_oAv3H1uPpQlH9Xi8TGaxfbos0SDMENCKk87C_GrdlNSUoJiocDXHhZNSazPd8MPHoKp7g6uuXG48PNBk82bDzxNms61neEbMTkbzAM/s320/IMG_4970.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Arc-Nest</i></b> panels, air-dry clay & Lake Superior stone</td></tr>
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tibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-88257025766089982142019-08-04T11:47:00.002-05:002019-10-14T12:39:31.989-05:00Why do I make Art?In July during an art retreat at the Grand Marais Art Colony with Minnesota artist and mentor Lynn Speaker, we were asked to answer the question "Why do I make Art?" Recently, artist Ursula von Rydingsvard answered this question with honesty and candor; her straight-forward answers filled a gallery wall at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. this summer.<br />
<a href="https://knight-hennessy.stanford.edu/program/inside-khs/why-do-i-make-art">https://knight-hennessy.stanford.edu/program/inside-khs/why-do-i-make-art</a><br />
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So, that got us thinking. Over a few days of making art and walking around beautiful Grand Marais, Minnesota, here are my answers.<br />
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<b>Why do I make art?</b><br />
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<li>To plant the seeds of joy, hope, and my truth</li>
<li>To make connections and meaning</li>
<li>To connect to other people</li>
<li>To simultaneously lose and find myself</li>
<li>To step into the unknown without a plan, and simply trust</li>
<li>To show my daughters (and students, and others) what it looks like to live the life I want to live</li>
<li>To be a nicer, healthier version of myself, because I really do start to get irritated and then physically sick if I don't make art</li>
<li>To be open, listen and keep learning</li>
<li>To be free and make my own rules</li>
<li>To have something of my own, and then share it</li>
<li>To destroy, recycle, and build into something new</li>
<li>To fail, try again, and face fear</li>
<li>To touch and leave an imprint</li>
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tibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-20677925462960471512019-01-08T10:50:00.003-06:002019-01-11T11:01:44.219-06:00Moon, Water, Growth, & Habit<i>"Everything is raw material. Everything is relevant. Everything is usable. Everything feeds into my creativity." Twyla Tharp. </i><i>EVERY. THING. </i>I know this, but sometimes everything is overwhelming. <i>Everything is raw.</i><br />
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I need to go back to basics when I am stalled or don't have focus on a creative project. More money would help, but money isn't really stopping me; I have most of the art supplies I need since I am working small. A lack of extra time is part of the stall, but I've scaled that wall before with chipping away at creative projects while juggling. Creating motivates others areas of my life, but creating does take time. What I really need are more consistent habits. So, I am re-rereading <b><i>The Creative Habit</i></b> by Twyla Tharp, at the same time a fellow artist does too. Thanks for the extra push, Cathy!<br />
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I started this <i>Moon, Water, Growth</i> series last summer. It seems like something I must do, yet I am not sure where to go from here. Tell me, Twyla! <i>Routine & developing habits</i>, she says. <i>Get a bank box and label it with the name of your project</i>, she says. Here is the box, labeled <i>Moon, Water, Growth</i>, and now I will start filling it with what seems even remotely related. Next, sketching, photographing, and chipping away at the mixed media 8x8" panels. My goal is creating 50 <i>Moon, Water, Growth </i>panels, where ever they lead. I mean, even if they become <i>Sun, Drought, Decay,</i> that would be okay. Creating is the goal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwugFFDLCBHzXt7gjJAt6Rt89m6pWbZlk3Xkwe-Lhm384rtnyElh6uewS4gmq6N07DAYDxI9maC0fZhknoHhTPIO-49pLizUuFXGxZuuHd_HeXRoLhaOgkYN6o1i8MBLgbBti71Hqb6c/s1600/besonent3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwugFFDLCBHzXt7gjJAt6Rt89m6pWbZlk3Xkwe-Lhm384rtnyElh6uewS4gmq6N07DAYDxI9maC0fZhknoHhTPIO-49pLizUuFXGxZuuHd_HeXRoLhaOgkYN6o1i8MBLgbBti71Hqb6c/s320/besonent3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Underwater Red Moon,</i> 8x8" mixed-media on wood panel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1588" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxCdG0bmOp068eEhtyNPUCXZACtd3fB6-krFBU1AtTDV-4GHHblH2euaE5YhOGgqMlEavG2Ehpfe9X1GWwu4xSx8iqJPLUA4rca9nn8VaevthbO8h3YRIDlQhgStu_RDM0_2bI5qed-U/s320/code+on+orange+water2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="316" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Grass on Orange Water, </i>8x8" mixed-media on wood panel</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxCdG0bmOp068eEhtyNPUCXZACtd3fB6-krFBU1AtTDV-4GHHblH2euaE5YhOGgqMlEavG2Ehpfe9X1GWwu4xSx8iqJPLUA4rca9nn8VaevthbO8h3YRIDlQhgStu_RDM0_2bI5qed-U/s1600/code+on+orange+water2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMJYe-4URifJtUo18Rul2YwUb2XsE9TmE4m00neF730uTXDjZO3jen9_iK4QW9IJ8Za1O6Tq3F32Llj_sqSPaIAkGGsBidPwRyWiFfFeuDYot6QhRWb1vtcaxeK6IaGhM8MC-b8CcdBo/s320/roots+and+water2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Water Through Roots, 5x5" on paper</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoThM5103hSLMDa9v3PXwiaEvAlKy6c4q7EW0e-drRjympF60cD2J-wiNTp_vPB8RNb9QxTUoxK2PcfHNWsmWAPDZ683AzmaBl5bLGixUdBWXlD_IzocUttkTyMRFSge63vk5nE1zVLA/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1341" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoThM5103hSLMDa9v3PXwiaEvAlKy6c4q7EW0e-drRjympF60cD2J-wiNTp_vPB8RNb9QxTUoxK2PcfHNWsmWAPDZ683AzmaBl5bLGixUdBWXlD_IzocUttkTyMRFSge63vk5nE1zVLA/s320/IMG_0994.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Creative Habit</i></b> is the first thing in the box.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-47406704632166160242018-12-31T21:31:00.000-06:002019-01-01T12:45:21.570-06:00In defense of JOYMy word for 2019… JOY!<br />
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That is it. I don’t choose my word of the year lightly. In fact, I think<br />
about it on and off for a few months, asking, “What do I need right<br />
now? It is time for... what?” Joy. I am finding it funny and a little<br />
perplexing that I am feeling defensive about this choice.<br />
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While trying to decide on a word, JOY was popping up every-<br />
where last week. A lovely lady named Mary at Target was in a bulls-<br />
eye t-shirt screen-printed “joy." A huge billboard in Minneapolis<br />
said, “FEEL THE JOY, SELL YOUR HOUSE AS IS.” Even though<br />
cynicism about joy may have a connection to the manipulation of<br />
advertising, I was delighted when the word JOY popped up in well-<br />
designed places. Then, I kid you not, as a gift last week, my sister-<br />
in-law gave me a refrigerator magnet that literally says "Choose Joy."<br />
So, I did!<br />
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Joy is the opposite of my least favorite words: greed, hate, shame,<br />
hopelessness, fear, cynicism, and despair. Yet, JOY is such a simple<br />
word, all too often overlooked. (Joy, really? What am I, 12? Maybe<br />
My word of the year should be Glitter! Or, Juicy! But, for the record,<br />
12-year-olds are some of the wisest people I know, who bring me<br />
joy in teaching.)<br />
<br />
Joy is an antidote. There are serious problems and suffering in the<br />
world. The opposite of joy (see list above) seems to cause more<br />
suffering. Yet, why am I cynical about joy? Pure JOY, not based on<br />
material stuff, is so simple in this over-complicated, overstuffed life.<br />
Seeing joy in others is a huge source of hope and inspiration, but we<br />
hesitate to truly embrace it. Brene' Brown (really, I do read other<br />
authors too) said, “When we lose our tolerance for vulnerability, joy<br />
becomes foreboding.” In other words, we don't want to lose what<br />
gives us joy, so we imagine losing it during the height of joy.<br />
What is wrong with us? For instance, I’m grateful for joyful family<br />
time during Christmas, joy so intense while singing 'Joy to the<br />
World' I went from joyful-bursty-heart to heavy-I-don't-want-<br />
anything-bad-to happen-to-these-people and back to bursty again<br />
in 5 seconds flat.<br />
<br />
So, I guess to truly embrace joy, you must be vulnerable. More<br />
joy (and vulnerability) coming up. We all deserve it!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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tibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-22555878430204995542018-11-01T10:48:00.000-05:002018-11-02T08:14:23.720-05:00Word of the Year: Connection<h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>“I define connection as the energy that exists between people </i></span></h1>
<h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>when </i></span><i style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">they feel seen, heard, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">and valued; when they can give</span></i><i style="font-size: medium;"> </i></span></h1>
<h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>and receive </i><i>without judgment; and when they derive </i></span></h1>
<h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>sustenance and strength </i><i>from the relationship." </i></span></h1>
<h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;">― <span class="authorOrTitle" style="color: #333333; font-family: "lato" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Brené Brown</span></span></i></h1>
<br />
By the end of the year, 'my word' often feels prophetic, sometimes it<br />
takes on a totally different meaning than originally intended. So far<br />
this year, CONNECTION has multiple meanings: connections to other<br />
artists, friends & family; connecting my art to reproducible design for<br />
the RockFarm label; and getting closer to connecting to my purpose.<br />
More about purpose later.<br />
<br />
I have been asking myself lately,<i> when do I feel most connected to </i><br />
<i>others, </i><i>and myself?</i><br />
<ol>
<li><i>When I spend time in person with someone, not looking at my phone</i></li>
<li><i>When I make plans, and then follow through with plans to get together with people</i></li>
<li><i>When I don't allow stress to prevent me from time to relax and enjoy the company of others</i></li>
<li><i>When I listen to what people are saying, and not get distracted</i></li>
<li><i>When I ask for help, or share what is happening with me</i></li>
<li><i>When I feel appreciated, and show appreciation for others</i></li>
<li><i>When I follow through with things that I know are good for me</i></li>
<li><i>When I remember and follow through with things for others</i></li>
<li><i>WHEN I MAKE ART</i></li>
</ol>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-41960473368179943562018-01-17T13:08:00.001-06:002022-02-11T16:47:03.160-06:00Connection, my 2018 word<div>
For five years, I have been choosing a word of the year.</div>
<div>
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Two years ago I said this:</span></span></span></span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Choosing one word isn't an easy task, yet that is what I assign myself</i></span></span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>to do every year, now. <b>BRAVE in 2014, COLOR in 2015. </b>This one large</i></span></span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>word/idea, like a block of basswood, begins the new year with a promise.</i></span></span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>If I work at it with both wild abandon and careful hewning, something </i></span></span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>from </i></span></span><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">within will be set free.</i><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Then, came FREEDOM in 2015,</span></span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"> and CURIOSITY in 2017.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">In 2018, it is <b>CONNECTION.</b></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">In 2014, </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">a little </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">tongue-in-cheek, I started choosing a word </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">for the year</span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">. It </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">felt </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">cheesy, </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">but </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">making resolutions </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">has always felt like </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">instant failure to me. I was </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">skeptical </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">of the word of </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">the year thing, too. </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Wouldn't I forget </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">about it? How </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">could it make a </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">difference in my life and </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">art? </span>And, it has made a difference. Words have power, and </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
well, words and images are power x power! </div>
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<br /></div>
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What is art but connecting the seemingly unconnected into </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
something new? Stay tuned. More connections in the works. </div>
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-78304754329520176412017-12-09T14:25:00.002-06:002018-01-03T16:21:04.811-06:002017, Curious Patterns & Questions<span style="font-size: normal;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">On January 1, 2017, <a href="https://tbesonen.blogspot.com/2017/01/in-2017-stay-curious-my-friends.html" target="_blank">I chose CURIOSITY</a> as my word for the year. </span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Like each year </span></span><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">since </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">2014, I didn't know where the ideas </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">surrounding </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">my chosen word would take </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">me, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">but somehow I </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">knew it was the right </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">time.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Og5pEz2EO_o0qxd6g4AxcdmcVS7XxJUN1JvgpC2VUdk_YXlXzUwLxlvdTnvXX1bBX9EprLG_Cei4lPtmkyNRmCArppA0-6UwLvO5v5xQYF1t1hHBx-HucoqXKOjg01hwuoJWWfFmVlw/s1600/4FC27264-1FDB-43E4-997E-B659B8FC8A41.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Og5pEz2EO_o0qxd6g4AxcdmcVS7XxJUN1JvgpC2VUdk_YXlXzUwLxlvdTnvXX1bBX9EprLG_Cei4lPtmkyNRmCArppA0-6UwLvO5v5xQYF1t1hHBx-HucoqXKOjg01hwuoJWWfFmVlw/s320/4FC27264-1FDB-43E4-997E-B659B8FC8A41.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Later in January, I made this list: </span></span><br />
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;">What grows my curiosity? </b></span><br />
<ol style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;">
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Making time to think, and space to practice and play.</span></b></i></li>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Taking on new challenges.</span></b></i></li>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Reading and intensely observing, and then thinking about it.</span></b></i></li>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wondering 'what if', and not worrying about the results.</span></b></i></li>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Writing down my thoughts, reactions, questions.</span></b></i></li>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sketching thoughts, reactions, questions.</span></b></i></li>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Listening to inquisitive, curious people.</span></b></i></li>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sharing ideas with people who really listen.</span></b></i></li>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trying something new, or something old in a new way.</span></b></i></li>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Asking big and little questions, and then allowing time to ponder them.</span></b></i></li>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Making connections, and then making more.</span></b></i></li>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Repeatedly following those fascinations that keep me wondering.</span></b></i></li>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Me.</span></b></i></li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">Now, with a few weeks left of December, I am looking back at </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">this year, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">a pretty great year for my own creative productivity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Keeping curiosity </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">alive </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">is essential to staying motivated as an </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">artist. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">W</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">hen you are </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">curious </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">about something, it isn't about </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">following a </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">goal or plans, as </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">much </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">as it is </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">needing to find out </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">what is around </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">the bend, and then the next </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">bend, and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">the next.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">This mystery keeps you moving: through the tamarack swamp, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">across </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">the highway, through untouched pine woods, into a tiny </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">town on the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">edge of </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">a lake inhabited by amazingly self-sufficient </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">people, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">onto a </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">highway </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">that follows the continental divide, onto another </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">highway </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">that </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">crosses </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">a mighty river and leads </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">to a large </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">city</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;"> of many bridges, that </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">lead to parks </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">small boutiques </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">owned </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">by brilliant small business </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">owners, and onto large box stores with </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">great discounts in </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">the suburbs </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">next to more lakes, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">and then back </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">home </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">on top of a gravel vein on the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">edge of rocky fields and thick woods, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">where </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">exploration </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">doesn't </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">stop. It has just begun!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">Home is a place </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">of rest, and work, family </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">and safety, but this year </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">keeping </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">c</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">uriosity </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">alive at home </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">was the gift of </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">2017 for me. I love </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">to travel, and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">often wish we </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">could more often, but maybe I am </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">maturing </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">into </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">not only </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">being </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">curious </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">and engaged in novel </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">places</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">. Everything is novel, even </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">repetitive patterns. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">This, too, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">was a year of designing patterns and then </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">getting them printed </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">onto fabrics and wallpaper, unexpected </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">discoveries </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">that kept me wondering </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">what was around the next bend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">Also, this year I gave </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">a presentation with my </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">photographer </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">friend <a href="https://lauraleephoto3.wixsite.com/gallery/current-work-1" target="_blank">Laura </a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;"><a href="https://lauraleephoto3.wixsite.com/gallery/current-work-1" target="_blank">Grisamore</a>, entitled </span><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://tbesonen.blogspot.com/2017/08/feed-curious-cat-my-30-curious-days.html" target="_blank">Curiosity Cured the Cat</a> </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">at </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">Art Educators of </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">Minnesota Conference </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">in November. In that </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">presentation, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">we shared our </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">creative </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">processes, and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">talked about </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">the healing power of </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">staying playful </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">and curious. In that </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">presentation I talked a little about the gift of giving </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">yourself </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">challenges, like my Curiosity Journal Challenge. We simply have </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">to prescribe our own curious questions. We need to keep asking, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">"What if" </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">and "I wonder." We need to keep saying, "I have </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">always wanted to," and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">then give ourselves the permission to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">do those things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">So, thank you 2017, you had many challenges, and you were </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">a gift. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">Thank you to my family and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">friends. I was thinking about </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">all of you when </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">I said this at the the <i><a href="https://tbesonen.blogspot.com/2017/05/thresh-hold.html" target="_blank">THRESH. HOLD.</a></i> exhibit </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: normal;">opening. </span><i><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life is beautiful. </span></span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: normal;">Then, messy. Then, beautiful. We cannot </span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: normal;">be so afraid of the next </span></span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: normal;">mess that we </span></span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: normal;">don't appreciate the beauty, now. </span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: normal;">Art is my response </span></span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: normal;">to the mess, and to the beauty."</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br /></span></span></i>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stay curious.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocUrUTGwO4jPhETDswWM9WLHCusuAKUMTQZ19EwOljMDfp6GS24_8LWWhGZjLN7TPylpzjlYQRQkgP0b2uoGI5FJtissLTdCKk9gm_G-o6MicqexbUsae7XIWrojOp-jp4JsWg5I3PDM/s1600/76D425BB-3037-48CA-B280-B4EA1E1A888A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocUrUTGwO4jPhETDswWM9WLHCusuAKUMTQZ19EwOljMDfp6GS24_8LWWhGZjLN7TPylpzjlYQRQkgP0b2uoGI5FJtissLTdCKk9gm_G-o6MicqexbUsae7XIWrojOp-jp4JsWg5I3PDM/s400/76D425BB-3037-48CA-B280-B4EA1E1A888A.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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tibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-81672481038306002152017-08-11T15:24:00.002-05:002017-09-25T15:50:43.376-05:00Feed That Curious Cat, 30 Days<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I write my first book, it will most likely be entitled, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>Curiosity Cured the Cat.</b></i></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Just want to throw that out there, now. Each year, for a few years now, I have chosen a word as a theme for the year, something that shapes my art and life that year. Or, does the word/idea choose me? This particular year is CURIOSITY. As the year moves along and I read more about it and practice it, I am witnessing the healing power of curiosity and play. It turns out that play and curiosity are serious business in staying healthy. As an art teacher of 23 years, I have long been concerned about students losing their curiosity and creativity and do all I can to encourage it. As I turn the lens onto myself, I realize now more than ever that the curiosity-play prescription cannot be prescribed to me by anyone else. The curious questions that are imposed upon me are okay, but not my own. In 2008 I started an artist blog with the question, “What will happen if I drag these sculptures that I exhibited in New York City into the Minnesota winter woods, expose them to the elements, and document what happens?” The big and little, self-created what-ifs have so much power to awaken curiosity and purpose.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Curiosity Journal</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> idea started on a June family trip in Washington D.C., one of the days we went to the National Gallery of Art. In the NGA gift shop, a rainbow-paged “Bright Ideas” journal by Chronicle Books sparked an instant idea and a burst-y feeling welled up, “What if I draw on these brilliant colored pages with black and then turn the drawings into digital patterns?” I had already been on this patterned path, creating digital patterns from photos of my paintings. I had already started to have these patterns printed on fabric and wallpaper, and some had been in a recent gallery exhibit. This colorful journal was a quick way to infuse color into drawings and patterns, right? I needed new artistic motivation, right? Right, although the great, and often frustrating, thing about curiosity is that you cannot really have a plan for it. When fully embraced, curiosity must be followed, and the only plan is to keep up with it, wherever it may legally lead. (As a mother and public school teacher, I feel like I must always have a legal disclaimer. Lame, I know.)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Full disclosure: as an exhausted middle school/high school art teacher on summer break, an artist whose exhibit had just come down and without a big art deadline, and a person needing some new sparks of motivation, the timing was right and ripe for this challenge. This was a self-created challenge, setting my own guidelines and playing as I sketched and made patterns. The idea of adding photos of the Minnesota summer surroundings came on the 3rd day. Sitting outside with the journal and iPhone each day became therapy. Artist heal thyself.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Throughout the 30 days (July 5-August 3, 2017), I kept going back to these 3 ways to feed curiosity:</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keep asking, “What if...” Also known as, “What happens if…” </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keep saying, “I wonder… if, why, what, where, how, who, when…”</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keep following through with, “I have always wanted to…” Really, what is stopping me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Days 1-6:</b></span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-8333e873-d2de-0d71-cc16-adbc3f68e762"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 2: What do I care about? </span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8333e873-d2de-0d71-cc16-adbc3f68e762"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. People. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Images. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Ideas. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8333e873-d2de-0d71-cc16-adbc3f68e762"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I guess I like to break things into threes. Being consistent and not too perfectionist with this journal thing is hard, but </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what happens if</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I allow myself to jump into drawing each day without much of a plan, allowing some pretty crappy sketching. You know, as Anne Lamott says, “Shitty first drafts… Very few writers really know what they are doing until they've done it.” Thanks, Anne. Drawings happened, some crappy ones never shared, then patterns from the drawings, and then three posts on Instagram.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Okay, I can do this. For how many days? We’ll see</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8333e873-d2de-0d71-cc16-adbc3f68e762"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 3: </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seriously, 3 days may be my limit! </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I sat there, on the Walmart-outdoor-foldable-lounge chair (because we live too far from a Target and it's comfortable), and it happened. I was drawing on the “evergreen inspirations” page, after I changed it to “evergreen vibrations”. When the drawing wasn’t happening, I was taking photos of the gorgeous Minnesota morning before it heated up and started to get humid. On day 3, I starting to add a few photos of the surrounding beauty into the digital collages of drawings and patterns. I still wasn’t sure how many days I could keep this challenge going.</span></span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8333e873-d2de-0d71-cc16-adbc3f68e762"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 5: Deep Reflections blue. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This dog and cat will not leave me alone! Okay, I will photograph and draw them.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> For years I have been fascinated with wild animals in my drawing and painting (fox, wolves, and crows), but this dog and cat are right here staring at me (creeps), crawling all over me, and then laying on the ground like reclining studio models. I have been looking for new ideas, and they were laying right here. My adorable muses were hungry for food and attention. I was hungry for muses and maybe just a little attention on Instagram. My followers were slowly growing with new posts, and they loved the animals. I decided to shoot for 30 curious days in a row. The hashtag list grew each day, #curiouspatterns, #mycuriosityjournal, #curiosityCUREDthecat, #ArtByAWoman, etc. on @ti_besonen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3WTMH4u65BGyyRtP0C4sNLKf1CVCJcFUEmbNpJTrD5cv4ICXo2Ur7FRiB_Y42pTtpygpak7ipoIBnAbbWZHJxJ0wQ9hUNiUewfWAFccKgdCTAPJhxH_Y6UbSu0Z5MRxLbmokTmMZxnA/s1600/IMG_9459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3WTMH4u65BGyyRtP0C4sNLKf1CVCJcFUEmbNpJTrD5cv4ICXo2Ur7FRiB_Y42pTtpygpak7ipoIBnAbbWZHJxJ0wQ9hUNiUewfWAFccKgdCTAPJhxH_Y6UbSu0Z5MRxLbmokTmMZxnA/s320/IMG_9459.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>What if</b> </i>I don't really have a plan, and allow myself to do </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">some pretty crappy drawings that I trace onto the next pages </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">into something better? <i style="font-weight: bold;">What if </i>the shadows on the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">journal pages (from the trees above me, like tie-dye) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">become part of the pattern?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSkBmrqElS1j3PE_EXvhor5_0nYlLyPqtFK6nhmNtqSKkbIbcgkWuGFNCj0ZCXJdH1qFpyacacMpXdRLChpQJIb8ftwEWUe3WVTevLweIpccUjofWOXPxe9f6kSw3U23_IqABcCad7n4/s1600/IMG_9460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSkBmrqElS1j3PE_EXvhor5_0nYlLyPqtFK6nhmNtqSKkbIbcgkWuGFNCj0ZCXJdH1qFpyacacMpXdRLChpQJIb8ftwEWUe3WVTevLweIpccUjofWOXPxe9f6kSw3U23_IqABcCad7n4/s320/IMG_9460.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsjCnJBsqtzq9Dr0OdqesP6w_BMXJp7Nd5WnSmt15miwTBAJPgrFJ7ZSlGrYH-7njkePZr99x56N2pPE9pKzBFkYnKY1uEvbNGlvnbzC0esRUY1fOxh8pd5JCxmsXkmPTfZVNqwTc8EE/s1600/IMG_9382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsjCnJBsqtzq9Dr0OdqesP6w_BMXJp7Nd5WnSmt15miwTBAJPgrFJ7ZSlGrYH-7njkePZr99x56N2pPE9pKzBFkYnKY1uEvbNGlvnbzC0esRUY1fOxh8pd5JCxmsXkmPTfZVNqwTc8EE/s320/IMG_9382.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Days 7-12:</b></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UmyZYabaVlq0wAdctynDkvauTA5HHO5ADpwOhvGSBdu-fFk53kcuNUHdT9XuwRDLfBDTcyYW0flbI4TUjx_FVwKoIY8vLcpkhyphenhyphenrYmpMyvYkHSFr7WWJlf12hxC3vtMl4N8iL9ffLr_g/s1600/IMG_9690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UmyZYabaVlq0wAdctynDkvauTA5HHO5ADpwOhvGSBdu-fFk53kcuNUHdT9XuwRDLfBDTcyYW0flbI4TUjx_FVwKoIY8vLcpkhyphenhyphenrYmpMyvYkHSFr7WWJlf12hxC3vtMl4N8iL9ffLr_g/s320/IMG_9690.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This cat seems unimpressed, and judgmental.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzanoodjq65g3mqDE1SjCYdwM55iy7_kr-Dd538U9kwh3w2QstUZIV04qjUoNR8f3vVaKzJapuQqVmUcWrnKFRZCuis3773qEI9lFVOJqDSSsx8aWV0MX7AAHmiBIrDqg65c3sjB2oHY4/s1600/B3D99F15-86D4-4A3B-AABE-CD92D10A577C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzanoodjq65g3mqDE1SjCYdwM55iy7_kr-Dd538U9kwh3w2QstUZIV04qjUoNR8f3vVaKzJapuQqVmUcWrnKFRZCuis3773qEI9lFVOJqDSSsx8aWV0MX7AAHmiBIrDqg65c3sjB2oHY4/s320/B3D99F15-86D4-4A3B-AABE-CD92D10A577C.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8333e873-d24c-80f8-2e52-62c25bf628f8"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What if </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I ignore those inner critic voices, the cat,
and my insecurities and just make art without hesitation?
I am an artist. Artists make art, not perfection.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIefm20jO9DkG8r-THFgMqBqpH6GCjCa9PI-Up6aJz6J7V9lNm4mwaFAlCNsD63LKtCdFDEDZ47e8vTjmy5GLSIpsPruzw6JcitsQgSkqDK9fgeNh1HwEja0aW9jjxXubJOCJloh0E0-w/s1600/440E36E8-95E4-49F6-81C6-FEF70A4B6F4B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIefm20jO9DkG8r-THFgMqBqpH6GCjCa9PI-Up6aJz6J7V9lNm4mwaFAlCNsD63LKtCdFDEDZ47e8vTjmy5GLSIpsPruzw6JcitsQgSkqDK9fgeNh1HwEja0aW9jjxXubJOCJloh0E0-w/s320/440E36E8-95E4-49F6-81C6-FEF70A4B6F4B.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">What if </i>my limit is 10 days? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">OR, What if </i></span><span style="font-size: small;">I draw variations of days 1-10 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">f</span><span style="font-size: small;">or the next 10 days?</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Days 13-18:</b><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8333e873-d2ee-965f-90d1-b69c386ced11"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since I have already made a lot of art in my life, the single idea of creating variations of former subjects and ideas can easily fill the rest of my life's work. Wow, onward. (How many times do we have to relearn that?)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5XphLl2fjeVa39fSnHysmW_ixXGtN4wLJIl9LaIGNlPoGe66lDe74VrPVCd3mRJWbGaTZFwDoqr629o80E9ABHIHQHQXab_91Iv_izVayI4BnNfZi6HMqlZl-ff6Dqmiu_R0ijxtQlE/s1600/12BA67D5-A127-4068-8D51-43DFB04361AC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5XphLl2fjeVa39fSnHysmW_ixXGtN4wLJIl9LaIGNlPoGe66lDe74VrPVCd3mRJWbGaTZFwDoqr629o80E9ABHIHQHQXab_91Iv_izVayI4BnNfZi6HMqlZl-ff6Dqmiu_R0ijxtQlE/s320/12BA67D5-A127-4068-8D51-43DFB04361AC.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3dHj5ewkdkgmzRJP0n68AAoM_eNhx16pJqFlxqjNUlnhloZ2aZDM_wZNz4Kw-Y6R1C8-RLZijc7RXoUTO9r0iQTlPBe_nOB2JuZblzLSRCDx9pS5QfOkl9zWI2kYT0UO6HgTNK-RxCU/s1600/350C0A06-CB91-42D0-836B-C8908062D211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3dHj5ewkdkgmzRJP0n68AAoM_eNhx16pJqFlxqjNUlnhloZ2aZDM_wZNz4Kw-Y6R1C8-RLZijc7RXoUTO9r0iQTlPBe_nOB2JuZblzLSRCDx9pS5QfOkl9zWI2kYT0UO6HgTNK-RxCU/s320/350C0A06-CB91-42D0-836B-C8908062D211.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UhHbPoVUotj9lAVg_pAZhKHRV75VX7xwwIJJCXldlkzSpyE3QG0i1Qih1j5heg7L3VanVMxTxVv4AvHm4pNg4qL_KKawio9XaA0Waqd82wSmznQseCSOErXxTebpbHjuZnH6WuwfOJs/s1600/IMG_9827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1467" data-original-width="1467" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UhHbPoVUotj9lAVg_pAZhKHRV75VX7xwwIJJCXldlkzSpyE3QG0i1Qih1j5heg7L3VanVMxTxVv4AvHm4pNg4qL_KKawio9XaA0Waqd82wSmznQseCSOErXxTebpbHjuZnH6WuwfOJs/s320/IMG_9827.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Little One-eye, another muse.</span></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Days 19-24:</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>What happens when</i> </b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don't have an exhibit deadline, but allow myself to play with paint and self-created wallpaper patterns at the <a href="http://www.grandmaraisartcolony.org/index.cfm" target="_blank">Grand Marais Art Colony</a>? <b><i>What if</i></b> I meet the powerful work of other artists with gratitude instead of feeling threatened? <b><i>What if</i></b> I ask to place the powerful paintings of <a href="http://www.janiceandrews.artspan.com/home" target="_blank">Janice Andrews</a> all around me and sit in the middle? Dan has <b><i>always wanted to</i></b> fish on Lake Superior, and did while I was making art! <i><b>What if</b></i> I cut up small brushstroke-sized pieces of wallpaper and paint/collage with it? <i style="font-weight: bold;">What if </i>I create patterns from actual botanical samples on the colored journal pages? (Thank you to the generous artist and teacher, <a href="http://www.grandmaraisartcolony.org/instructor.cfm?iid=15" target="_blank">Hazel Belvo</a>. My gratitude for her work and mentorship is boundless!)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcF3YGSTydUbNUyIH1p0weGmbhCIJJXFt2xHhgUmI57AGcNlCrVzil6j-3yfvdk4eNaXaDDhocCFOCOjYp7TEDy5i8vYeyrzRu5Dm3GRERUV_N20CEzPG3tdsV0UEEOdLvL9wvLPylk3U/s1600/78EA1FA0-FE77-467F-9399-A32A85B5AE93.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcF3YGSTydUbNUyIH1p0weGmbhCIJJXFt2xHhgUmI57AGcNlCrVzil6j-3yfvdk4eNaXaDDhocCFOCOjYp7TEDy5i8vYeyrzRu5Dm3GRERUV_N20CEzPG3tdsV0UEEOdLvL9wvLPylk3U/s320/78EA1FA0-FE77-467F-9399-A32A85B5AE93.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting in the paintings of Janice Andrews at Grand Marais Art Colony.<br />
Dan and Mike, after a week of fishing with perfect weather.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCUDeNkNaRbesVknbbGuCR5e-nqHq2xWCrNbXINiRbmpTQ0nI4eX0QoHEO9BXnLEAIZ1vTbSETt3Wxb9uTOZuWwaENHMXcggrz4Y01x9b11eF46XU3OwQZYb7fnfmI3KbKFB4EaQGo0c/s1600/981D0C51-8B1F-42EE-8A90-AC8130C2CF53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCUDeNkNaRbesVknbbGuCR5e-nqHq2xWCrNbXINiRbmpTQ0nI4eX0QoHEO9BXnLEAIZ1vTbSETt3Wxb9uTOZuWwaENHMXcggrz4Y01x9b11eF46XU3OwQZYb7fnfmI3KbKFB4EaQGo0c/s320/981D0C51-8B1F-42EE-8A90-AC8130C2CF53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_33CGn_-9UHm4gWgRloAO3Vpexqxik-72vOxwrGZvlN-i7b7w2P3tUgBYwFx4c-HcmI1VVH_fYHMmQHFbcL6btDqHNyS0ievYEFwsYptYLuqz172UXduryCO8CViwvTg2KBqos5sXFs/s1600/40843995-8563-46B8-B2DB-5D0B60B0B55D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_33CGn_-9UHm4gWgRloAO3Vpexqxik-72vOxwrGZvlN-i7b7w2P3tUgBYwFx4c-HcmI1VVH_fYHMmQHFbcL6btDqHNyS0ievYEFwsYptYLuqz172UXduryCO8CViwvTg2KBqos5sXFs/s320/40843995-8563-46B8-B2DB-5D0B60B0B55D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Larger work on canvas, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">done at <a href="http://www.grandmaraisartcolony.org/">Grand Marais Art Colony</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1Gc2w8YbbA_WP3EDqEzruYL1A11orA-m7Gyvf8Xt0UmKvFbyMMbC9wgOfNc_Ueh-6mFIz4KwyV8-rScGV0cEZHbp4noVaDvqG7wh-g6BJ3kDNpoECLQ-BcHUaRD1zz3OSo3DiutZw0Y/s1600/IMG_0430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1254" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1Gc2w8YbbA_WP3EDqEzruYL1A11orA-m7Gyvf8Xt0UmKvFbyMMbC9wgOfNc_Ueh-6mFIz4KwyV8-rScGV0cEZHbp4noVaDvqG7wh-g6BJ3kDNpoECLQ-BcHUaRD1zz3OSo3DiutZw0Y/s320/IMG_0430.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Work in progress in a <a href="http://www.grandmaraisartcolony.org/">Grand Marais Art Colony</a> studio. </span><br />
Photo by Hazel Belvo. </td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Days 25-30: </b></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-8333e873-d2d1-57ab-8977-70c468468204"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These days brought me back home in the outdoor spot with the cat inspecting my work, and me asking, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what if </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">blind-contour clouds and an orange snack and create patterns? And, I </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">have always wanted to</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> place a door in the middle of a field.</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Sitting outside with the journal and iPhone camera each day became therapy. Artist heal thyself. </b></span><b style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like I said, t</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">he big and little, self-created what-ifs have so much power to awaken curiosity and purpose. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are never done being curious.</span></b></b></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-44855143613951106842017-06-11T20:38:00.001-05:002017-06-11T20:44:58.065-05:00Life is Beautiful. Then, Messy. Then, Beautiful.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9D-RXF6BH_AgzacgYInCM9jpA6kWn-9V7o3Op8ybFAhhcuP4EW5RcFAhTzUyXIJR3o9t4RxPX3Izpmo8e_sZZPJE78gVm8hcaxiQyZXr5MQObHu8uwDHtFCO3xexGwbpOgULeuqRxmY/s1600/threshold+door+installation+view+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9D-RXF6BH_AgzacgYInCM9jpA6kWn-9V7o3Op8ybFAhhcuP4EW5RcFAhTzUyXIJR3o9t4RxPX3Izpmo8e_sZZPJE78gVm8hcaxiQyZXr5MQObHu8uwDHtFCO3xexGwbpOgULeuqRxmY/s1600/threshold+door+installation+view+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9D-RXF6BH_AgzacgYInCM9jpA6kWn-9V7o3Op8ybFAhhcuP4EW5RcFAhTzUyXIJR3o9t4RxPX3Izpmo8e_sZZPJE78gVm8hcaxiQyZXr5MQObHu8uwDHtFCO3xexGwbpOgULeuqRxmY/s1600/threshold+door+installation+view+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1000" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9D-RXF6BH_AgzacgYInCM9jpA6kWn-9V7o3Op8ybFAhhcuP4EW5RcFAhTzUyXIJR3o9t4RxPX3Izpmo8e_sZZPJE78gVm8hcaxiQyZXr5MQObHu8uwDHtFCO3xexGwbpOgULeuqRxmY/s400/threshold+door+installation+view+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTePvTl2SKybaKlcu8Cx-A3WJGJ3VuOqlOPiRKslzT9VmUGm3zoaEZGvpo3mWb4MlnQ1KGezZz73BKEFHWKXgeh27P4YLDDV3TDwB2EamW54eIYI36GHZ4sPkJbForc6pgcAINDABN63s/s1600/threshold+door+installation+view+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="760" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTePvTl2SKybaKlcu8Cx-A3WJGJ3VuOqlOPiRKslzT9VmUGm3zoaEZGvpo3mWb4MlnQ1KGezZz73BKEFHWKXgeh27P4YLDDV3TDwB2EamW54eIYI36GHZ4sPkJbForc6pgcAINDABN63s/s400/threshold+door+installation+view+1.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-3f176ab8-99e2-a133-980e-5219cacb26d6"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life is beautiful. Then, messy. Then, beautiful. We cannot be so afraid of the next mess that we don't appreciate the beauty, now. Art is my response to the mess, and to the beauty.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Each of these doors was painted in memory of someone, and the color of each </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;">was selected by a loved one who knew them best, a color that reminds them of that person. I painted each vintage door the chosen color, and then with some information about each person, created a thoughtful, hopeful mixed-media painting, with most of the larger metaphorical imagery at eye-level and the painted surreal doors incorporated into the painting. Half way through the painting process, I took photos, created a digital pattern, and ordered the pattern to be printed on wall paper. Next, I continued to paint, when the wallpaper arrived it was attached and integrated into the overall painted design on the door, with some final painting on top of some of the wall paper. Since the pattern was created before the painting was finished, the wallpaper patterns are mysterious hidden images within the painting, resembling the painting, but hidden underneath the final layers of paint.</span>tibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-46147912406458792082017-05-02T12:01:00.002-05:002017-05-10T12:48:16.801-05:00THRESH. HOLD.<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5999999999999999; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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Currently, 7 of my paintings, 8 pattern designs on fabric, 1 pattern on wallpaper, 5 mixed-material paintings on vintage doors, and a video, are on display in the 2-person show <b>THRESH. HOLD. </b>at the Great River Arts Main Gallery in Little Falls, Minnesota. I am honored to share this show with friend and amazing photographer Laura Grisamore of <a href="https://lauraleephoto3.wixsite.com/gallery/current-work-1" target="_blank">Lauralee Photography</a>, and pleased with how our work complements each other! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfQO0CG8Ee2I1c7x3ygw2XUlwVW02jIfMR2e4BHSzf_RnfuU0lWKWbghcMOcaXh00Jy5LWXrUvea5T_u6yhtMtz4rXIig26oPN49rWZCoqeDwxLmA6owvdH5xSWSriCUDEioYenXHNPs/s640/blogger-image--1639354966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfQO0CG8Ee2I1c7x3ygw2XUlwVW02jIfMR2e4BHSzf_RnfuU0lWKWbghcMOcaXh00Jy5LWXrUvea5T_u6yhtMtz4rXIig26oPN49rWZCoqeDwxLmA6owvdH5xSWSriCUDEioYenXHNPs/s400/blogger-image--1639354966.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just after installing the the show.<br />
<b><i>Between Us and Morning Light </i></b>painting, lower right.<br />
Also, the two fabric designs that were created from that painting.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhbIU6niFUvEje7gQRA14EbfJEYibyN1P0TURESR9lfla5hPT3-xxOANBU75blUSGS8eo4ufEMItqFgN1EG6X7Gaq6LwBMYVTVNzVbV1nTYJaRRgYJXIfci682femutQ6SfhIGJEVRHI/s640/blogger-image-352288114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhbIU6niFUvEje7gQRA14EbfJEYibyN1P0TURESR9lfla5hPT3-xxOANBU75blUSGS8eo4ufEMItqFgN1EG6X7Gaq6LwBMYVTVNzVbV1nTYJaRRgYJXIfci682femutQ6SfhIGJEVRHI/s400/blogger-image-352288114.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Sheila's Flames, </i>mixed-materials on vintage door.<br />
Right, <i style="font-weight: bold;">Dream Dots </i>pattern on wallpaper.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJYUrUFHUyKV2iI5jympW3ujTV0zMUej7KKEeN-5UAOYktADEr1DOIBufojbLpR2Q4t43-bao8QcIGHHO_9ZJ_32HLuWiD5viD3GOt_tRsnj5Sq3mtFlYNY_ZrC6R4f265wFsN3aWBiY/s640/blogger-image--1109402833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJYUrUFHUyKV2iI5jympW3ujTV0zMUej7KKEeN-5UAOYktADEr1DOIBufojbLpR2Q4t43-bao8QcIGHHO_9ZJ_32HLuWiD5viD3GOt_tRsnj5Sq3mtFlYNY_ZrC6R4f265wFsN3aWBiY/s400/blogger-image--1109402833.jpg" width="378" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just after installing the show.<br />
Painting on bottom left, <i style="font-weight: bold;">Between Summer Warmth & Quiet.</i><br />
Top, <i style="font-weight: bold;">Summer Strata </i>pattern on fabric created from the painting.<br />
Bottom right, Laura Grisamore's digital photo fusion.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Artist Statement, Tiffany Besonen </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For me, creating metaphor is a process of rediscovering how everything and everyone is connected. My work for </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THRESH. HOLD.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is diverse in materials, but all deeply connected.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5694f37b-c558-e4b0-6f67-580301d75066" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5999999999999999; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Doors in my work began during a time of grieving for our family. As I photographed, drew, and began to paint doors and thresholds, I discovered that the 'space in between' of a threshold isn't inside or out, here or there, but a connection (or division) of the two. Later, I rediscovered a photo that our daughter had taken from behind my husband and me, as we overlooked a lake. All of the paintings on canvas in this exhibit began with this visual format, our silhouettes and the space in between. The watery shape in between us has intrigued me for years; like a threshold, that space connects us, yet reveals our differences. Repeating that visual format in all seven of these paintings, freed me to be more spontaneous with color, line, shape, and motion.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the ‘space in between’ paintings were done, I photographed details, and digitally created patterns. Eight of these patterns have been printed on fabric and one on wallpaper by spoonflower.com for this exhibit. I have always wanted to design fabrics! There is something soothing about patterns, and something especially uplifting about colorful patterns on soft fabrics. Creating these patterns digitally has been a great lesson for me in giving up control; beauty is often revealed in the most spontaneous and unexpected ways. The short film </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thresh. Hold. Release. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">became an extension of that lesson in spontaneity, with the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">contemplative </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hopeful </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">music of Mark Hartung (1971-2015) completing the film. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THRESH. HOLD. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">work culminated with the five mixed-material, free-standing doors. I am giving each one of these doors to a different family, in memory of someone they have lost. Each door began when I asked the family to choose a color that reminded them of their loved one, and from there I began painting on the vintage doors without much of a plan, only positive thoughts and memories. Half way through the painting process, I took photos and made the digital patterns that became the patterned wallpaper on each door. For me, these doors have become celebrations. When we find ourselves on the threshold of loss or change, may we be kind to ourselves; may we accept what we can not control and somehow find freedom, beauty, and hope in that. </span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-30490734384099911492017-01-31T14:13:00.000-06:002017-02-07T15:28:00.609-06:00Patterns of Curiosity<div style="color: rgb(69 , 69 , 69); font-family: ".sf ui display"; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjedbs3iHQI5JNkNrIyRFfxJUFyZZ2Pd7m1Vlrj7sefcayVS0vCx30VettEakERkXDM61I9fTtmkrxnMPzpJh8MtiezgBY1ec1H8xJfu_tBcB40GNCTpKIcL8jFb-DrqiNGCq8dx2g_ho/s640/blogger-image--802391388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjedbs3iHQI5JNkNrIyRFfxJUFyZZ2Pd7m1Vlrj7sefcayVS0vCx30VettEakERkXDM61I9fTtmkrxnMPzpJh8MtiezgBY1ec1H8xJfu_tBcB40GNCTpKIcL8jFb-DrqiNGCq8dx2g_ho/s200/blogger-image--802391388.jpg" width="178" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuidisplay"; font-size: small;">Dear relentless child, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ".sfuidisplay"; font-size: small;">Stay curious. Keep questioning, everything. You are not bad; you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: ".sfuidisplay"; font-size: small;">just need to find things out for yourself. Dogs will bite. The coffee</span><br />
<span style="font-family: ".sfuidisplay"; font-size: small;">will burn. You will make messes, and some adults will frown. Still,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: ".sfuidisplay"; font-size: small;">stay curious.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJMysX6y468BSS7GT9in1DK5RPBmKXNIAe8Mj5_romS-dZdrxvWsdgvRwZgIG1cyvI78bi_4OoK4rXnzLKaAjZVapsN8nLbWgbiNgj7YIwKnav6r5oyRGlPvdHq5jlsh1vkBZIWT7r2s/s640/blogger-image--979199762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJMysX6y468BSS7GT9in1DK5RPBmKXNIAe8Mj5_romS-dZdrxvWsdgvRwZgIG1cyvI78bi_4OoK4rXnzLKaAjZVapsN8nLbWgbiNgj7YIwKnav6r5oyRGlPvdHq5jlsh1vkBZIWT7r2s/s400/blogger-image--979199762.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recent digital patterns made from portions of a painting.<br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-79542378925532589662017-01-18T12:46:00.002-06:002022-02-11T16:48:19.901-06:00What grows and what kills curiosity? Hint, you.<br />
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<b>What kills my curiosity? </b></div>
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<ol>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Being busy. Avoiding or not making time and space to think, practice, or play.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Avoiding challenges.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Only skimming and scanning, and not thinking about what I read and see.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Worrying about the results and not enjoying the process.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Not writing down my thoughts, reactions, and questions.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Not sketching ideas.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Not listening to or having time for interesting people.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Keeping thoughts to myself. Or, wasting time with people who do not listen.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Not trying anything new, or not looking at routines and habits in a new way.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Not asking questions. Or, trying to find answers too quickly.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Missing connections, or ignoring them.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Repeatedly ignoring those fascinations that keep me wondering.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Me.</b></span></i></li>
</ol>
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<br />
<b>What grows my curiosity? </b><br />
<ol>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Making time to think, and space to practice and play.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Taking on new challenges.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Reading and intensely observing, and then thinking about it.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Wondering 'what if', and not worrying about the results.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Writing down my thoughts, reactions, questions.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Sketching thoughts, reactions, questions.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Listening to inquisitive, curious people.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Sharing ideas with people who really listen.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Trying something new, or something old in a new way.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Asking big and little questions, and then allowing time to ponder them.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Making connections, and then making more.</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Repeatedly following those fascinations that keep me wondering.</b></span></i></b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Me.</b></span></i></li>
</ol>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-43805765445183776052017-01-06T11:02:00.003-06:002022-02-11T16:48:43.179-06:00In 2017, stay curious, my friends!<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2014 BRAVE</span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;">2015 COLOR</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">2016 FREE</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">2017 CURIOUS</span><br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"What is creative living? Any life that is driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear." </i>Elizabeth Gilbert<br />
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<div>
Stay curious, my friends! A fox crossed my path while driving home late on the 31st, a few miles from our home, in the same place where I found a dead fox a year and a half ago. Before that, I had been thinking about the importance of curiosity (and hope, and trust) in life and in the creative process. When the fox crossed my path, I wondered <i>why</i>. Why are there so many fox in that specific area? After the influx of coyote and wolf into our larger area, how do the fox survive in what appears to be a small protected zone? Maybe local farmers aren't protecting the fox, as much as the livestock. Is the food around there what the coyote and wolf do not want?<br />
<br />
The metaphor of the fox (<a href="http://tbesonen.blogspot.com/2014/10/resilience-vs.html" target="_blank">Resilient Fox</a>) was important in my work for awhile, and then the wolf appeared (<a href="http://tbesonen.blogspot.com/2016/02/when-wolves-enter.html" target="_blank">When Wolves Enter</a>, <a href="http://tbesonen.blogspot.com/2016/03/curious-wolf-for-avery.html" target="_blank">Curious Wolf, for Avery</a>). Now, the fox may be back. A fox crossing your path has many meanings, but what does it mean for <i>me</i> in a new year? With all these questions, my word for 2017 is CURIOUS. We are all passionate and fierce at times, but I think everyday curiosity is what really moves us along.<br />
<br />
A year ago I said:<br />
<i><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Choosing one word isn't an easy task, yet </span></i><br />
<i><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">that is </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">what I assign myself to do every </span></i><br />
<i><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">new year, now. </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">BRAVE in 2014. COLOR in </span></i><br />
<i><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">2015. This one large </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">word/idea, like a block </span></i><br />
<i><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">of raw basswood, begins </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">the new year with </span></i><br />
<i><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">a promise. If I will work at it </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">with both </span></i><br />
<i><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">wild abandon and careful hewning,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">something from within it will be set </span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">free. </span></i><br />
<br />
I don't know where my curiosity will lead this year, but I am convinced that admitting I do not know is the best way to stay curious and engaged, daily.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"We keep moving forward, opening new </i><br />
<i>doors, </i><i>and doing new things, because </i><br />
<i>we're </i><i>curious </i><i>a</i><i>nd </i><i>curiosity </i><br />
<i>keeps leading us down new paths." </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Walt Disney</div>
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<i><br /></i>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-86175247652820934552016-12-22T12:19:00.003-06:002022-09-18T15:51:38.915-05:00Out of the Darkness, Germination<div style="margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px;">
In December, it does help to remember that a lot of great things need no sunlight to germinate. I see seeds in some of my recent digital patterns, and so this is where I start the next 100 days.<br />
<br />
Today I joined the "100 Day Project" creative community, lead by the lovely and lively Michigan artist, Cathy Benda. We met in July at the Grand Marais Art Colony. Last July proved to be one of my most productive art times, and now, I need some of the same mojo. In April, the two-person exhibit, <b><i>Threshold,</i></b> that I share with Laura Grisamore is going up. There is a lot to do before the end of April.<br />
<br />
I struggle with lack of sunlight during this time of the year, so when I read more information about the "Solstice to Equinox--Out of the Darkness Into the Light" project that started yesterday, I decided this is just what I need now! Taken from <a href="http://the100dayproject.com/">the100dayproject.com</a>, this, right here, is what convinced me to commit:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"The 100DayProject is a creativity excavation. It’s about unearthing dormant or unrealized creativity by committing to a daily practice everyday for 100 days... Creativity is a skill. The more we practice, the more skilled we become. Practice takes time. Practice takes commitment. Practice is a radical act in this speeded up world. Through practice, we develop a creative habit. Through habit, we reconnect with and know ourselves again as a creative being."</i></span></div>
</div>
<div>
Week 1, so far:<br />
Maybe memories of summer get me through this time of year. The last few weeks, I have been really into and making more of the <b>Summer Patterns</b> series, digital designs made from portions of my painting <i style="font-weight: bold;">Between Summer Warmth & Summer Quiet</i>.<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i><br />
<br />
December 20: I ordered two of my pattern designs from Spoonflower.com to be printed on wallpaper sample pieces. Who knows where that may lead, but we will see how they print.<br />
<br />
December 22: Signed up for 100 Day Project, Out of the Darkness Into the Light, and now, writing a blogpost.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFv0-d3rTX7xtmRdgjMVJQWc9PNbie0oZCj9-P5x3hloVM6VA8jpC1y8PkoOkTK9Qz-Z9I9s0UaC6YStqHawA_MFa4Mjh61tFCmmyRpCbkL_KzXPBZgwbwaXiwoitTrVDF2ZpR-TDva64/s1600/tbesonenwarmandsummerquiet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFv0-d3rTX7xtmRdgjMVJQWc9PNbie0oZCj9-P5x3hloVM6VA8jpC1y8PkoOkTK9Qz-Z9I9s0UaC6YStqHawA_MFa4Mjh61tFCmmyRpCbkL_KzXPBZgwbwaXiwoitTrVDF2ZpR-TDva64/s320/tbesonenwarmandsummerquiet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.4px; line-height: 16.9px;">Between Warmth & Summer Quiet, 2016, acrylic paint, 30" x 24"</i></td></tr>
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tibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-34111621525870963462016-09-18T14:31:00.004-05:002016-09-27T08:24:35.252-05:00Grateful for My People<br />
Last February, Carrie, <a href="http://www.artiststrong.com/">Artist Strong</a> blogger and artist interviewed me. Today, I am looking back at the response to the question, What inspires you?<br />
<br />
<i>"I need words and ideas. And trust. And stories with texture that </i><i>follow childlike curiosities. And brave color. And subtle earthy </i><i>scents. And the freedom to <b>be in that space</b> where I do </i><i>not worry </i><i>about money, or the history of art, or the legacy of </i><i>my life, or </i><i>pleasing anyone."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>I was in that space in July when most of these recent paintings came out. Today, I want to add, <b><i>I need people. </i></b>I need my people, who understand and celebrate the things mentioned above. Yesterday and today I am especially grateful for the people who inspire me, and others who encourage and support. If you're lucky, you will have a few people who do all of that, and you will do the same for them. I am finally at the stage in life when I have learned to really appreciate those people, and not worry so much about the opinions of the rest.<br />
<br />
My word for 2016 is<b><i> FREE. </i></b>Like I said in January, this one large word/idea, like a block of basswood, begins the new year with a promise. If I work at it with both wild abandon and careful hewning, something from within it (or me) will be set <i>free. </i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguN9g10RYZgaOmj2GJMNcC9_zNmOoJe4YsFyxu5rTmnkNvL-8eGZSobKJ92fKj_z-PQlMB9SoIVVZY2V1iLjmWc2IAElWxYZg-Zty4Dsn1KUatDjRDdNBAaQNzZnlw7N0TfzVC8g7GL_s/s640/blogger-image--1515406484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguN9g10RYZgaOmj2GJMNcC9_zNmOoJe4YsFyxu5rTmnkNvL-8eGZSobKJ92fKj_z-PQlMB9SoIVVZY2V1iLjmWc2IAElWxYZg-Zty4Dsn1KUatDjRDdNBAaQNzZnlw7N0TfzVC8g7GL_s/s400/blogger-image--1515406484.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHA0-4U3eR7VrQzBbr-t1thEibjxisPXoCACL-zE57p25RLaEAs50ilvmGV3xgi7pPFvRetXrlV1NKk3KqMibhqwA3AeQvb5GI5CM_r-Elel4z13Sc_UeGrxqvzq_HqqLtiIfkrWKRmw/s1600/File_000+%25283%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHA0-4U3eR7VrQzBbr-t1thEibjxisPXoCACL-zE57p25RLaEAs50ilvmGV3xgi7pPFvRetXrlV1NKk3KqMibhqwA3AeQvb5GI5CM_r-Elel4z13Sc_UeGrxqvzq_HqqLtiIfkrWKRmw/s320/File_000+%25283%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Especially grateful for this guy!</td></tr>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-14794560109004603692016-09-17T11:05:00.001-05:002016-10-27T11:39:49.986-05:00How to get ready for your own art reception<div>
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1. Dig out all of your black dresses. </div>
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2. Stare at them. Ask, what would Georgia do?</div>
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3. Grab the one that has a retro vibe, not too mainstream, but won't scare your mother. </div>
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4. Put it on. Tell yourself that it isn't edgy enough, but agree with yourself that being an artist AND a public school art teacher is your excuse. </div>
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5. Make up, not too much like The Cure, but a little nod to the 80s is okay. Skip the lipstick. </div>
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6. Hair, cannot look too coiffed, must look like you were distracted by other things. Absolutely do not look like someone Axl Rose would hit on. </div>
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7. Step into dressy but comfy shoes. Wish you were close personal friends with Sarah Jessica Parker. </div>
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8. Oops. Overdid it. Look like I am ready for parent/teacher conferences at a private school. </div>
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tibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-61381274999185434262016-03-25T12:21:00.005-05:002016-03-25T14:29:52.687-05:00Pushing Through the Web<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><i></i></span><br />
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<i>"I came from a family of repairers. The spider is</i><br />
<i>a repairer. If you bash into the web of a spider, </i><br />
<i>she doesn't get mad. She weaves and repairs it."</i><br />
<i>Louise Bourgeois</i><br />
<br />
So Louise, what if I am stuck in your web? You<br />
were brilliant and bold, but I am making my own<br />
way during a different time, now. Or, what if I<br />
bash into and destroy my own work, because I<br />
<i>do</i> get mad?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This light orange and deep blue painting started<br />
and then abruptly stopped. I sit and wait in the<br />
space-in-between, telling myself to trust the<br />
process. Today, I am looking to my nature<br />
photos, old work, and new friend the Layout<br />
app to push me forward.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimR4q2nKABqal2dKsRYQ8rJJ0GhCxF37jp1swWdNs2zLDs7PN0V1Grt8jUgvB3xL5PWAdrhSqsJgDmhfbNqqWbkjLHx-Q7XqKKSVbstXSo7CX6oJSSSdNHSShzua2m0NX5a8wpvhbs_Pc/s640/blogger-image-1527133152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimR4q2nKABqal2dKsRYQ8rJJ0GhCxF37jp1swWdNs2zLDs7PN0V1Grt8jUgvB3xL5PWAdrhSqsJgDmhfbNqqWbkjLHx-Q7XqKKSVbstXSo7CX6oJSSSdNHSShzua2m0NX5a8wpvhbs_Pc/s400/blogger-image-1527133152.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div>
Feeling caught in a space or content in a space <br />
are often so close. But, I need to keep pushing<br />
through. And, making. And, repairing. And,<br />
knowing when to listen and learn from the art<br />
masters. And, knowing when to blast through<br />
into making my own history. </div>
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tibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-87964476564995684482016-02-29T16:18:00.001-06:002016-03-11T18:02:51.724-06:00When Wolves Enter<div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span>uch to the excitement and agitation of our<br />
dog, Wimpy "The Protector", we now have<br />
wolves in our rural area. I mean, close! We can<br />
hear them howling on our land. They are most<br />
likely having a feast on the many deer who <i>have </i><br />
<i>been</i> very comfortable here. For the 17 years we<br />
have lived here, this is a first.</div>
<br />
Knowing how the wolf population is increasing,<br />
it isn't a surprise, but this is a synchronicity that<br />
an artist can not ignore. Wolves entered my<br />
work just a few months before they entered our<br />
land.<br />
<br />
Fox have been on our land and in my work for<br />
many years, but the curious nature-intimating-<br />
art and art-imitating-nature event is that the fox<br />
left my work around the time that the wolf<br />
entered. Coincidentally, the same thing happens<br />
in nature, when the wolves move in the fox are<br />
no longer around. Or to be more precise, the<br />
coyotes often enter in-between the fox and<br />
wolf, which did happen on our land, but not in<br />
my work.<br />
<br />
The coyote are in the space/time-in-between,<br />
the ones pushed out by the wolves and then in<br />
return push out the fox. And, <i>in-between spaces</i><br />
are a theme in my paintings recently. Maybe<br />
coyotes need to be examined further in my<br />
paintings. Or maybe I just need to shut up and<br />
paint, and see what happens in our woods next.<br />
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tibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-37907810760750657182016-02-08T20:08:00.000-06:002016-02-10T08:02:53.295-06:00Is Originality Free?<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The act of viewing and reading art & poetry</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">is </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">usually </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">pretty free and easy, but is making </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">art </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">so </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">free? </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't mean the cost of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">supplies or the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">investment of time to make it, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">although </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">those are </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">issues. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My poet </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">friend </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sometimes </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">collaborator </span><br />
<a href="http://louannmuhm.com/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">LouAnn</a> <a href="http://louannmuhm.com/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Shepard Muhm</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'s </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">r</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ecent </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">blog post has </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">me </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">thinking about the cost </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">putting your work </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">out there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHfJfk3Cx8IIMW2qoZzQFt3GV2bZmsOHgEn5jwVDxaL4PpjX8vIVvG5YH4gz1EP9xkHCJfiSq-lse4oQeDvKjh670Fqkxouf3QPLTVwL1NJVQp4s22dTNdvvVZJuYTP7TDyr-rfN-iFI/s640/blogger-image--1547309427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHfJfk3Cx8IIMW2qoZzQFt3GV2bZmsOHgEn5jwVDxaL4PpjX8vIVvG5YH4gz1EP9xkHCJfiSq-lse4oQeDvKjh670Fqkxouf3QPLTVwL1NJVQp4s22dTNdvvVZJuYTP7TDyr-rfN-iFI/s400/blogger-image--1547309427.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of recent painting in-progress.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>No more free-bees, only details of my </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>paintings</i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> before my </i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">August 2016 exhibit, </i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Spaces In Between' at Great River </i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arts in </i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Falls, Mn. My word for 2016 is FREE, </i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in </i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">its many implications...</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RBVUM29yYzVYkYZ5I8vaMMAifxS263VDRHexJdSDV-9xhlmWMyUfw6hyvIy4hhp6pMdghBE8gSAQBxWTk_XNkjFg5rw7HCKvSsteZGc97W8O2n4HA_WsjodSmbfLF5s-JbLwSsJQKDw/s640/blogger-image-1426914677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RBVUM29yYzVYkYZ5I8vaMMAifxS263VDRHexJdSDV-9xhlmWMyUfw6hyvIy4hhp6pMdghBE8gSAQBxWTk_XNkjFg5rw7HCKvSsteZGc97W8O2n4HA_WsjodSmbfLF5s-JbLwSsJQKDw/s400/blogger-image-1426914677.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of recent painting in-progress.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To put truly new work out there is daunting,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and few do. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In her post Muhm says, "And then </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">you will </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">go back to your comfortable life, to think </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">your </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">comfortable thoughts, to bite your </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tongue </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">when you think it is prudent, and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to answer </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">your 'crazy' dream with silent </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">admonitions to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">be realistic and to focus </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">on achievable goals." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next, I cracked open </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the new book </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><u><a href="http://www.adamgrant.net/#!originals/c1ckh" target="_blank">Originals:</a></u></i></b><br />
<a href="http://www.adamgrant.net/#!originals/c1ckh" target="_blank"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><u>How Non-</u></i></b><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><u>Conformists Move </u></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><u>the </u></i></b></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><u><a href="http://www.adamgrant.net/#!originals/c1ckh" target="_blank">World</a></u></i></b>, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Adam </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grant states, "The last time </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">you had </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">an </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">original </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">idea, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">what did you do with </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">America </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">is a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">land of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">individuality </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">unique self-expression, in </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">search </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">excellence </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and in fear of failure, most of us </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">opt to fit </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rather </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">than stand out." Grant does </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">go onto </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">say </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">most successful originals </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">among us </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"know </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">their </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hearts that failing </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">would yield </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">less </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">regret </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">than </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">failing </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to try." </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are Muhm and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grant </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">conspiring? Okay, okay. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will get to work, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and free myself to make bigger messes. I won't </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">be like<i> the others who do not dare.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Both Muhm and Grant, pose a challenge. Have </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">an </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">idea or something to say? Do something </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">about it, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">but do not expect it to be easy</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. One </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">thing I </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">know for sure is that when your art is </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">shared, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it really doesn't belong to only you </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">anymore. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is out there, and people do with </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">what people do. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-12802958703515680182016-01-01T11:19:00.000-06:002016-01-17T10:39:37.960-06:00In 2016 FREE us to not know, but trust anyway.Choosing one word isn't an easy task, yet that is<br>
what I assign myself to do every new year now.<br>
BRAVE in 2014. COLOR in 2015. This one large<br>
word/idea, like a block of raw basswood, begins<br>
the new year with a promise. If I will work at it<br>
with both wild abandon and careful hewning,<br>
something from within it will be set <i>free. </i><br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7HnON3kY9EpKL66TOT1wFesX6vkFGPJqIyz5VQVjnrx-PvzL3WWxY34BdakwXxgnTSkdHx33r6ONO9-R65husBiH_7RXMiLD1PXBL8bGHM52A32YszEDXHpn8F9uH81_GFQI1IHzHJE/s1600/2+doors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7HnON3kY9EpKL66TOT1wFesX6vkFGPJqIyz5VQVjnrx-PvzL3WWxY34BdakwXxgnTSkdHx33r6ONO9-R65husBiH_7RXMiLD1PXBL8bGHM52A32YszEDXHpn8F9uH81_GFQI1IHzHJE/s400/2+doors.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfinished acrylic painting started in December. 24"x 30"<br>
<i>Free me to not know, but trust anyway.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I<i> need</i> words, and ideas. And trust. And stories<br>
with texture that follow childlike curiosities.<br>
And brave color. And subtle earthy scents. And<br>
the freedom to be in the space where I do not<br>
worry about money, or the history of art, or the<br>
legacy of my life, or pleasing anyone.<br>
<br>
<i>So, you see, my word for 2016 has to be <b>FREE</b>.</i><br>
<br>
That is the raw material I <i>need</i> right now. Free-<br>
dom to push and pull, and dig out the weeds to<br>
expose something new. I can not be afraid to get<br>
these hands dirty and make a little mess. I know<br>
that I can not be too afraid of what will be<br>
excavated, because by now at age 45 soon and<br>
after all the bravery of 2014 and the color of<br>
2015, I know it is much scarier and messier to<br>
hide or deny what is within us. Free us to trust<br>
and not always know.<br>
<br>
<div>
<br>
<i>Thanks to the work and words of artist Kiyomi</i><br>
<i>Iwata in the article <b>Always Unfolding </b>by Joyce </i><br>
<i>Lovelace in <span style="font-weight: bold;">American Craft</span> magazine, for </i><br>
<i>jolting me out of a winter funk and shaking </i><br>
<i>my 2016 word FREE free. </i><br>
<i><br></i>
<i>Joyce Lovelace reports, "Curiosity, creativity, </i><br>
<i>and </i><i>optimism guide Kiyomi Iwata in the evolu-</i><br>
<i>tion </i><i>of her life and her art... Her artmaking is</i><br>
<i>fluid and free." "I am totally open," she </i><br>
<i>[Iwata] says, "And because I'm open, I can</i><br>
<i>float. For me, that is an exciting process in</i><br>
<i>itself."</i><br>
<br>
<br></div>
tibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-6125353706519793182015-12-29T22:38:00.002-06:002016-01-15T11:56:03.409-06:00Final 2015 post--dark, colder and olderIn the final days of 2015, I want to post this work that<br />
was also painted this month. I struggle this time of year<br />
with the lack of sun as I get older (January birthday) and<br />
the cold clamps down on the region. But, the sun will<br />
shine a little longer each day now. The cold in Minnesota<br />
is inevitable. And aging, well aging continues each day<br />
too, and embracing it is the best option.<br />
<br />
Call it gimmicky, but I am on the search for my <i>word </i>for<br />
2016. It will come to me, just like COLOR did for 2015<br />
and BRAVE for 2014. What is most needed now will<br />
determine it.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_zSZXsbl-l3irG0hjv8ksNwUnjwlZj2cEvmhKYmknn7Hmqi3JH-9eP64hZgfLfDxNmRbNORbPG1xN7kU4vlRxhOGODnsX0-iFgJXgCPhsjRajpHjYVUVRf_yeZuaJn8iw5mD-tdL02g/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_zSZXsbl-l3irG0hjv8ksNwUnjwlZj2cEvmhKYmknn7Hmqi3JH-9eP64hZgfLfDxNmRbNORbPG1xN7kU4vlRxhOGODnsX0-iFgJXgCPhsjRajpHjYVUVRf_yeZuaJn8iw5mD-tdL02g/s400/image1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />tibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173885357792804141.post-19121639337438633532015-12-18T23:30:00.001-06:002016-08-12T13:36:07.253-05:00Working, Wishing & Looking AwayThe two most recent paintings from this week are<br />
lighter and brighter, and more simplified. <a href="http://tbesonen.blogspot.com/2015/01/authentic-and-intense-color.html" target="_blank">COLOR</a><br />
was my word for 2015, and it is feeling great to go<br />
with more color, and not over-think it. As my daughter<br />
Anna said this week while writing magnetic poetry<br />
with her sister, "It doesn't turn out if you plan it."<br />
<br />
Looking at these recent paintings I am wondering what<br />
it all means, but as an artist it really doesn't matter at<br />
the time of making. What matters is that I am making,<br />
trusting as I go, and not worrying about what will sell,<br />
or what will be exhibited, or how it will be received.<br />
What matters is being present and knowing that I<br />
am painting something that I wish existed. When that<br />
wish, not plan, but when that wish becomes a reality<br />
after some flow and some struggle, there is satisfaction.<br />
At that moment, <i>I </i><i>am </i><i>knowing that </i><i>all </i><i>is well, </i><i>and all </i><br />
<i>will be okay, and I </i><i>am in a </i><i>hopeful state </i><i>of </i><i>being. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Which brings me to something I wrote recently:<br />
<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Some people will </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">give </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">you </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the message that no </i><br />
<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">matter </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">what you do, </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">how </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">kind or great you are, </i><br />
<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">you are still </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">not one of </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">them. </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Or some people </i><br />
<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">just want to point </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">out </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">flaws. </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Forgive them and </i><br />
<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">look away, and find </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">abundant </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">beauty and </i><br />
<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">blessings in places outside </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">unhappy </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">groups of </i><br />
<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">people. Try not to be sad or bitter, </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">but </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">love, </i><br />
<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">because you are loved and imperfect, and </i><br />
<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">forgiven. Our time here is short and grace is </i><br />
<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">new </i><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">each minute.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrtbx9Gd0YJYt0OhCK5W1kyiEYNMs7ixtdLtczmQYkSUqJQMFkfgp_WZxgYqrfCATvX-V5cSRZFBT3Bms8y1se3P4RalcfKEzlXxiYySNF9rUsJ4NeGmCH4hzPofn62amrv9CFQGllCE/s1600/IMG_7862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrtbx9Gd0YJYt0OhCK5W1kyiEYNMs7ixtdLtczmQYkSUqJQMFkfgp_WZxgYqrfCATvX-V5cSRZFBT3Bms8y1se3P4RalcfKEzlXxiYySNF9rUsJ4NeGmCH4hzPofn62amrv9CFQGllCE/s400/IMG_7862.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithyphenhyphenHT6qlTV7E1LKktkw1pcSXtwLKWaescJb6YGtzDh5nV3AvqIsVz2q5GVCgTBysou3yNsFHbpuPn8jja20I6CBfp4WqcRJdh0cFXSt9a8D9hq0ORKWYyif9HpwvborDWbjGyi0Lqkds/s1600/IMG_7942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithyphenhyphenHT6qlTV7E1LKktkw1pcSXtwLKWaescJb6YGtzDh5nV3AvqIsVz2q5GVCgTBysou3yNsFHbpuPn8jja20I6CBfp4WqcRJdh0cFXSt9a8D9hq0ORKWYyif9HpwvborDWbjGyi0Lqkds/s400/IMG_7942.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></i>tibesonenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083200962852344488noreply@blogger.com0