Eye problems again, went to an ENT

And have set up a neuro-opthalmologist appointment for Wednesday which I may not need.

The ENT Specialist noted that my nasal cavity is very inflamed and eye problems as I'm describing can be caused by a deep sinus infection or absess in one of the sinuses so I'm going for a CAT scan to determine if one of those is the cause.  Until then, though, I'll impart his recommendation to any nasal sinus sufferers that he recommended sinus flushes such as the Netti Pot.  I use a steroid spray and his recommendation is to separate the two treatments out and do one of those treatments in the morning and one at night (either or).  Makes sense to me and I told him that's what I've been doing. 

OK, so gotta get off the computer as eyes are going.  Oddly, making art isn't usually a problem for me.  I think it's to do with the angle of the eyes (i'm more likely to be looking downward while painting, etc., and looking ahead in computer work and driving -- yes, they occasionally go wonky when I'm at the steering wheel too.) 

I'll be damn glad to get this friggin thing resolved, that's all I know.

Later, gators.

Anniversary of the Iraq War

Wow, hard to believe such a defining moment in my life passed by and I almost forgot about it!  I say defining because as my bio hints, I was a Blue Star mother six times over as my sons - Marine and Soldier - were deployed to Iraq or other war zones in the Middle East.  And my oldest, Kris-the-Marine infantryman, was there for the invasion.  And I made the mistake of becoming way too invested in knowing what was going on.

I was still in college, majoring in Journalism, and had access to all sorts of investigative tools and made it my business to learn all I could about what the U.S. would be up against, what the Marines would be in for.  And I learned the embedded reporters names and when they would file reports, I'd download the transcripts and parse them, sharing them with a few other parents of fellow Marines in Kris' unit.  After that first deployment, I learned.  I learned to detach and accept that no matter what I knew, it would never change things, so for the most part, during Kris' following deployments, I took on the ignorance is bliss mindset. Notso with Pete, my baby.  He'd cringe to hear me say that but I don't think he reads this, so, it's OK.  It was different with him, an armored infantryman.  I wasn't as obsessive about the news as I'd been during that first deployment, but I did set up a google alert "Anbar Province" where he was deployed. 

The thing is, I'm just one of many military families radically effected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  And I'm going on record to say we should never have invaded Iraq, but kept our resources and focus on Afghanistan, providing breathing room to the new government instead of allowing the weeds of radical Taliban renew and retake most of the country as they did.   For a while I was loud, vocal and critical but, like worry, realized it wouldn't get me anywhere. 

So I learned to paint to take my mind off it and to focus on something more life-affirming and positive instead.  And today was a splendid day of painting and creating.  Still, I can't help but be disheartened when I think about the trillions of dollars our country has wasted - yes, wasted (in economics, one learns there are good expenditures and bad - war is one of the most wasteful of all) - on these wars.  Fortunately, my sons came home from war and after some tough times, they're doing pretty well and I'm very proud of both.  Other families, though, are not so fortunate.

Grief Bubbles and Psalms for Sendai

From my post of earlier today, you may have read how moved I've been by the earthquake and devastation in Japan over the past few days.  When I first heard the news, something my brother said stuck with me.  He was posted in Japan twice over the past several decades as a career diplomat and knows the culture very well.  He said the Japanese as a nation celebrate the Cherry blossoms when they arrive not only for the breathtaking beauty of the display, but because of what they symbolize:  the transience of life.

As an artist, I sometimes HAVE NO CHOICE but to process emotional events and occasions.   Often I write. Today, I had to paint.  I bring you "Psalms for Sendai." And yes, this is not just a sweet little picture.  It's loaded with hit-you-over-the-head intentional symbolism which is not subtle at all, sorry about that!

As for the term "grief bubbles" in the title, I borrowed that from a new twitter friend / lovely artist who occasionally tweets about grief bubbles floating up into the great beyond in remembrance while releasing the pain.  I thought it was such a lovely way to express it, I had to borrow it for this post's title.

In closing, even though I've processed some of the sadness that's enveloped me since Friday, I still feel a well of tears inside for the lost and suffering there on the other side of the planet.  My heart aches for those people and for that lovely country I've yet to visit. Still, I draw some consolation, remembering the cherry blossoms that are just about to bloom.

Hurting so for Japan, but painting too

Paris, Je T'aime

I have been watching way too much coverage of the triple disaster in Japan, moved so deeply by the suffering these wonderful people are experiencing right now.   Yesterday I'd had enough and turned my attention to  some works that were incomplete, including these two that I just love.  Homage to romance, by way of the City of Lights.

"French Postcard Love" 

Harpeth Hall's Green Show Reception: Great event, great turnout, great Art!

From 3 to 5 p.m. yesterday Harpeth Hall, the elite all-girls prepatory school in Nashville that's turned out famous alum Amy Grant, Reese Witherspoon and others, hosted an artist reception for its annual fundraising art show, this year designed around all things "Green."

In previous posts, you can read about my experimentation in coming up with all-natural home-brewed paints which I used like watercolors in my submission "A Walk in the Park."  Artist Kelly Roe took the green theme completely to heart with her Best in Show works "React, Reuse, Renew" which were made from lint! 

I was thrilled that several of my fellow painting friends came out and through my mentor and longtime Nashville artist / lifetime Tennessee Art League member Barbara Rembert, I met several other TAL members too, many who had works in the show.

Speaking of works in the show, here're my fellow artists that exhibited.  Congrats all and know I'm honored to be among your ranks!

Denise Hawkins, Pam Haile, Janet Kozachek, Judy Klich, Lilo Regen, Cynthia Crook, Susan Simons, Samuel Fee, Thalia Kahl, Noriko Register, John Nordell, Shirley Fachilla, Pat Snyder, Vicki Kessler and Donna Kjonnas, Beth Seiters, Gary Young, Beverly Ford Evans, Mike Martino, Anne Labovitz, Arunima Orr, Christine Eagon, Elizabeth Brandon, Nancy Bradford, Kathleen Sparkman, Brenda Morley and Rita Maggart. 

Finally, I'm adding one whimsical image below with a brief explanation.  Hubby's from England and included with a Christmas parcel his kids sent us this year were these wind up "Racing Royals."  The pair have developed a loyal following on David's facebook, so of course, they had to join us for the show.  And since we got there early enough, noone was the wiser when we snapped this shot of them enjoying the Moesse work of art!

The all-important studio to coffeepot measurement!

As I was putting on a pot of java to brew, I realized how lucky I am to have a studio where I can create and - more importantly - not have to move things, pick up and put away because it's a dual space.  Most of my fellow CANN members are not so lucky and I feel for them and all out there who don't have a studio of one's own.

My eyes remain wonky at times although I went back to the eye doctor for a checkup.  He told me I've been doing the eye exercises wrong, so I'm working on doing them better.  We'll see.  If no improvement, it's onto a neuro or ENT specialist, I think.  So this blogpost is more links than direct info, mea culpa...


Anyway, back to the home studio theme of today's blog.  I decided to put in some research and found a few interesting links, below, that might offer advice for those considering one of their own or that, like me already have one but want to improve it.

Cherylscott's e-how contribution describes blurring the borders so one can create anywhere in the home.

This Esortment article lists and explains the whys behind some of the necessities to consider in setting up a home studio, but I prefer

Urbanpaintbrush's explanations, images and details better.   In fact, I just happened on that site for this blog post and methinks I'll be paying many more visits there in the future!  (LOVE IT!)

But the Award for best detail of stuff needed, definitely goes to Jennifer Young who hails from Richmond, Virginia.  Great explanations and information, Jennifer and all.

Now, back to the title of this post.  My studio is in an addition we built in July, 2003.  I remember it well because we needed a room to bed my oldest son Kris and four other Marine infantrymen he was returning home with for a visit after his first tour in Iraq.   From wartime recollections to making art.  I'm glad we've been able to make that transition.  And the measurement, by the way, is seven steps and if you'll excuse me, I'm heading for a mug right now!

They eyes have it...

If you've been reading my blog at all, you'll know that last year I developed an eye problem - Convergence insufficiency - that basically means the eye muscles are weak and the eyeball (in my case, the left one) doesn't want to cooperate and move to focus where it's supposed to it times.  For me, it is distracting, frustrating, and disorienting at times.  I have eye muscle exercises to do and I do them, most of the time, but still have the eye muscle problem. 

I broke down and made an eye doctor appointment again.  It's not time for the annual exam but too bad.  If the insurance company has a problem, they can talk to me! 

On another subject, the Harpeth Hall Green Art Show reception is coming up this Sunday and I'm pretty psyched about it.  And the group I paint with, Collaborative Artists Network, will be showing in April in Donelson at Fifty Forward, a community art center for Seniors. 

Harpeth Hall Green Art show coming up!

Not too visible but here's the invite card for the upcoming show.  Reception is Sunday, March 6.  Harpeth Hall School is a very well-regarded prepatory schools for girls more than 150 years old.  Famous alum include Tracy Caulkins (the Olympic swimmer), Amy Grant, Reese Witherspoon, and others. 

I'm psyched.  To remind you, the painting I did that was accepted into the show was done in pigments I created myself.  Here it is all framed and ready to go:

In the midst of turmoil ... art

In the previous post, I mentioned finding inspiration via the National Archives.  Here's the end result.  I call her "Regal Rose," but the Archives file name was "Irish Spinning Woman."  I couldn't NOT paint her.  And truth be told she's only the second figurative painting I've done.  It was very hard, but I'm pleased with the results.  Hope you enjoy her.

The next paintings, below, are other ones I've done this month, trying like hell to shut out the news of conflagration around the world from Egypt to Madison, Wisconsin, to Tennessee.  My brain, aware of the growing income disparity in the U.S. as indicated by the Gini Coefficient begs me jump in.  But my heart and soul remind me I started painting to accept that there are things beyond my control.  So, I hide out in my studio, switch my IPhone from National Public Radio to Pandora's steady stream of tunes, and paint away.  My mind bears the burden of guilt my heart and soul erase with yellow ochre and burnt umber.

 

 

Hit for a loop with allergies lately!

I'm afraid I've done little painting lately, except for a lovely old Irish woman at a spinning wheel based on an image from the U.S. National Archives. To clarify, the photo is NOT my painting but the original photo, one of thousands of wonderful images uploaded by the LOC to an account they set up on Flickr which is searchable and, more importantly, lists whether the item has any copyright issues.  Fortunately for me and my love affair with this lovely image, there are no copyright issues. 

As for the allergies, I've been battling them first alone, then with the help of the steroid shot (see most recent post) and a nasal steroid spray but I'm not much better, so broke down and got the doctor to prescribe an antibiotic to help move things along.  We'll see.  One other thing I've been doing though is brewing this concoction each morning which really opens up my sinuses and gives me a kick in the clarity department.  I got the recipe from my dear Italian painter-friend Lucilla.  Here's my version:

Lucilla's Health Tea
Green Teabags (2 or 3)
2 -3 cups of water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 or so whole cloves or 1/4 teaspoon
1 teaspoon sliced fresh ginger or 1/2 teasp ground
2 anise pods or similar ground
1 or 2 crushed dried red peppers or comparable
a pinch of cumin
2 or 3 cardamom pods or comparable

Like Lucilla, I just boil it up and pour myself a cup now and again during the day.  Since I feel worst first thing in the morning BEFORE I have a shot, I figure it does do some serious good.

Note to self: Skip Goodwill After Steroid Injections

I've been under the weather for a while - actually since December and I kept figuring I was fighting something.  Finally gave up and went to the doctor this morning.  Turns out it's allergies.  Yeah, having the cat inside during winter, practically living in my office is not a good thing. 

The doctor gave me a steroid shot and though I intended to stop in for just a very quick look, well, I kinda went overboard at the local Goodwill today.  The kind of manic splurge I haven't had in years!  It was .99 yellow tag clothing days and the Ralph Lauren white cotton sweater and NY & Co tweed jacket will go quickly on e-bay I'm sure, along with the Aussie made boiled wool cardi.  I'm thinking the $2.99 vintage bowling ball hardcase is too cool to sell, and look at all the glisteny shiny .99 or less items I got for making art. 

I'm gonna be busy for a while so if I don't answer the phone, you'll understand.  It's the steroid shot.  =)

Shout out to a neat organization

Wish I were younger, unfettered, and Canadian.  The place I'm talking about is Spark Box Studio, located in Picton, PEI, Ontario.  

From their website, Spark Box Studio is a:

Space for artists to live, research, investigate and experiment. We aim to encourage discovery and the cultivation of new ideas, provide career-building opportunities for artists at all stages, and to engage with the community through the arts.

 The site has a section offering information about "The Business of Art" and is now taking applications for a summertime one-week residency for artists aged 19-29.  There's more, though, so check out the site 

UPD:  And check out the organization, too, if you happen to be up that way!

Winter's Bone and Sinew - New Painting

A week ago, we had two lovely snowfalls back to back.  It shut the schools down for, well, the entire week.  It also meant closure of Sharp Spring's Natural Area, an exquisite many acres of nearly virgin land.  I parked outside the gates, and with my Iphone and dog, went exploring and picture-taking. 

My plan was to walk a half hour or so, but, entranced by the exquisite beauty of it all, found myself returning to the car nearly two hours later.  Smokey didn't seem to mind and sprang about in the snow more lively than I'd seen the 10-year-old dalmatian in ages.  I think she felt as uplifted as I did in "owning" the place, unspoiled by human footsteps, tire tracks and more.  

I painted the above from one of the photos I'd taken, waivering about whether to add the foreground fence that bracketed the photo on the lower right side.  In the end, I thought the stark expanse more like the breathtaking experience I felt when there. 

The title - Winter's Bone and Sinew - comes from a John Burroughs quote:  Winter has given the bone and sinew to literature, summer the tissues and the blood.

Upcoming Harpeth Hall Green Art show includes one of my paintings

Yay!  It selected this one, which is done on Arches 140 # cold pressed paper.  Inks/paints used are my homemade ones, including stains of blueberry, saffron, blackberry, chamomile and walnut.  It's made archival by a coat of mat medium on front and back.  Now to mat, frame, present it and at the opening, enjoy it among the field of work by other artists from 11 states who submitted to this show. 

What the witches brew concocted...

The top painting is on Arches 140 lb. watercolor paper and the paints really did beautifully - especially the walnut one I made which was smooth like butter and very, very rich which is why I used it alone in the very zen-like second painting.  Done in the Sumi-e style, it is simply walnut paint on the handcrafted pampas grass paper I made.  

Hope you enjoyed todays lesson.  = )

Time to validate

I avoided the news about the Arizona massacre, just did not want to go there, let the news in.  After 9/11 (like the rest of America) and later with my sons serving and losing "brothers" in Iraq and later, at home, I became shell-shocked and found the best coping mechanism was to avoid, deny, and refuse to go to that dark, mournful place. 

But ... I touched my toe into the water today, listening to Obama's speech replayed on YouTube since I conveniently missed it last night.  (There's a very stark contrast between the woman I am today and who I was just two years ago)...  I did not watch the funeral for young Christina, and avoided the news stories for the most part too. 

But now, after listening to his speech last night ... well, lets just say the floodgates are open, let the mourning begin.  I don't have words now, only tears.  For the little innocent Christina Green who never got to experience that first kiss, have a teenage fight with her mom and dad, walk down the aisle, suffer through childbirth, feel the tickle of her own child's breath on her neck. 

I told my youngest son after a brother-in-arms' suicide some time ago:  "You need to live a life that validates him."  Well, this incident, Obama's words, that little girl's death makes me want to validate her life, all their lives, too. 

My husband thinks I'm a witch! LOL

OK, to be fair, he's not entirely off base.

I mean, on the front door, we have this smartass window sticker we bought when in Glastonbury (UK) this past fall that's a spin on the Neighborhood Watch signs that every good whitebread neighborhood posts.  Ours reads "Neighborhood Witch." 

Then, there's the pot of pampas grass boiling in the big corn pot on the stove.  You can't smell it, but there's a definite scent of Fels Naptha Brown Soap wafting in the air. 

And finally, there's these glass jars of liquid on the dining room table, shown above.  To the uninitiated, they COULD resemble witches tinctures and such. If you look closer, though, and are familiar with the color chart below, you'll figure out that they are artists paints.  Mine though are non-toxic, environmentally pure as the driven snow, and all natural.  Really. 

You see, I'm entering a juried art show this coming weekend where the emphasis is on "green" - the movement not the color.  So... I figured what better way to "represent" than to create works using all-green materials, right?  And as you can see from the chart, I do have an array of colors to work with, though, ironically, there's a dearth of green in these...

Oh, and the pampas grass boiling on the stove?  It's for the paper to paint on, silly! 

Paris the Luminous Years,

Just finished watching the 2010 PBS Documentary and so glad I TIVO'd it.  What a glorious, wonderful doc it was. 

Unfortunately, the NY Times panned the special as in:


"This film, which has its premiere on PBS on Wednesday, looks at the city that seduced the likes of Picasso, Chagall, Apollinaire, Diaghilev and of course, Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. It pays homage, though, not in the seditious, inventive spirit of the avant-garde that Paris once nurtured, but in the time-tested, didactic and dutiful tone of a typical PBS documentary.
Paris is still a wonderful city, but it no longer draws the world’s most innovative artists and thinkers. PBS is still a serious, responsible institution that shows good work, but creativity and élan have migrated to other networks and cable channels."

I'll leave it for you to decide, but know that while sorting my receipts from 2010, it made for great time-passing and entralling watching. 

2010 in 100 words, more or less

I gotta say, this was an excellent year for me personally and professionally!

I dove headfirst into art this year, reorganized and formalized my studio, and by chance scored my first solo show at an upscale restaurant in Nashville for six weeks from late June to Father's Day.  Great timing except Nashville's millenial flood took place the weekend of my scheduled reception.  Most I knew were fortunate and suffered no or minimal losses but many areas were devastated.  My reception ended up closing the show, more or less, but still a nice crowd and healthy sales meant I could claim professional artist status!   At year end, my art is
hanging in several venues in Middle Tennessee and a few more people are puzzled by the name "Moesse."
 
A mid-year turning point meant transitioning from Hazel King's tutelage to more independent study, and the formation of Collaborative Artists Network (Nashville) - www.thecann.org - with fellow painters and dear, dear friends.  A more personal turning point came when I took a stand against a loved one, ending a pattern of enabling.  By year end, I'm glad to say, it was proven to be a good decision for all involved and things are looking up on that front.

A wedding in October was special partly because I got to talk to Canadian superstar Bryan Adams and tell him David and I were married to one of his songs (which I'm sure he hears ALL the time).  What made it stellarly special (my phrase in case ya couldn't tell), was that my dear, great and wonderful brother Barry married the love of his lifetime(s), Gretchen.  I used the plural because, yeah, their spirits have been dancing this love tune for centuries.

Another wedding in November, this time in England, meant a stellar trip across the pond, celebrating the union of two young people, spending great time with David's family, touring the southwest region, and freezing our butts off.  All before jetting back home just in time to beat the U.K. version of Snowpocalypse!  While there, I discovered snoods, Primark's cheap but cozy for a season offerings, and an Indian import store offering huge zippered bags on the cheap to lug home our dirty laundry.

December was a blur with unpacking, preparing and mailing out more than a dozen Christmas parcels to friends and family from afar, a few parties, and yes, prepping for and pulling off a New Year's Day open house. I did little painting, but put at the top of the blog two abstracts that I did that I'm very pleased with. 

In closing, know that I'm eagerly anticipating great things for 2011, for two reasons.  First, I have this weird thing for prime numbers (I think because I was born on the 13th in 1959) and 2011 is about as prime as you can get, baby!  Second, my dark-haired brother was the first newcomer to step foot through the door that day, followed by his male black lab, Nigel.  I'm told Scottish tradition says that if a dark-haired male is the first to cross the threshold New Year's Day, it bodes well for the year.  I'll take all this as a good, hopeful sign for more good things to come. 

Here's hoping you experience all good things for 2011. 
MWS