Supporting the Arts

Today was my first meeting with some artistic gal pals. In addition to having an excuse to go out to lunch — today we met at a very artsy hangout in West Columbia called Cafe Strudel — we are uniting in our quest in Supporting the Artist in each of us. Each week we report on what steps we've taken in the direction of a given goal.  Then we have an artist date once a month to work creatively together. I'm psyched. For the "Starving Artists" this is for us:


"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, 
the chance to draw back-- Concerning all acts of initiative 
[and creation], there is one elementary truth that ignorance 
of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the 
moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. 
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never
otherwise have occurred. 
A whole stream of events issues from the decision, 
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen 
incidents and meetings and material assistance, 
which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. 
Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. 
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. 
Begin it now." 
—Goethe

It all counts

I ran across some old calligraphy homework rolled up and stuffed in the back of my closet while cleaning out my studio.

I was torn about throwing it out, but it certainly didn't do me any good just forgotten in a dark corner. So, I unrolled it and set it out, thinking I would do something with it.

It sat out in my studio for about two months when today I decided to make accordion folded pieces out of them as a text block for some handmade books.

As I was folding away, I began to question the relevance of doing this. Was this just a waste of time?

Then I remembered a bit of advice from Joan Anderson, one of my painting teachers at Naropa University. "It all counts." When you are working in your studio whether working on a finished painting (sculpture, glass, photo, etc) or you are pasting a piece of inspirational ephemera into your sketchbook, or folding bits of paper that may one day be the inspiration for some other work, "It all counts." Good to know.

The Chaos of Conflicting Impulses

I had a painting teacher that said she was lucky because the only thing she knew how to do was paint. It simplified things for her.

Do the muses pull you in many different directions like they do me? I paint, make handmade books, photograph, do calligraphy, graphic & web design. All those things tug at me for their time at bat. When asked what type of art I create, I usually reply, "I'm a mockingbird, I sing many different songs." I like that. I like the variety. But it can also make it more challenging for me to settle in to creating.

So instead of just being confused about where to start, I decided to write down on little slips of paper all of the types projects and mediums I could think of and put them into a wonderful decorative box that belonged to my mother. Something ceremonial looking (pictured here).

Now if I'm paralyzed and feeling overwhelmed by too many options, I withdraw a slip of paper out of the box and do what it says. My first project was practicing hand lettering Neuland. What I like about this, is I have no preconceived idea about the end result. It truly is just something to get to move past fear, or confusion. A way to establish hand eye coordination. As I proceed I begin to feel excitement of just making the letters - even though I'm extremely rusty at this alphabet. This led to painting.

"The Chaos of Conflicting Impulses"

by Kathryn Van Aernum