|
| “This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. This is how civilizations heal. I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge - even wisdom. Like art.” - Toni Morrison |
|
| |
| | | A New Spot
When I think of the word “home”, two other words come to mind - “familiar” and “safe.” If you look up “home” in the Meriam Webster dictionary, you won’t even find the word “familiar” until the third definition, and you won’t find the word “safe” at all. For many these words have absolutely nothing to do with each other, and yet I think most of us wish they did. After all, a home is meant to be shelter.
When I was painting A New Spot, I thought about home a lot. In the painting, the cheetah doesn’t fit in with her surroundings. This would not be her natural environment or chosen habitat (lovely as it is), but there is shelter and I think she’s absolutely making it work. I’ve had many homes in many places, and I’ve lived in Virginia longer than anywhere else, yet if strangers ask me “Where are you from?” my heart still says “South Africa” while my brain knows it is truer and simpler to just say “here”. |
|
|
| As is not at all unusual, I cried a bit while painting this piece. It brought up a lot of feelings for me. After all this time I still long to “go home” sometimes. That makes no sense because I know I cannot claim South Africa as my own, and also, when I lived there I was neither safe inside or outside of my home. The family and community who were once familiar are now long estranged. I had to shelter myself from those who were meant to shelter me.
Still, I miss so much about my place of birth/childhood, a truly beautiful country with so many lovely people and customs. I wish I could show my children the land that helped form me. When I was four, my parents (fundamentalist evangelical missionaries) came back to the states for a year’s furlough and we spent much of that time on the road. My mother said that on these trips I would routinely ask “When are we going home?” “Soon,” she would say, to which I would always reply “No, I mean my real home.”
Really, my heart is “here” wherever here is. I carry home with me. I feel safe and familiar with myself and with the little family I have built and chosen and that feels nice. Even when teary, I am immensely grateful.
Turning my thoughts outward, I think of “home” in a broader context and how terrified people here in the US are as so many are literally being pulled from their own home and sent “back to where they came from” or unjustly imprisoned when this is exactly where they belong (or should belong). At the same time, I speak to others who are terrified because they now feel trapped in a home country that is not safe, unable to relocate. I also think about those an ocean away facing genocide, literally being robbed of their home through starvation and war, and my heart and mind cannot fully fathom the greed and cruelty of mankind. The violence we are willing to commit over man-made borders, over who is entitled to feel “at home,” and who isn’t seems to know no limits.
The freedom to move freely in this world, the feeling of belonging, and the ability to experience true shelter - isn’t this what everyone wants for themselves? How then can we not want it for others?
|
|
|
|
| The progression. This one proved very tedious between all those leaves, petals and spots, but as with all big tasks, breaking it down into smaller steps brought some clarity to the chaos. |
|
| | Cat Lady
I am 100% a cat lady and September is National Cat Month! Wait, some of ya’ll aren’t celebrating cats? Well that needs to change. Here’s a new sticker to help you with that! Those tiny toofs! |
|
|
| I think this one is technically domesticated, but clearly she still has a wild streak. Don’t we all? (I can’t be the only one who hisses at people.)
Anyway, if you’re a cat lover (as many of the best people are) you can adopt this cutie here.
“The smallest feline is a masterpiece.” - Leonardo da Vinci |
|
|
| This kitty sticker was created digitally in Procreate, under the careful guidance of Dexter the cat, and produced by the lovely people over at StickerJunkie. |
|
| | Fresh for Fall
I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to churn out some smaller pieces for upcoming markets and my space at Libertytown. For good measure, I have added a few cats! |
|
|
|
|
| I love how all these pretty little things look together! I hope you’ll stop by either my markets or Liberytown soon. I appreciate your support so much. Thank you for shopping local and shopping small. Your little choices really do add up. 💛 |
|
| | Upcoming Events
Feline Frenzy Sep 5-28 Opening Night - 5-9 Libertytown Arts Workshop
I think this will be a really fun group show and I plan to stop by for a bit around 6ish on opening night to check it out. If you like cats or art or cat art, maybe I’ll see ya there!
Art in the Park Sep 6, Sep 20, Oct 4, Oct 18 9-1 Hurkamp Park
I have four Fall markets this year and am bringing some new things! My youngest, Charlie, will also be there (at least for Sep 6th) selling their beaded accessories and I know they’d be thrilled to sell some pieces. Check out some of the fun jewelry and keychains they’ve made. |
|
|
|
| All of Charlie’s fabulous creations are priced under $20. So cute! |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reading…
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, Grady Hendrix
This book is described on Goodreads as “Fried Green tomatoes and Steel Magnolias meet Dracula”. I don’t think this is a typical vampire story although I’m no expert. (I never read or watched the Twilight Series. Sorry!) Still, I absolutely devoured this book.🩸
This novel is set primarily in a middle class Southern white community in the 80s-90s. The families in this story feel very familiar, living in the absolute rot that is white supremacy and sexism, but trying to wrap it up in a tidy little sepulcher. But what happens when an entire community tries to disguise bigotry as family values???
I think the truest horror stories are usually less about the monster and more about the terror of watching people continue to choose the monster over the victims. I thoroughly enjoyed this deliciously dark book, but be forewarned if you proceed, there are some gruesomely descriptive scenes - it IS horror.
Listening…
The Clearing, Wolf Alice “White Horses” and “Play It Out” = ALL the feels. 😭
Falling (The Art of Letting Go) Just a little playlist I curated with a combo of cozy, creepy, and dark themes for the coming season. What songs would you add? |
|
| |
| As I close this newsletter I leave you all with a few cat life lessons: You are valuable and lovable even if you’re not productive. Even if people think you’re a doofus, you know in your heart that you’re better than all of them, so just own it. You are a a majestic tiger, and you’re killing it! You are amazing at practicing personal boundaries. You deserve a little treat. You deserve another nap. You are SO cute, even when you’re grumpy.
Sending lots of love your way. As always, please reach out if you need or want. Thanks for being here.
WIP always, dolly |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
