I used to think that I had an unlimited supply of creativity. How silly of me. It’s quite possible that once the creativity has been used there’s nothing leftover for….anything. I can’t think of what to paint, what to write, what to cook. Solving problems is useless. I’m at a complete impasse. Is it just me? Is it the weather? Does it have something to do with being 48? Any ideas? Because that’s what I could use — a good idea. Or a bad one — whatever it takes to get out of this creative slump.

Wait a minute, I can’t even remember what I did last week.

Several things I’m doing or have done, in no particular order…..

Besides being a Pulitzer Prize winning author, Eudora Welty was a friend and neighbor of my grandmother and her sister. In a small town like Jackson, Mississippi, familiarity of such sort could barely be helped. It’s not often that I get back to Mississippi. When I do, the time is filled with eating and visiting, as all Mississippians are wont to do. This go around, though, I had an agenda. And on that agenda was a tour of Eudora Welty’s home. (It just so happens that my parents live spittin’ distance from her house.) The docents wouldn’t let us take photos inside the house, which is almost perfectly restored, even down to the books scattered on sofas and tables all over the house, not unlike Choctaw Books! (Must be a Mississippi thing.) This is me, rocking on her side porch, getting lost in the dreams that seam to float through the air in Mississippi.

What is it about that state? Maybe creativity is fostered because the whole state revolves around relationships. Is that possible? Mississippians could care less what you know, it’s all about who you know. Who is your mama? What’s your mother’s maiden name? And, oh, John is your cousin? How about that! My neighbor’s son is your son’s roommate at Ole Miss? You know Lou Ann? In Mississippi, it’s always a small world.

Aw, it’s so sad, the Byzantine Chapel at the Menil Collection closed its doors last weekend, to send the redeemed frescoes it so beautifully housed back to the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus.

Reese and I happened upon the final divine liturgy last weekend, and gloriously shared in communion celebrated by, and this is a big title, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. It was a particularly moving experience — more than once it brought tears to my eyes. Because someone else said this much more eloquently than I….

“At the heart of the Menil Foundation’s dedication to the Lysi frescoes is the idea of stewardship: the responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care for a period of time.”

Brilliantly said. So much to take from that. Reminds me of the little amount of time we had to guide our daughters before they left home. Also, can’t help but think of personal stewardship toward gifts and talents to which God has entrusted me.

There was absolutely no reason to paint this side cabinet other than I was ready for a change.

Also, I’ve been working on a commission all week. No photos, yet, since it’s to be a surprise for someone. It’s coming along nicely, though. Better get back to it.

There’s almost nothing better in the world than the smell, feel, and look of dusty old books. One of my first and fondest memories was visiting my dad’s office in Centreville, Mississippi. Dad was a small town preacher and his office shelves were stacked with impressive looking books. Walking in, I would deeply inhale, figuring that the books and my dad were inextricably joined, and since I loved my dad so much, I had better love books, too. I have loved books ever since.

On the recommendation of an author friend of mine, I visited Choctaw Books on a recent trip to Jackson, Mississippi. (I was there visiting my parents and little sister.) Stepping inside was like being whisked into the world of Harry Potter — it felt like the books were alive, magical, part of a story I hadn’t finished reading. At first I was spellbound, then I laughed in delight.

Some books were stacked neatly on the shelves, like the religion section (in the top photo) and the great literature room, neatly alphabetized by author. But mostly, the shelves were a tumble of seeming disorder. Don’t be fooled. The owner knows exactly where everything is….OK, maybe not exactly, but more or less generally knows where to find what.

To say that I was enchanted is an understatement. Even though there was an actual mystery section of the store, every corridor, every room was a mystery waiting to be discovered, a page waiting to be turned….and read.

If you ever are in the Jackson area and appreciate understated adventure, I highly recommend a trip to Choctaw Books. It’s located at 926 North Street, between the Belhaven area and downtown. If you are familiar with the area at all, it’s about a block or so from the old Jitney 14 (pronounced foe-teen).

Sweet tea, black eyed peas, fried okra….must be in Mississippi.

Last weekend, a troop of cute-as-could-be cub scouts came to visit me so they could earn an art merit badge. The young men were delightfully engaging and well mannered. Thank you, Troop 505 Den 2. (Is that how you say it?)

Last year, several groups came touring here for the same reason, to earn art merit badges. I wonder if this will become an annual thing?

The Amazing Reese and I were having a leisurely Saturday breakfast with our friend Rosa at her apartment when I was completely and utterly enchanted by the view. I was also enchanted by good companionship, delicious blueberry oatmeal pancakes, and the all important indispensable morning cup of coffee.

This painting is a very good example of a style I define as “fuzzy realism”. This isn’t an exact copy of what was there, but rather the essence of the building and the clear, sunny day. Ideally, some of the allure and charm that I felt that morning is coming through on the canvas, too.

There are no exact edges in the painting for the very reason that I can’t SEE clean perfect lines, not even when wearing corrective lenses….which I have a tendency to misplace, my glasses that is…..which is one of the reasons for the name of this blog. What drew me to the view, and the reason I wanted to paint it were the colors; the yellow wall against the Texas blue sky and the harsh shadow on the building. Silly me, I thought it would be easy to draw and paint. It wasn’t. I drew it several times, wiping it off in each instance and nearly gave up on the whole idea.

It’s a 22″ x 28″ oil on linen.

Doesn’t it look like this house in east Austin threw up?

I don’t know if it is, but it reminds me very much of work by collaborative artists, Dan Havel and Dean Ruck.

Taking care of business:

1. Putting the finishing touches on Texas Grey, a 22″ x 28″ oil on linen. I actually started this painting last summer. Don’t know why it took so long to complete. (?) Oh, snap. Yes, I do! One of my artist friends recently gave me a tip on how to mix greys. I tried her suggestion and voila! The painting was suddenly finished.

2. Painting the edges black on recent paintings. Looking at these three portraits, I can see stylistic similarities. For an artist, that’s a good thing. Part of the similarities are due to the fact that when the models posed they were in the studio, which has this muted greenish blue wall, hence the background color.

3. Adding finishing touches to this still life, a quince, 9″ x 11″ oil on canvas. When I first painted this, it didn’t have the middle stamen part because I couldn’t see it. Yes, my eyesight is not great. I am not a fan of painting details, the biggest reason being that I can’t see them.

4. Painting the 1/2″ plywood base for the glass mosaic table top I’m starting. This is the “water” under painting for the mosaic that will be created on top of this. Does that make sense?

February is heart health month. In that vein, this is the art heart I created for a member of the Circle of Red Society for the Go Red for Women portion of the American Heart Association.

I started working on this last summer, first with a practice sketch, and then on the giant heart itself. The front of the heart is very three dimensional, sort of like a wedding cake, which makes drawing on it rather difficult.

The back is a flat surface; much easier for drawing and painting. It’s been a long process, but today it is finally going to its rightful owner. I couldn’t be more delighted.