for the love of art . . .

This is one of my favorite pictures of my mom . . .

as . . . Artist!!

 

I have such vivid memories of my mom in her "Art Basement" 

with an easel here, and a pottery wheel there, 

a kiln in the furnace room . . . 

and cabinets, and cabinets stocked full of supplies.  

It was like a playground to her . . . she loved being there . . .

and I loved watching her!!

 

She was always doing something with art . . . always!!

painting. . . sculpting . . . paper-making . . .

and woodblock printing were some of her favorites.

I remember her working with her paint brushes

and the smell of the paints . . . 

the papermaking screens and the feel of the pulp . . . 

the turning of the pottery wheel - watching the blob of clay turn 

into something truly wonderful!

And my favorite thing of all . . .

was watching her carve into a simple piece of wood 

with the same exact tools my grandmother had used years earlier.

I loved watching her . . . I loved being there . . .

I remember wanting to be just like her!! 

(I unfortunately didn't get the same "art" gene - as I was adopted)

And - no matter how many art classes I took or how much I tried . . .

it just didn't come as easy for me as it did for my mom.  

 I luckily knew the difference, choose a different path,

and am very happy and grateful for that!! :)

I do still love art as a hobby though . . . 

but - when you meet someone 

who has been given a true gift of an artful life . . .

you instantly know it . . .

and it is amazing to watch them . . . 

"do their thing"!!

 Somewhere . . . I have my mothers and my grandmothers 

original woodblocks as well as all the old tools . . .

It is funny - as I have been thinking about them a lot lately . . .

I think that today . . .

I will get them out . . . look at them . . . touch them . . . 

and maybe . . . just maybe - be a bit more inspired :)

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!!

xoxo - liz