the summer of art & writing

Happy Almost-Summer! Tomorrow is the last day of school. I have to admit, this year has been an interesting challenge. Before teaching at the elementary school, I was working retail a few days a week and taught the occasional class at AIB or places like the BCAE. There was so much time to build and nurture my art career. 

Though it's been hard to maintain my art while teaching Monday through Friday (and still working retail a couple of mornings a week), I don't think I could ever have received a greater gift in my life than this job with the kids. 

The kids literally fill my heart with joy (I know that sounds so cheesy and cliche, but it's completely true!), and I also have the most amazing co-workers and fellow teachers. Everyone I've met this past year has enriched my life in so many ways. I've changed so much for the better, all from this one job.

However, I am really, really excited to have a summer to focus on my art. I have so many projects in my mind, and, in a few months, my second solo show at Three Graces Gallery. It's funny how this summer of working retail a few days a week will feel like a vacation when that's all that I used to do for work besides my art! It's going to feel like returning to a part of myself that's been lying dormant for a while. Thanks to teaching, I've really learned how to make the most out of my entire day - I hope to bring that productivity to my personal work this summer.

So in just a week or so, this blog will probably be more akin to what it used to be. I apologize for the craziness and lack of art this year. Thank you for sticking around!

All my love,

Amanda

John Steinbeck on love

Some writers feel like friends. For me, my main "friend" writers (meaning writers I read into the morning hours on summer nights, writers I turn to when I feel sad or like I need something, writers I read when I am happy - like talking to an old acquaintance) are Tennessee Williams, Anais Nin, e.e. cummings, and John Steinbeck. Who are your friend writers?

I love these words on love written by John Steinbeck in a letter to a friend.

New York
November 10, 1958

Dear Thom:

We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First — if you are in love — that’s a good thing — that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second — There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.

You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply — of course it isn’t puppy love.

But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it — and that I can tell you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone — there is no possible harm in saying so — only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.

Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another — but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.

We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.

And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens — The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,

Fa

fish are jumping, and the cotton is high.

Third Annual Creative Juices show at FableVision!

I'll never grow tired of FableVision parties and going to South Street Diner afterwards!

xo, Amanda

P.S. - I can't stop listening to this.

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

I received this in my You, Me, & Charlie daily mail and loved it and thought I'd share it with all of you. I hope you're having a beautiful Sunday. :) 

    Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
    Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
    Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
    Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
    You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
    Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata. 1927

Moonrise Kingdom

Today Kate and I saw Moonrise Kingdom. I found it to be breathtaking upon the opening scene, in which you get an incredible tour of the Bishop household. I found the whole thing to be aesthetically exhilarating and emotionally enthralling. I think it's my favorite Wes Anderson film so far (not surprising since it's set in 1965 New England). Every little detail was perfect. There were certain scenes that went by too quickly, without enough time to take in all the clothing, hairstyles, colors, and props presented. The soundtrack was incredible, too.

So this is my humble rave review, for whatever that is worth. 

I hope you're all having a beautiful weekend!! What are you up to?

xoxo, Amanda

gosling

A pair of Canadian Geese let me be alarmingly close to their gosling by the Charles River the other morning. I sat still while the curious babies crowded around me, and mom and dad let them explore. It was a magical kind of moment, as geese are very special to me. 

Every spring in Boston, I admire the baby ducks and geese. They are a marking point of almost-summer for me. I've never gotten so close before!

I hope you're all having a lovely May! Back soon with more sketchbook and art.

xo, Amanda

night owl: a blessing and a curse.

I can't sleep.

Exactly a month left of teaching before "summer vacation" (a.k.a. returning to my past life of retail a few days a week and painting constantly), and my night owl ways are creeping back quickly as though they've been summoned by my impending months off.

This whole week, I simply have not been able to sleep.

I am a night owl at heart, something I inherited from my artist mother that is perpetuated by my own feeling that there is always something to do, a painting to be painted, an essay to be written, a book to be read, quiet to be absorbed. 

I cherished my nights last year especially while painting for "Depending upon the nature of the beast." I would stay up till 4, 5, 6 in the morning painting. The thing is, I usually don't get to sleep late after doing this. I'd have to get up and go to work and go about my day as though I'd slept all night. But, somehow, I'd be fine.

Something switched this year. My wonderful new job managed to retrained me sleep-wise, and all year I have been in bed by midnight and still found time to do all the things I needed to do. I don't know if I could exist on 3 hours of sleep a night anymore if I tried.

All this week, though, I cannot sleep. Maybe I still haven't gotten back to normal after spending two weeks "six hours ahead" in Switzerland. I'm not sure if it's insomnia or if, subconsciously, I am planning on returning to night owl status as soon as school lets out.

This isn't my plan. I like getting a full night's sleep and getting up early and making the most of the day.    But part of me feels nostalgic for late nights in the summer.

They began with watching I Love Lucy marathons on Nick at Nite's Block Party Summer with my mom and sister.

In recent years, they include painting with the windows open to the city-dark, navy and glowing with street lamps, the faint sound of cars and insects and train whistles.

Sleeping with the windows open is so beautiful, I want to be awake to enjoy it.

There is a subtle thrill to seeing the sky change from dark to pastel and knowing that you spent all that time making something.

I once read that people are born pre-dispositioned to be a night owl or an early-to-bed, early-to-rise type. I believed that statement until this year, when I was so convinced that I had retrained myself to adhere to a completely new schedule. I'm beginning to wonder if I believed too soon, though, and am thinking that this summer will be the true test.

So what about you - are you a night owl? And if so, what do you think compels you to be that way? Are you an artist? A musician? Or just someone who loves the night? I'm really curious.

So I'm off to try and sleep now. Sweet dreams!

The Textile Museum: Saint Gallen, Switzerland

The morning I landed in Switzerland, I took the train from the Zurich airport to St. Gallen where I'd later be meeting Eleanor to head into Gais. I had a lot of time to kill, and found an amazing textile museum. Its hot pink screen-printed brochure of religious iconography caught my eye in a tourist info stop, and I made my way from there.

Museums comfort me while traveling. They are the link to home, the link to one of my favorite past times: being able to wander quietly, looking at interesting things; the time and space to think.

The textile museum has bright green walls, fabrics you can touch, a library of books (ancient and new). The current show was amazing: the textiles of the Catholic church, with pieces dating way back. They also had a screening room where you could watch the fashion show from Fellini's Roma. I sat there and watched it a few times over. 

It was the perfect way to spend my first afternoon in Switzerland.

I hope you all had a lovely week!

xo, Amanda

the swiss-italian sketchbook

Sketchbook pages from Italy, Switzerland, and Germany.

I hope you all had a beautiful weekend!

xo, Amanda