The year of purity, part 1

I alluded to my "year of purity" in the last post. By no means am I suggesting that "The Conversation" is not important to art, and to the process of making art; I believe it is. I have also come to adopt the philosophy that work has to be seen in order for it to be art. So when I say that I am sitting this year out in terms of publicly getting out there, it does not mean I'm withdrawing completely.

Things come into my life which move me, -often in two's, which, if you know my life you would understand better. So I'll share two moments that came into my life within the past few days that shook me up, gave me pause, encouraged me and renewed my spirit in the studio.

Exhibit A, a quote from Ranier Maria Rilke:

Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves. Do not seek the answers now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions.

To so many questions I am, at present, living, I most certainly would not be able to live the answers. Tomorrow I register my little girls for kindergarten, and so begins the long, steady journey of transition into their own beings and their own lives; lives, which will include me for a time, but ultimately will be consumed by all that moves us on in life, in love and in spirit. I tell them to live the questions. I tell myself to have patience.

The second bomb was this video of the artist Sean Scully. Props to Sharon Butler at Two Coats of Paint, who mostly has worthwhile things to say about art, and more so about artists. I was not intimately familiar with Scully's work, but I have to say a part of me fell in love with the man while watching this video. I love what he says about making art towards the end. I love that he is at play in the studio, but also incredibly focused and serious. (and I love that studio!)

via The Guardian online

I don't know, it just sort of rocked my world. I love watching him paint at the end too. So I go into the studio tonight pumped up and excited and a bit sore from running this morning (more of my year of purity, btw). Stay tuned.