Entering the Cave
Well well well here we are again - look at me being accountable and getting my second newsletter out in a timely fashion!
My big news is that I turned FORTY (!!!) at the end of July. To mark such an important life milestone I wanted to go someplace I’d never been, and bask in the beauty and fresh perspective that traveling can provide. I figured as long as I’m entering middle age, I may as well do so on vacation to soften any potential feelings of ennui and despair that could arise! (LOL, I kid! I’m very honored and excited to be entering my fourth decade! No bad feelings here!) The timing worked out perfectly where one of my best friends and I were able to travel to Mexico City for a little over a week. Most of this newsletter will be dedicated to that trip and what I thought about and looked at during that time.
MEANDERING THOUGHTS:
I started my vacation in the most luxurious way possible - being randomly bumped up to first class on the initial flight of my journey - ooh la la! I settled in and ended up watching what may be my new favorite film - La Chimera. I’m a real sucker for magic realism and films that weave elements of fable and mythology into their storytelling, and this did NOT disappoint. Plus, Josh O’Connor! Isabella Rossellini! Italian countryside! Bellissima! It was truly exquisite.
Much of the reoccurring imagery of the film was digging underground and caves - which interestingly was the start to an ongoing theme throughout our entire trip. We had not one but TWO cave experiences, and each time our guides suggested we view our re-emergence back into the world as a sort of rebirth. Which I decided was a perfect way to symbolize entering my fourth decade.
I’m very interested in this phenomenon of seeking meaning in reoccurring symbols or events in our lives. (Is there a specific word for this? Synchronicity? Meaningful Coincidence?) Have you ever gone shopping (this usually happens to me in a thrift store) and looked down and realized that everything you picked out fits within a certain color palette? I think this is one of the “big ongoing questions" that many of us try to navigate, especially as artists. Do we grasp onto similarities and patterns to make more beauty and meaning in our lives? Or is this just fanciful projection on our part? And if so, what does it mean that we continue to do so, even in the face of disbelief? I’m not feeling very articulate about these concepts, so perhaps it’s time to delve into some Jungian concepts and get more acquainted.
In any case, I’m going to gleefully accept the cave imagery into my personal lore and continue to tell anyone who will listen that I’ve entered my midlife in the most symbolic way possible.
IN THE STUDIO:
I’m getting back into the swing of things, but still basking in the post-vacation refreshment glow. Isn’t it funny how after a much needed break, suddenly everything feels less urgent? I’m hoping to continue feeling that by giving myself the gift of STRUCTURED TIME OFF.
What this looks like for me at the moment is taking one day a week (Sunday) completely off. No emails, no client contact, ZERO, ZIP, ZILCH, NADA.
Then one day a week (Monday) is reserved exclusively for personal work. These are days that I write this newsletter, look at inspiration, paint things for FUN, and work on pieces for upcoming art shows. Again, no client work allowed, although I have been catching myself responding to emails or doing a bit of prep work if something is scheduled for the following day, or weighing on my mind.
I am currently on week three of putting this into practice, and while it’s been challenging at times, it’s ultimately making me feel more rested and excited about going into the studio for the remainder of the week. No one wants a resentful sign painter, grumpy about their workload and saying yes to too many projects! Which makes me curious about how other self-employed creatives structure their week and workload. Have you come across something that works specifically for you? I’m finding more and more that creating a loose-ish structure and committing to it (both physically AND mentally) is the best model for me currently.
WHAT I’M LOOKING AT:
One of our days in Mexico City was spent biking around Coyoacán, and visiting the Frida Kahlo Museum - which I loved but really wished it was less crowded. I felt rushed and a bit disconnected - I wanted being in the space to feel more meaningful than it was feeling irl. Now that I’m home and have processed the trip a bit more, I’ve *almost* accepted that reality, and going through photos I’m finding all the secret special details of the house. Like how the doves and Frida & Diego spelled out on the walls in the kitchen are actually made up of teeny tiny ceramic cups! Which goes to show that instead of feeling rushed and acting on that feeling, perhaps I could have felt rushed and *still stayed put* - looking more slowly and deliberately. The power of taking up and owning your space!
In any case, I’m grateful to have photos to look back at, and I can notice little things in those that I may have missed in person. And, I’ll just have to go back to the museum another time to soak it all up!
We also visited the Museo de Arte Popular where I fell in love with this Árbol de la Vida (Tree of Life) candelabra. This piece is HUGE - maybe about 4-5 feet tall AND wide, and I keep wondering how long it took to make. (According to Wikipedia, these pieces can take anywhere from two weeks to three months to create, with extremely large pieces taking up to three years! Trees can have unique themes, with the most common being the “duality of life and death and the relationship of man with the natural world.” Most of these trees are made by artisans who have learned to make them from their parents and grandparents.)
The organic yet totally symmetrical shape of these trees is so lovely, and I’m quite enamored with the little shrimp, strawberries and watermelons! (THE SHRIMP!)
While I was in the gift shop of the Museo Nacional de Antropología, I bought a copy of Marian Harvey’s Crafts of Mexico which includes a chapter on the Tree of Life and outlines in detail (step by step, with photographs) how these are made by visiting artisans in their studios and watching them work. I’m planning on reading this chapter this weekend, and then scouring eBay for tiny vintage versions that are within my budget, AND simultaneously thinking of how I can use the decorative elements in future signs or design work!
SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION:
Upcoming fall workshops -
Saturday September 14th I’ll be teaching Hand Lettering & Sign Painting Techniques for RISO at Outlet PDX!
Tuesday evenings in October (10/01 - 10/22) you can sign up for a four week Sign Painting workshop at Wildcraft!
Saturday October 5th I’m back at Makerspace Sellwood for the one day Intro to Sign Painting: Brush Lettering class!
Sunday November 3rd is the first Sign Design & Layout workshop at Wildcraft! I’m very excited to add this new workshop to my roster! It’s going to be a process oriented, gentle “critique” style class, with lots of useful feedback and tips on layout!
Thank you everyone for being here, for reading, and for supporting my work. Please feel free to reply with your thoughts, ideas and suggestions on what you’d like to see in upcoming newsletters!
And if you’d like to book me for a future sign, design project or private workshop, please reach out - I’d love to collaborate with you!
Until next time :)
Lovely reading! The "mondays for personal work" inspired me so much! I tend to feel blue on mondays so that would be a nice way to turn it around... Cheers from Berlin!
Thank you Elisa! To be honest, Monday for personal work only has been the hardest to implement but I think it will be so worthwhile once I get there! Cheers back from Portland! :)