interesting interlude

Yellowstone: spring 2025

This is a process post.  It's helpful for me to document my creative process.  There are clear patterns and by documenting my process, I am much more likely to trust the process.

ONE: I had ELEVEN, solid weeks in the studio.  See previous post, On Being Boring.  I had just been sharing with a friend how healthy and energetic I had been feeling over these past eleven weeks.

TWO: And then, on the eve of March 25, I got a migraine.  If you are familiar with migraines, you know that migraine days vanish.  I had five days of a migraine.  And they vanished.

In retrospect, I think this migraine was the result of all the deadlines associated with THIS, wrapping up.

In early February, I had purchased a plane ticket to Bozeman, MT to potentially meet up with Peter who was planning on taking a week to ski Montana. I had an agenda of my own: visit my "home away from home", Chico Hot Springs and road trip to Yellowstone National Park.

early morning soak (with coffee)

THREE: I had a WONDER-filled trip! I was filled to the brim with all the wonder of POSSIBILITY.

East River Road

FOUR: My travel home was an extensive 21 hours - VERY unexpected.  I flew everywhere except for where I was supposed to.  I could have just driven! And then I could have gone to Theodore Roosevelt National Park! but... I digress.  I really trust the process and want to trust the process around this too. AND Airport/ air travel particularly exhausts me so this was EXTRA EXTRA exhausting.

FIVE: I had enough umph to visit the Walker, a new installation by Petrit Halilaj - magical! and attend a birthday party on Saturday night (it's important that I prioritize this particular family for my quality of life)

SIX: I did have two, full studio days the following week and finished my thirteenth painting of 2025

you can go your own way, 36x48

SEVEN: I kind of crashed.  No, I REALLY crashed, AGAIN, on Wednesday and spent all day resisting it while getting NOTHING DONE. And this is not really true as I did organize two upcoming classes I have AND picked up supplies.

EIGHT: I surrendered to being worn out and did administrative work that had been on my list for so long. It's so funny - I am so funny - When I am painting in my studio, I always wonder when I will EVER have time for the admin stuff... DO I NEED TO wear myself down to in order to make time for this?  I HOPE NOT.  Something I had given up on in 2019, came together on Thursday.  I now have an e-commerce site for my 2025 work!

NINE: It's Friday and I am still worn out.  This week, I have gone to bed at 8pm (it's still light outside) and have slept heavily through the night.  Last night was the first night I slept more lightly.  I take this as a sign I am coming out of it.  

I have an event with a friend I planned months ago tonight and then I teach Sunday and Monday.  

I will aim for a fresh studio start on Tuesday, April 15 (exactly four weeks prior to Art A Whirl).

And...then...SUMMER CAMPS!