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Learning to slow down, because life's too short ~ ~ ~

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Liking Your Own Shape

05.16.2022 by Barbara Grant //

It took the scenic view of a beach in Hawaii to provoke me to action with my artwork. It wasn’t the beauty of the sand, sea and sky. Not this time. It was 30 years ago…

I was sitting on a hillside in the shade to protect my fair skin, a tablet on my knees, sketching families enjoying the open air. I noticed a woman enter the scene like walking skin and bones. She carefully set up her space with her beach towel. I could not avert my eyes, capturing poses quickly as if she was a model in a live drawing session. I was riveted!

Afterward… holiday over, I did my homework. I knew what I’d witnessed did not seem healthy. It had been an intense experience for me. I immersed myself to learn all I could. Back then the research was just beginning to come out regarding eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. I learned about body image and how difficult it is to escape the social influences that teach us to look in the mirror with critical eyes. I acquired an understanding of how control issues can intertwine with eating disorders and mental illness. And sadly, I became aware of the deadly consequences in many cases.

Anorexic Sunbather

What resulted from my immersion in this fact-finding exercise was a small body of artwork from my studio – an installation* displayed in an exhibit, which included an Altar piece, drawings of The Anorexic Sunbather and my 20-page illustrated booklet entitled Liking Your Own Shape.

It was a long time ago, but I still remember that at the opening reception various women approached me about the subject of eating disorders. Several quietly wrote notes in my comment book sharing their feelings. I specifically remember one woman, a friend of a mother who’s daughter suffered from anorexia; her sad eyes met mine after reading through my booklet, which was displayed on a music stand. Those are the kind of connections you don’t forget.

My Altar piece, was destroyed by water damage in storage some years ago, but the drawings survived. I came across a yellowed copy of the booklet in my files recently. Paging through I mused at the illustrations that flowed out of my psyche with such force. And I realized this subject is still relevant. I decided to have copies printed to bring it back to the present and into the future. It is available in my shop in three sizes.

Liking Your Own Shape
Liking Your Own Shape
Liking Your Own Shape
Liking Your Own Shape

* I’ve learned the Gallery is no longer exists at 1633 N. Damen Avenue in Chicago. But during the summer of 1991 it was Gallery 1633 Show 8: Artists: Aimee Chappell, Barbara Grant, Joseph Rodeder, Robin Bresemann, Micheal Hopkins, Charley Whittle, Wendle Yudis, Paul Lorenx Gallery Artists: Bill Boyce, Montana, Leslie Lenz, Kirk Smith

Categories // Art for worthy causes, Creative Process Tags // art community, art therapy, beach scenes, body image, eating disorders, view of self

Morning Exercise

04.27.2022 by Barbara Grant //

Here’s my morning routine once I’ve made coffee. I grasp the banister leading down to my studio with my left hand while doing my best to not drip from the mug in my right. At the landing I make my way straight to the watercolor table . . . 🎶 A n t i c i p a t i o n . . . 🎶 because, if I’ve left this space the way I love it, it is with something unfinished… when I left it yesterday it was still drying… I can hardly wait to see what’s next to do. Is it finished? This is the problem solving time – assess, consider options… ☕️(coffee emoji)

painting of birds
Through a Screen

Watercolor is not my only medium. In fact, I came to love this habit late in my career. It snuck up on me as I learned to use it working with sufferers of Alzheimers disease. It’s so fun to play with! Not that it is an easy medium to work with. Not by any means; it is probably the most difficult in my humble opinion, and the least forgiving. But if you just want to goof around and have fun, it’s a blast.

painting of butterfly & dogwood
Blue with Dogwood

I had been using scraps of paper at first, but soon realized good watercolor paper makes for better fun. Then I started using my little experiments for Bookmarks. Then bigger pieces for Postcards to send to family & friends. Then larger papers folded into blank Greeting Cards. Finally I $prang for nice paper with matching envelopes and have so many extra watercolor exercises I’m putting them on my Etsy Shop for sale. This is my spiel:

“I enjoy painting notecards as warm-up exercises: a way to test various color combinations, designs and motifs. If they turn out nice, I send them to family and friends. No two are alike; freehand, including my unique quirks and slips. They are originals – not prints! But since they are exercises and may include bloopers, I put a lower price on them. It’s still quality paint & paper and interesting composition. You will find them in my notecard section $4 each, free postage 🙂 “

painting of fish
Polka dot Fish

Categories // Creative Process Tags // don't waste anything! learning as I go, fun in the studio

Snowbirds

01.02.2021 by Barbara Grant //

snowbirds greeting card
I love watching the snowbirds that come to feed in our backyard.
  • snowbird
  • snowbirds
  • snowbird
  • snowbird
I offer seed and suet in squirrel-safe feeders to any hungry birds who pass through. Some of it gets scattered on the porch during the frenetic scramble for survival. This mess is what the mourning doves and snowbirds take their time to enjoy.

snowbirds

They began visiting in November and are so lovely to watch out the back door of our kitchen.

My Wisconsin field guide authored by Stan Tekiela says that the snowbirds, called Dark-eyed Juncos, are the most common of our migrators from Canada. On page 84 he describes how they feed under bird feeders, usually in small flocks and “double-scratch” with both feet simultaneously to expose seeds and insects.

So adorable!!!

*These little watercolor paintings are my studies for the greeting card I’m sending to family and friends as a blessing for the new year.

Categories // Creative Process Tags // feeding the birds, migration, snowbirds, wisconsin winter

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