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Finding Ways to Adapt...The Artist's Life in the Middle of a Pandemic

5/11/2020

Life these days has been quite unusual for all of us. I use the word "unusual" and not bad or terrible or horrible or strange. It's been unusual - for me at least. I do know that these are and can be bad and terrible and strange all at the same time but I'm sticking with "unusual". My family, both near and far, are feeling the strain of the coronavirus as well as the oil situation that we find ourselves inextricably intertwined with in our businesses and life in general. We hold fast to family and, for me, I cling to my art.

I am choosing to see the sunny side of things here. I have been painting more and taken to sketching here and there. I've been quilting and weaving, too. Outside everyday I see more groups of kids on bikes riding up and down my driveway and the surroundng sidewalks. I mean, I know they've been here all along, but it's awesome to see them all the time and everywhere doing exactly what I did as a kid, hanging out in the neighborhood, playing ball, exploring nature and more.

I'm working this balancing act of being outside - because it's been absolutely gorgeous here - and also being in the studio working. The blessing I find I now is that I have fewer outside pulls on my time, fewer interruptions, and less distraction and that always helps with the work process. With so many projects, I finally - last night - put them all down in a list. As usual, I have prioritized them, again, and am working through that list. The extra time lets me be even busier being creative.

I am sad that we are misssing our arts markets and gallery shows. Meeting people and talking art - finding people connections - all of those I miss dearly. I know we will be back there soon doing what we do so I don't dwell on it.

I am grateful for all the artists that have made online learning even more available to me as well as the artists that have created new platforms for us to meet them, see their work, and buy their work. Artists always seem to pull through in a crisis or a hardship and become even more creative. I have heard the saying, and I'm sure you have, too, "what would our world look like without art". I doubt we will ever find out because no matter what we encounter, we will always create, we will always make, we will always work to make the basic beautiful.