Friday, January 3, 2014

untamed studies

young Mary - a watercolor love
 Quiet.

I think quiet is such a gift.  It is exactly what I needed this week.  Today I have all the blinds open and the dancing sunlight is filling up the inner rooms.  The birds that haven't left for winter are outside bantering and singing.  The ice and snow melting off the roof  makes crackling noises as the house sighs and settles into winter hibernation. The holiday merriment is over and Christmas decorations are colorful memories.

Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays. I do...
But the snow white winter days, the quiet of a world in deep sleep, the unwritten-ness of January is a beautiful thing.  I do love a sparkling new start.


My projects for the year, my "progress piles", are stacked in rows on my desk.  You too?  

A new focus of study is always good.    

Lately for me it has been Antoni Gaudi.  I am his devoted apprentice and am working on ways to share him with those taking the newest class: Studying under the Masters Workshop (beginning January 14).  We, Antoni and I,  have spent weeks together (months actually) and I have decided that he is completely wild and wonderful, with a spirit too large for his frame!  I am working on projects right now based on his amazing works and my heart for him just grows.     


The other tamed/untamed fetish I have is my sunday study of the nuns.  I know, strange.  But, I am so captivated with their stories and the devotion they have to the One they love.  They teach me new and beautiful ways to look at the world.  I think passionate study and playful sketching is one of the best ways to live a creative life and they definitely provide the material. I don't think this is going to end very soon, perhaps there is a niche market for nun art? (ha ha!)

Do you have something you would love to learn?  Something you really want to try/understand this year?  I will be your cheerleader.  I think we can learn so much about ourselves and the world by studying the things we really want to know.  This is the perfect time to do it, too!  

L to R:  Mary mother of Jesus, Catherine of Siena, Hildegard of Bingen,
St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis of Assisi, quote from St. Teresa   

In the newness of this year and with excited anticipation, I am sharing one more important change.  I am going to be doing my own workshops and offerings this year!  Christy has been a great gift in my life, her love/friendship/mentoring have blessed me in so many ways.  Having her constant support the past two years has been a great experience.  I am so grateful!  We are such good friends and it is the perfect time for a big change.  I couldn't be more thrilled for her new ideas and I know she will always be a great sister-artist-friend to me.  

I will be sharing my new (and very sincere) offerings with you soon -- and I promise it won't be a workshop of nuns, lol!  

All around it looks like a year of new and surprising adventures...I am ready.  Are you?  

So much love for you... 
in gesso and Jesus,
jj


And...as always...the sheep will be involved.  xo



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