I think I saids a few weeks ago that I like ants, that I admire their work ethic and their sense of community.The phrase, “Go to the Ant”kept running through my brain and then I realized it comes from the Bible, Proverbs 6:6; “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; (Another translation says “You Lazybones!”) consider her ways, and be wise: 7Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” In other words, be like the ant, be industrious and take care of yourself.
Here we all are working together on the new show at First Presbyterian Church, The Faded Sea, which will be on view until November 17.
Video created by Janice McDonnell—thank you Janice! Doesn’t it look like we’re having a good time? We Are! And we’re very industrious, too. Like the ants but not exactly like the ants. In T.H. White’s novel, The Sword in the Stone, Merlyn the magician undertakes to teach a young boy named Wart all the qualities he’ll need when he grows up to be King Arthur. Merlyn turns Wart into different animals so he can learn from them; courage from the Lion, wisdom from the owl. He becomes an ant to learn hard work and persistence but sees that ants have only two ways of seeing things—done and undone. So he learns discernment.
In case I missed the message that the muse meant me to think about ants, Tuesday’s crossword puzzle had this clue: A three letter word for “One of a quadrillion world wide, per a recent estimate.” ANT
After a summer where the muse has been very generous with me, sending ideas for several large drawings, my well has run dry. I have no idea what to do next.
While I’m waiting for inspiration, and yes, I know what Chuck Close said—I’ll do some housekeeping. I have to re-do my drawing of the Jefferson Market Library, because I shortened the tower in a shameful way.
Twice, actually…
so I turned the page to vertical and its proportions are more accurate, but when I looked at the whole series I realized that this one does not match the style. So I did it over…
Almost done. I’m hoping fifth time is a charm.
Two good friends, Eileen and Darcy, artists I admire, looked at my work and said, “You need to go big.”
Hey, some drawings are bigger than my drawing table— Bigger still? That’s daunting but intriguing. Now I’m thinking about my first great love, this poster, “The Land of Make Believe” by Jaro Hess.
I’ve written about it before—it hung in my room when I was very little and I pored over it, tracing all the pathways with my finger. I even cited it in The Seed show, saying it was an early influence. Maybe it’ll inspire me again. I’m making list of things to put into this opus so we’ll see. First I have to rearrange my studio to make room.
For a last word, I have to tell you that my cousin Kate’s granddaughter, Abigail, came home from her first day in Kindergarten and said, “MomMom, did you know that we live on Earth?” Yes, Kate did know that, and they looked up a picture of Earth. And Abigail said, “I love living on Earth!” Me too.