Less Writing, More Reading. Less Planning, More Making.

It's been kind of quiet here at jump cut arts, at least as far as writing goes.  I have been doing a lot of reading and making.  

My day job has kept the left side of my brain occupied, but my right side has been just as busy.  

I am hand sewing every night - so rewarding, comforting and productive.

I've rediscovered linocut printing, a process I tried years ago and have now fully embraced, and in doing so I found something I lost.

 

 

When I studied photography in college, many years before the digital revolution,  I would spend hours in the lab trying to get the perfect print.  

Having developed my own film (which if you didn't do right, you had to reshoot and hope for the best),  I could only see the final results of my work a few hours later, after a spot was available in the shared lab.  

This was a long process - not then, really, but an eternity by today's standards.  Analog photography takes a long time and it is an expensive pursuit too.  But for a 19 year old who loved the mystery and thrill of the photo lab, I also loved every minute of my mistakes and successes.  

I'd spend any money I made as a teaching assistant on more film and paper (and cappuccinos).   

 

 

So a few weeks ago smack in the middle of peeling a print off a block, all of these college memories came flooding back - a true moment of deja vù.  

Just as I panicked about exposure times and f-stops in the darkness of that lab years ago, feeling a thrilling bit of discovery and anticipation of work about to reveal itself, I stood at my table and froze.

Had I pressed the print carefully?  

Used too much ink?  Too little ink?  Did I frame it properly?  Would people get it?  Would people like it? 

My heart was pounding.  I continued to peel.

The print was fine.  

It was a very happy moment for me.

I traveled back in time to the moment I discovered  creative expression, the sheer joy of learning and making, and all the possibilities that process holds.  

I wasn't expecting it, nor was I looking for it, but there it was - I felt renewed.

As you can tell by the accompanying leaves, I started this post a few weeks ago.  By now I should be sharing ornaments and trees and white lights.  The leaves look nice though, so I'll keep them.

This little break from writing has been a good thing for me.  I'm really looking forward to a new year of creativity and I hope you are too.  

 

Take care,

Pam

PS -  If you haven't seen the Pantone Color of the Year (2107), go do it!  Finally, a color I l-o-v-e!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Jean]

I had no idea all those years ago when I picked you up from the labs at NYU late at night to drive you home!

[Warm Quilts]

"Greenery" - love it!
It's too late in the season for you to find leaves that color...but, Spring is just around the corner.
May the coming year be the best for you in finding new creative expressions!

[Kerry]

I love that Pantone color, too! Can't wait to weave something with it! I need to follow your lead and do less writing and more making. It's a goal I have for the new year, for sure. I'll be very interested to see your lino prints--that re-awakening sounds pretty wonderful.

[Susan]

Provocatively ironic color selection and description of importance, especially in light of the recent EPA leadership appointment which may set any and all "greenery" on the road to oblivion!

[audrey]

It's so hard to find the balance sometimes. I've felt like I had to do less writing to do more making too, but I know that writing about my process has helped me become a better quilter. I'm trying to get it figured out in my head so next year I'll 'feel' more balanced even if it doesn't look like it to others.:)

[Pam]

Yew, I remember it well! I had no money for transportation . . .

[Pam]

Thank you!

[Pam]

Thank you Kerry. Greenery is along the lines of my favorite color so I expect be making more and more!

[Pam]

The color couldn't come at a better time!

[Pam]

You've written some great posts about balance - I am always so interested in what you have to say! Maybe the balance for me is more making and less writing - at least for now!

[Jody]

I wish I liked green. As a gardener, wouldn't you think that would be expected? I love teal and aqua and the shades between.
I return to you for glimpses of the Sound (which I've never experienced firsthand) and the wonderful quilts that you make. Like you, hand stitching is a true love of mine. I like that you bring something very new and special to our tried and true favorite patterns.

More water views!