Swinging from a Branch For all intents and purposes, I was an only child. People don’t generally talk about the pressures that occur when you’re an only child, especially when one parent is a perfectionist. My dad had high standards and he held everyone (including himself) to them with great consequence if a person didn’t measure up. Of course,Continue reading “Swinging from a Branch”
Breaking In I was not allowed to have a key to get into our house. Dad thought that if I lost it and someone found it, they would be able to break in. No matter how many times Mom would say, “How would they know which house the key went to,” I was not allowed to haveContinue reading “Breaking In”
A Bribe of Pennies I’ve been writing furiously. I start my days with an ambitious to-do list, having budgeted a small chunk of time for writing; but by the end of the day, the to-do list has gone out the window and I will have written a new chapter. The book is ostensibly my memoir of growing up inContinue reading “A Bribe of Pennies”
Bribes of Pennies I’ve been writing a memoir. This is how it starts. The Art of Resilience is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Bribes of Pennies Prologue I grew up on a chicken ranch in rural So California town called Chino. Chino was known forContinue reading “Bribes of Pennies”
Did Hardship Drive Creativity Photo by Pascal Meier on Unsplash My mom was a very creative person. Not in the same way as my dad, though. I think she was more creative out of hardship. Her life was a difficult one, growing up durning the Depression. Many had a hard life durning that time. She was not unique, butContinue reading “Did Hardship Drive Creativity”
My Dad, the Carver Three of my dad’s most beautiful carvings Dad brought home a boulder that was almost the color of a ripe banana. He picked it up at the work site he was working on as a contracted electrician. Dad had found the boulder and asked if he could take it home and no one objected, soContinue reading “My Dad, the Carver”
Slowing Down Is Not Bad Photo by Juliane Liebermann on Unsplash The discussion of “slowing down” has been going around for awhile. It seems that everyone is going at a breakneck pace to get things done. Things at work that were due yesterday, things on a to do lists that grows each day at home and every spare minute crammedContinue reading “Slowing Down Is Not Bad”
I Teach Art Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash Why do you teach art? This is a question I get all the time. I am not a formal teacher, but somehow, someway I can teach art to people. When I was a child about 3rd or 4th grade, I’d set up a “classroom” on our back patio. IContinue reading “I Teach Art”
Rhapsodic Photo by Dave Hoefler on Unsplash Note: This was first posted on my blog on aletajacobsonartist.com. I wanted to share this with you to continue the conversation. Let me know in the comments how you feel about this concept of “pending euphoria.” Have you experienced this in your creative life? Euphoria: from the Greek euphoros:Continue reading “Rhapsodic”
Another Walnut Tree Photo by Stephan Widua on Unsplash I had climbed trees for a long time as a child. It was an escape for me and I also had a different look on life, the yard, and my pretend life. (More on my pretend life later.) My mom and dad thought the way to make a childContinue reading “Another Walnut Tree”
Lazy Gardener Being able to grow plants well is called “having a green thumb.” I would say that my grandfather had a green arm. He grew wonderful fruits and vegetables. The flowers he grew were spectacular—tall gladioli that seemed to bloom forever and white hydrangeas that he learned how to turn into the most gorgeous blue. IfContinue reading “Lazy Gardener”
Embracing Change: Transitioning to a New Format If you’ve been following my blog and wondering where I’ve been lately, the mystery is finally unveiled. I’m excited to announce that I’m in the midst of a significant transition to a fresh format! It’s a journey I’ve been eagerly anticipating, and I’m thrilled to share it with you. Change is inevitable, and as creators,Continue reading “Embracing Change: Transitioning to a New Format”
Mark Making Back in September, I wrote a blog about my favorite mark making tools. I was going to follow up with how to use them, but I wound up writing about something else. I want to return to that original idea now because I love mark making. You might say that everything in art is aContinue reading “Mark Making”
Thank you As the year comes to a close, I wanted to send a holiday greeting and a big “Thank You” to all. I’m filled with gratitude and joy from all of you. Whether we met in a class or you purchased my art in some form, I am so grateful that our paths have crossed. I’veContinue reading “Thank you”
I Know What I Said Hello from HOT Southern California. We are deep into another heat wave. I find sometimes it’s hard even to think let alone do much. I’ve had the air conditioner blasting and fans going to stay cool. I just can’t deal with the heat anymore. I want autumn to kick in NOW. I know I saidContinue reading “I Know What I Said”
My Most Favorite Mark-Making Tools Summer is winding down and it’s almost time to get back to school or work or make more art or teach more classes and workshops. I have enjoyed taking my summer off from teaching. I did teach 2 workshops online. Some other artists/teachers that I admire have been wonderful inspirations. I was able to dig deepContinue reading “My Most Favorite Mark-Making Tools”
Taking A Break It’s been two months, and I have not written a blog post. I didn’t mean to take a break, it just happened because of all I’ve had going on. My garden has kept me busy, and sometimes I lose track of time. I have only a few vegetables, but there is so much to do.Continue reading “Taking A Break”
