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Friday, October 05, 2007

DOTEDTSY or BE BRAVE




Today has been a good day. The weather's cool and cloudy--I even had to turn on my little space heater out in the studio, just to take the chill off! Love this time of year. I started working on four new pieces. I find I work better if I don't have to twiddle my thumbs while waiting for the paint to dry. So I'm being cozy and productive at the same time! Also, I'm rereading Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath at lunchtimes, starting today--I do love Steinbeck. And, I've already done one load of wash and cleaned the kitchen! Yesiree, it's a good day.

I've needed to be brave twice today. The first thing I did was to talk to someone who has recently accused me of some bad stuff. I'm sure she knows, deep down, that this stuff is not true. This is someone I have called a friend, someone I have defended and supported and all that other stuff friends do for each other. I realize now that we've never really been friends, as you don't turn on a friend the way she has turned on me. But--and this is the hard part--I'm letting that go. I'm not angry, just sad, but I'm not going to avoid her just to help her feel better. So I talked to her this morning, just the way I would have a month ago. I can tell she felt uncomfortable, but that's okay. I feel like knowing the truth has freed me in some way, and has certainly explained some things that have happened in the last six months or so...

I've chosen two pieces to send off to Somerset Studio. This decision has been complicated by the fact that I've sold a few of my faces. But I've chosen, because I realized that this is NOT the only time I can EVER EVER EVER submit something. It's just the first time. So if, in two weeks, I make something that I love even more than I do 'The Juggler' and 'In the Clear Wild Star Light,' I can send that in, too.

Not every decision is a final, momentous one.

Not only am I brave, I'm profound, too!

5 comments:

Olivia said...

Karen, you ARE brave and profound! Good for you! Isn't this a fantastic voyage? Blessings and love, O

Anonymous said...

How interesting - those were two issues I was dealing with recently: coping with people like your non-friend (they would always prefer it that you avoid them, wouldn't they), and the emotional anxiety tied to submitting cherished work.

I agree with Olivia - you ARE brave and profound!

Lynn Cohen said...

WOW WOW WOW...I am impressed on both fronts! Submitting your work is a huge awesome first step and I bet it brings you all good things in return! And you'll be sending more and more! And selling more and more. So cool. Good for you. Way to go! Congratulations!

And congratulations for acting like a righteous human being with your friend. Hopefully she'll get it and join the Just human race too. But at least you can walk around with your head held high!

Maybelline Jones said...

You are doing such a good job with this project. You should be proud of yourself.

Anonymous said...

Yes you are brave! That one about the "friend" - I had that about 2 years ago. It was really hard. So kudos to you.

Am loving these face paintings!

and, if you can, send along a little bit of that fall "snap" to the western shore of the Chespeake please. The weather here thinks it's still august....