I’m back to writing you after a long hiatus.  I’ve been doing lots of journal and dream writing, but that’s not for public consumption.  Paintings are leaving my life, going to owners; their exit feels almost more like a sign of a change in my life than “sales.”  Europa, above, caught in paint my interest in travel, ancient culture, Greek myth, and the ocean–and, of course, Europe.   And now Europa has traveled to her new destination, swimming away, founding a new civilization.

I’m at a point of change in my life, almost at the end of my “day job.”  It  strikes me, now, that “day job” has a slightly derogatory ring to it.  I suppose that the term is supposed to carry the message that capital-A art is the only worthy profession for an artist.  I have been lucky in my job as a public high school teacher; I’ve managed to maintain an art practice, and served a few young people.  Soon my life will be turned upside down.

This painting, “Upside Down,” recently sold as well.  It was painted for a film festival as a response to the Indian film Upside Down, a charming antidote to Bollywood and well worth a watch.  The white designs on top are called Warli, originally made with paint made of rice and used to decorate Indian houses.  We’re turning our own little house upside down right now, shaking out the dust and getting rid of outworn items, ancient papers.  But no matter what walks out of our life, something new and fresh will be waiting to appear on the canvas.  I rely on that.

I’ll be back to blogging weekly for a while.    It’s nice to be back.

Sincerely, Saltworkstudio