Artists are Always Working

what is taking root underneath your earth?

I decided to try out my new Lamy fountain pen. It reminds me of the coveted calligraphy set with interchangeable colored ink given to me in sixth grade that I adored. I bought the fountain pen after getting a gift card for filling out a paper survey that took hours. It was an actual packet that I hauled around the airport for multiple flights, half-cursing all of the time it took.

But nothing gets between me and a $75 Amazon gift card. Hence the new fountain pen. I’ve never spent $21 on a pen, but this is a very special pen recommended by

Nishant Jain

and

Samantha Dion Baker

- who am I to argue with greatness? Plus I had the gift card. I also bought dog food bc life is really romantic like that.

I really really like it. Smooth like buttuh’.

The watercolor paper I used has a gigantic crease down it and I - DANG IT - messed up one of the words.

I thought I was getting black ink. Ohn Mar Win uses brown.

Oh, the many ways we get ourselves worked into a bunch. I’m not doing this right!!! Or is this just me?

I’m really going to try and stop doing that.

This new school year is all about PRACTICE.

My new mantra is PROLIFIC, not PERFECTION. Read this by

Michelle Pellizzon Lipsitz

, be horrified to see yourself amongst the hoarders of unused pristine notebooks “bc I don’t want to mess them up” and then… throw off the shackles that chain you!

Make a mess.

This school year, my art practice begins in earnest. With my new fountain pen and lots of watercolor. (I wanted yellow like

Nishant Jain

but it cost $5 more and…dog food).

And we haven’t even talked about this quote. It resonated. Last night I scrawled down an idea at 3a.m.

Those creatures upstairs are always working…and down below, too…

“Let’s face it—artists are always working, though they may not seem as if they are. They are like plants growing in winter. You can’t see the fruit, but it is taking root below the earth…The life and the work are equally important. You cannot separate one from the other. The work changes the life, and the life changes the work.”
— André Gregory

Thank you, Caroline, for your blog post featuring this quote! and for the inaugural use of the fountain pen.

What is taking root in your creative earth?

Maybe we can support each other….

Amy <3

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The Last Part:

Coaching: I’ll be on the soccer field again this fall! Oh my, I still need to buy the new cleats I told you I was going to buy…

Back to school: Still feeling fall nostalgia. My youngest daughter is a senior. We’ve been here before…but I’m feeling it…will eat a burger for dinner as consolation.

The air: Can you feel and smell the change in the air? I love fall. SO MUCH.

Cold plunge: Still plunging with oldest daughter, Cope, who you may call “Professor” (her dream :) She just accepted a part-time position teaching medieval history at a university close to MEEEEEE….

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