A: What has your journey to your current artistry been?
E: Paints, paper, clay, chalk, clay, playing, listening and moving to
music has been an important part of my life since I was a child. As
far back as I remember, I always wanted to participate in the arts. As I
got older, I realized the arts are a safe place to express what I’m
feeling, thinking, and seeing.
While growing up, I didn’t realize that expressing myself through
the arts was a form of therapy. The healing power of expressing
through the arts became so powerful that I decided to return to
graduate school and become an expressive art therapist. Shortly after
graduating, I was hired to create and implement an expressive arts
program at an alternative elementary/middle school in Lynn, MA.
This work was very challenging and rewarding.
After, so-called, retiring and moving to Peterborough, NH with my
late husband, my own paintbrush and paints called to me. I took
wonderful classes at the Sharon Arts Center and showed my work in
several art shows.
At first, my work seemed to express more from the ‘outside-in.’
Since moving to Keene, NH in 2019 and participating in Nicholas
Wilton’s Art2Life program, my work reflects more from the ‘inside-
out.’
Painting/creating continues to be such a safe, authentic way to
express what’s inside my heart and soul. The need to express through
the arts is a life force that brings creativity, comfort, challenges,
emotional and at times, fiscal sustenance, friendship and support.
More and more I can see that creating art is a metaphor for life. If
I don’t know where or how to begin an artwork, it’s okay to randomly
choose a color or shape or other material. You don’t have to know the
next step. Just begin and trust that I/you will be guided to what
comes next. I’m still learning to build trust and confidence in this art
to the life process.
A: You’ve stated you listen to music sometimes as you create. Do you have albums or musicians that you frequent the most during your process?
E: I do love a variety of music. I have noticed, though, before
painting, I will listen to Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Jim
Croce, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, etc.…and other musicians
that reflect my generation, the ‘60s. Perhaps I listen to these songs
now, because they are familiar, grounding and comforting during
these times of unrest. Ironically, this music helps place me in a more
trusting, comforting, safe space.
I did create a series of paintings to music with an Autumn theme.
“Autumn Leaves #2,” painted to “Autumn Leaves” sung by Eva
Cassidy; “Autumn Leaves #4,” inspired by “Autumn Leaves” sung by
John Coltrane; “Autumn Leaves, #3” played by Roger Williams; and
“Autumn Leaves, #1” inspired by “Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Autumn.”
A: What drew you to your career in education?
E: When I was a senior in college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do or
be. At that time, in reflecting back, I realized that I was a babysitter, student
teacher, camp counselor, tutor and loved being with my younger niece and
nephews. After sharing this information with my good friend in college, she
replied, “You’d make a good teacher! You’re caring, patient and love kids.” I
thought, at the time, what a wonderful, helpful reply! There was my answer.
I applied for an MA in Teaching at NYU in NYC and loved the program.
After graduating, I was, gratefully, hired full-time in an elementary school
in a suburb north of NYC. What I really loved was getting to know the
students and their family story outside the classroom. Going beyond the
academics helped me understand the children at a deeper level and develop
more compassion for their lives, which were, often, very challenging.
A: What does your studio practice look like day-to-day?
E: This varies day to day. Sometimes, I might need to prepare my
wood panels before creating a painting on them. That prep could mean
sanding the wood boards and painting them with white gesso paint.
Once the wood panels are prepared and dry, I will put three to four
panels aside for the upcoming series. Since starting the Art2Life practice
in 2021, typically, I choose a few acrylic colors and paint, shmear, drag,
dot, place them on my board. I let my intuition take over.
Typically, I might work on one board for about twenty minutes or
so, stop, then, move to the next wood panel, maybe choosing a different
color or colors. I continue to the third panel, also, for about twenty plus
minutes. These twenty minute intervals can help prevent me from
becoming too fixated and fussy on one painting. This beginning stage can
be fun and playful. As the process continues and more is shown through the
works, spontaneity can slow down. Painting can become more deliberate
while evaluating the sizes, shapes, color values within the canvas/panel.
A: In many of your works such as “The Beginning” you depict bodies in a way that is signature to your work. Almost blending in amongst the trees. What relation do you tie to the human forms and the natural forms you portray?
E: Since my paintings have been more organic and intuitive these
days, I haven’t given much thought to this excellent question.
Presently, what comes to mind is the beautiful interdependence and
symbiotic relationship trees and humans have to each other: the tree’s
need for and use of our carbon dioxide emissions and the tree’s ability
to transform carbon dioxide into oxygen for our existence. Trees
provide shelter and a habitat for animals; trees provide fruit for
humans; humans can help propagate and care for trees. Humans and
trees are mostly water and share similar physical characteristics. Each
trees and humans are completely unique. Like a tree, we stand upright,
have a crown on top and mobile limbs stemming from a central trunk.
The pattern of branches in our lungs is similar to the root system of
many trees. Trees symbolize life, growth, and connection often
representing the cycle of life, death and renewal. Both trees and people are symbols of strength, individuality, expressiveness, growth and interconnectedness.
A: Is this your first time participating in the Keene ArtWalk? If not, how many years have you
participated?
E: This is my second time participating in the Keene Art Walk.
A: What are you most excited to display at this year’s Keene ArtWalk?
E: I’m excited and grateful to have the opportunity to display
three new paintings: As The Crow Flies, Wetlands and Blustery Fall
Day in the Urban Exchange window. (It’s such a great store!).
A: How has working in art therapy shifted how you yourself approach your art practice?
E: The main shift seems to be creating more from the
‘inside-out”’rather than from the ‘outside-in.’ I can feel the need, too,
to grow more into and trust the art to life process.
A: How do you practice self compassion as an artist in moments of burn out, block, or frustration?
E: Another great question. I think the first step is to notice and
acknowledge these challenging moments. Expressing these
moments and the feelings that come up with them and perhaps,
sharing them with a trusted, understanding friend can be very
helpful, too. After, finally, acknowledging ‘burn out’ and expressing
it aloud, I find it helpful to do something completely different,
i.e. take a walk, listen to music, see a movie, be with friends,
drive to a pretty place, etc. With a ‘block,’ I might do the same
alternatives as ‘burn out.’ It helps to even create a picture of what the
‘block’ looks like and/or what ‘burnout’ feels like. Expressing
‘frustration’ helps a lot, too. Screaming into a pillow can be very
satisfying. Acknowledging and expressing these emotions helps
release them and move on. It does help to know other creatives
and us humans experience these emotions, as well, and that, with
time and patience, we can experience, with less angst, self-
compassion more easily and effortlessly.
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