I learned that you should feel when writing,
not like Lord Byron on a mountain top,
but like a child stringing beads in kindergarten
– happy, absorbed
and quietly putting one bead on after another.
~Brenda Ueland
Returning to the studio after a long absence,
I found all kinds of art in process.
Some of it was well under way and I really liked it.
Some, well not so much.
I also found I was a tad bored with black and white
and wanted to try something different.
Circling around reddish tones yet again, I began.
Colors, brush, water, paper.
Time to get in sync with my own weirdness.
Stringing beads.
Thoughts accompanied me.
So weird, I thought.
I’m so weird.
It was a happy weird.
.
.
.
.
I simply kept on with brush, water, color.
Stringing those happy beads.
In the end, Brenda said it so well.
The best of times in the studio are when
I am a happy weird kindergartner,
absorbed in stringing my beads
and letting it happen as it will.
What kind of beads are you stringing in your studio?
Other things have kept me from the studio, nothing that was any kind of big deal, just the everyday things of life.
ReplyDeleteI have also had more than one kind of computer and Internet glitch. Some times I could post a comment at your blog, sometimes I couldn't.
So it felt good to get back to the studio. I am looking forward to connecting out in the blog world too.
We both just posted a blog post at the same time.. so here I am.. I love your piece the part of the Enso in it.. and I think we all wish for our 'kindergarten days' when we were free and played and painted with abandon.
ReplyDeletemy beads were flying all over the floor today! now if I was a real kindergartner I would have been laughing! I have recovered now and am ready to try again!
ReplyDeleteI love Brenda Ueland.
Hi Donna: Playing in the studio is a real delight.
ReplyDeleteHi Carole: Flying beads- yes that happens. Something to laugh about for kindergartners!
I'm glad to see you back at posting, Leslie. A little weirdness is so good for the soul, especially your kind of weirdness. I'm liking the red brushmarks.
ReplyDeleteIm Lucky I born weird.
ReplyDeleteNice to see you back
It is good to see you back Leslie and I fully approve of your return to childhood and your experiments with colour. I look forward to seeing more.
ReplyDeleteSo good to have you back in the studio and blogging. I agree with Johnny Depp...we're all weird in some way and should celebrate it. Love watching you play in the studio!
ReplyDeletelove your palette! it is powerful
ReplyDeleteI love this...the sweet gentle nudge
ReplyDeleteto fly my freak flag just a little
higher
and dump those beads on the floor
to see which sparkle the brightest:)
thanks for the inspiring share,
Jennifer
I was having an extremely low day (yes, I can tell this early in the day), until I came here. I've decided to go on a be weird. I'm going to do what I have to do this morning and then get up into the studio this afternoon and see what beads want to be strung.
ReplyDeletelove the post & love the red, Leslie
ReplyDelete"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." - Dr. Seuss
Ha,,,I love weird!
ReplyDeleteI also love the work you've shown here,,the signature style is so obvious that it sings.
I share my weird with my own personal kindergartner here on many afternoons.We each string our beads in our own way. I loved it when he said: "Babs, it doesn't HAVE to look like something, does it?" He's learning that abstract and weird can be our best friends, and I am in studio heaven!
Such a great post Leslie,,so good to have your blog jumping again.
Game on,,,string away!
Hi Jo: A reddish tint is so good to see during the winter.
ReplyDeleteHi David: Yes, its a good thing to be blessed with weirdness!
Hi Ian: Thanks and I will try to get further with the red this time. I do like the reds I see in nature.
Hi Jennifer: Play and celebration - good studio activities!
Linda:A little color in winter is a good thing. Thanks!
Jennifer:Beads on the floor - who knows where they will roll?
HI Kim: Yes, yes we must go on with our own personal weirdness. That's something to appreciate!
Catherine- Red as in nature - like rose hips, red osier dogwood, red berries - I love those in the winter landscape.
Babs: To have an actual adventuresome kindergartner in your studio - how fabulous! Happy stringing!
I had an aha moment reading this post.....maybe I was shy as a kid because I was always the weird one! Thanks Leslie for Johnny Depp's quote, it't just another reason I love him.
ReplyDeleteLovely work . . and the quotes: they're support of my "weird" passion for visual beauty via computer lately!
ReplyDeleteYes, Leslie, welcome back and warm yourself with color. Allowing the child to play is such a freedom. Enjoy! If we are all weird, does that make us weird or sympatico?
ReplyDeleteI truly love your blog. always a wonderful visit, a place to linger. Peace-filled. art and words. thank you!
ReplyDeleteoh
ReplyDeletehow I love this post
embracing
the weird kindergartner
yes
this is the edge
sliding
on this slide
play indeed
what else is there?
xox - eb.
LAM- sometimes the best way to re-engage after a break is just to go wild - be different , be free - and see where it takes us - and it is joyfilled creativity. Glad you are back into it and enjoyed it. Go well. B
ReplyDeleteune peinture comme une seconde peau!la nouvelle couleur aussi!
ReplyDeleteWhat a thrill to see your post in my sidebar and the new piece with the three little bowls. Love it!
ReplyDeleteAnother weirdo over here.... and now I feel a lot better about it after reading your post. I spent the morning splashing paint on my canvas backdrop .... and then ruined the good part. Ugh! Back to kindergarten and splashing more paint later when it cools down.
I just know you and I would have had great fun back in kindergarten...play yard, stringing beads, painting and clay molding...and smiling over our crackers and milk! Today or yesterday it's all good!
ReplyDeleteGreat weirdness here today, great explorations of magical weirdness.
ReplyDeleteI love this post.
ReplyDeleteJust the words "Stay weird" - perfect ;)
draws me magically.
I might add even more- never grow up and keep you always a little imagination
Good, that you're back.
many greetings
well, the beads are small and far between the crud of working and etc...BUT the weirdness? well, i have been told all my life i am weird, so i guess it's ok! stay weird, gurrl!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much everyone! Its great to be blogging. Tonight, home from a long day at the day job, I find your comments especially uplifting.
ReplyDeleteOn with our weirdness!
isn't it grand to know there is so much weird out in the world. wishing my marking was done so I had a little weird time today!
ReplyDeletethis is fun.
ReplyDeletemy k-teacher was such a disaster i almost dropped out of school before first grade. :)
I love Brenda Uland too.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see you play with color. wonder what will evolve from this.
play is an essential word for stimulating creativity I think. Weird would be a new one for me, I've never thought of myself as weird exactly. a bit odd perhaps.
johnny's not only so darn handsome, but right. we're all weird.....sometimes it seems i am more playful with art making in groups; sometimes out doors; i like the analogy of stringing beads. .... one at a time. i always enjoy the feel of freeness in your mark making..but what do i know? ===i'm WEIRD! grin.
ReplyDeletesitting happily with one bead at a time, following the slender trail of a simple task, repetitive, soothing, calming . . . how marvelous for us that you shared this with us! Many thanks and I wish you a peace-filled holiday, Leslie
ReplyDeleteI read Brenda's quote yesterday and brought it into the studio with me today. Her words have a sturdy, plain simplicity to them that makes a sacred kind of sense. I love the image of a child stringing beads. In my imagination, she is three years old, sitting on the floor with her chubby legs crossed and holding large colored wooden beads. Thanks for the inspiration Leslie, as always: )
ReplyDeleteHappy weird! I love that!!
ReplyDeleteHi Leslie - lovely to see you back at work (or play...). It's a special time when we visit the studio and get to play, and just see what happens; when our hearts and minds are open to exploration. And weird is good - knowing that it's OK to see the world as we do; a bit off-centre; a bit out of kilter (btw what a lovely word)...a little weird is good and we should celebrate! Go well
ReplyDeleteDefinitely stay weird!
ReplyDeleteAnd happy birthday too
and keep reading my GURU Brenda Ueland
she is a constant inspiration to me.
leslie, i thought i'd revisit to tell you that at school yesterday they had a little discussion about me. about IF i was weird. apparently, i still am. thought i'd keep you updated!
ReplyDeleteand i really like your vessels-the top pic.
Merry Christmas Leslie and happy holidays to you!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for all of the inspiration
and wunderful Post!
I love the idea of happy weird kindergartner!! Lovely and inspiring post Leslie - thank you for sharing your bead stringing!
ReplyDeleteHi Leslie!
ReplyDeleteI love thinking that bits of red might be entering into your work. Love the Depp quote...
Happy New Year!