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Shell Bundle, Leslie Avon Miller
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The true harvest of
my daily life is somewhat as intangible
and indescribable as the tints of
morning or evening.
It is a little star-dust caught,
a segment of the rainbow
which I have clutched."
— Henry David
Thoreau, Walden
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Bundle, Leslie Avon Miller
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Art takes all the
time I can give to it. And in return I gain the satisfaction of striving,
creating, expressing, and knowing what it is to engage deeply. Being an artist
is like living in a poem of sorts. I feel so very fortunate to be on this path.
I would willingly
give more time to my art.
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| Bundle, Leslie Avon Miller |
But that’s not the
way of it for me. I juggle between day job work, home life work and art. I enjoy most aspects of my day job as I
assist lovely folks who are in a predicament. I like people, so being a helper
is good work for me. I feel rewarded on the best days and I know less rewarding
days come with the territory.
I love our home and
take on the tasks which are mine with a willing heart, at least most of the
time. I am into the Zen of kitchen work. I find that preparing a beautiful meal
is a type of art in itself. I can even find some satisfaction in a folded
basket of clean laundry.
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| Bundle, Leslie Avon Miller |
I don’t think of
art as work exactly, more like a sustained endeavor, a quest, a joy. Most of
all I love the long hours in the studio, exploring and creating to my heart’s
content. Like the waves breaking on a rocky beach, exploring and creating art
goes on and on and on in an eternal rhythm. I can’t stop. I wouldn’t want to.
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| Furoshiki, Leslie Avon Miller |
I experience this
juggling of activity as a constant dance. If I throw in the laundry while I
cook up a meal, I can have the afternoon as studio time. If I can skip out of
work early, I can have an hour in the studio before supper time.
And (here is a
favorite) if I stay up late I can make some art after enough of the other
things are taken care of. To be fair, there are plenty of times I stay in the
studio and get called to supper prepared by my patient and understanding
husband. Much to his frustration, sometimes he has to call me several times, as
I say “in a minute, just another minute.” That’s another great way to carve out
more time in the studio.
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| Bundle, Leslie Avon Miller |
A couple of months
ago, I read a particularly inspirational blog post which was spot on about the
juggle and reward of having both a day job and a creative life. Fiona Dempster called
the dance creating an artistic life style. Fiona said
I can't quantify
how much living an artistic life adds to my life, my experience, my well-being,
my pleasure and my joy. It means that we think about art, talk about art, visit
galleries, contribute to exhibitions and have art-minded friends who we chat to
over coffee. Living an artistic life is full of joy and happiness and pleasure,
satisfaction and wonder. I think continuing to live a life like this will
be the best thing I can do. I am also grateful that I have the opportunity - I
don't take it for granted for a moment.
~Fiona Dempster
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| Bundle Box, Leslie Avon Miller |
I would add to the
list of artistic lifestyle elements the connection I have with artists via the
internet, like you dear reader, that enriches my life. Thank you for the
conversations we share. It is on line where many connections with other artists
are made and enjoyed.
This year I decided
to eschew many of the traditions of the holiday season, and focus on the parts
I really enjoyed. With this new mantra, I made hand made gifts for friends who
would appreciate them. I began to bundle. And bundle. Part of creating an
artistic life style is what I choose to do, and what I choose to let go of.
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| Bundle Boxes, Leslie Avon Miller |
It really doesn’t
matter how we engage our art and creativity,
as long as we keep dancing the
creative dance.
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| Bundle, Leslie Miller |
Our intention is to
affirm this life,
not to bring order out of chaos,
nor to suggest improvements
in creation,
but simply to wake up to the very life we’re living,
which is so
excellent once one gets one’s mind
and desires out of its way
and lets it act
of its own accord.
John Cage
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| Paper Bundles, Leslie Avon Miller |
The act of painting
is about one heart
telling another
heart
where he found
salvation.
Ai Weiwei
