Dear Friends,
I have never been one to approach my artwork with the intent to express something specific. Rather, as I find natural objects that excite me with their beauty and grace, I explore how their forms can be arranged to create compositions that feel dynamic and thought-provoking. It is only once I am fully engrossed in the visual experience that the meaning becomes clear to me.
This is exactly what happened to me with the beech leaves. I have always loved seeing their pale forms quivering in the breeze, against the snowy backdrop of the long winter months in Maine. But it was not until I saw them emerge in pairs and clusters on my paper that I realized that these groupings are akin to what we have come to think of as “pandemic pods,” those relationships that got us through the isolation of the past year and a half. While I see this work as emerging out of the pandemic, I think that the truth it conveys can be carried over into a broader view of our lives ~ who, really, is with us? On whom do we truly rely, who do we really need in our “pod?” This work is about family and friendship, trust and connection. You can see this ongoing body of work at Leaves and Branches
It is truly amazing where life takes us. We have all made adjustments to our lives, and have had to shift our perspectives and lifestyles tremendously. As much as I have been secluded during this time, it has been an incredible experience for me to know that everyone, truly, everyone, has been going through this together
As many of you know, I have had the honor of being my children’s teacher this past school year. I have never learned so much, in such a short period of time. It has been an incredible experience, and certainly one of the great rewards that has come out of this shift we have all undergone. It definitely cut into my work in the studio, as I woke up in the early morning darkness to carve out some uninterrupted drawing time. (I am honestly amazed to look back at all of the drawings I have managed to create in the past year and a half!) It has been fun to share my work with many of you through social media. I had just started my online presence, on both Instagram and Facebook, before the pandemic began. I have found it to be a wonderful way to connect with other artists, and art appreciators.
Another unexpected surprise this past year was the invitation to teach a virtual drawing class through the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, ME. It had been many years since I had taught drawing, and certainly never through a computer screen! What an incredibly rewarding, challenging, and fun experience it has been, connecting with fellow artists all across the country. As we all know, online learning has transformed how we are all able to share information, and I am so glad to have had the experience of being on the teaching end of it.
All of this teaching has inspired me to run a small Nature Art Camp at my home (outside) this summer, which I intend to do again next summer. I did so many fun art projects with my own kids this school year, and I am looking forward to sharing that fun with others!
I am also looking ahead to this fall, when my kids will be back in school and I will pick up my brushes once again. I am very excited to resume my work in color! I also plan to do small group drawing lessons for kids, after school and on weekends. (This will be outdoors, during our lovely Maine fall weather.) I hope to teach adults in some capacity as well. Feel free to let me know if this is something you are interested in, for you or your child, and I will be sure to save you a spot.
I hope you are all having a wonderful summer. As always, I would love to hear from you!
Best wishes,
Whitney