A New Decade Begins - Art
Dear Reader,
I know – it’s not 2020 yet, only 2018. Happy New Year.
But this is the 20th year of my return to practicing art. True,
I spent those in-between decades fueling my passion and learning
about art from reading books and traveling to museums. My story
can be found by linking to my artist’s statement, “About
Judith Ferrara,” from the home page of www.PaletteAndPen.com.
What can two decades of making artwork look like? Please look
at the website’s Gallery and Readings and Exhibitions pages.
Since September 2004, I have used monthly Judy’s Journals
as both documentation and reflection, so visits there will offer
a more in-depth view of what one artist’s commitment looks
like.
It occurred to me that once adults leave/retire/transition from
their full-time employment, reading about another’s journey
might be helpful or at least interesting. For three months,
I will look back at my last two decades: January – art;
February – poetry; March – research.
What can it mean to finally have time to explore those passions
that began in childhood and wouldn’t go away? My first
thought is that it’s a do-it-yourself job to start every
day feeling as if you’re about to do several meaningful
tasks. Sounds like work, doesn’t it? Creating art and poetry
probably top the list of risky businesses. So, why do it? Because
I love it, am able and cannot think of myself doing anything
other than practicing art and writing. I get to work every day
possible, which is most days. I am lucky.
The joy of making art is unbeatable. The world, with its troubles
and confusions, falls away, at least for several hours. And
that’s worth something. After two decades, I have more
art in storage than has been sold, but I will keep making it.
This color exercise is the first piece I painted for a class
at the Worcester Art Museum in January 1998. I hadn’t taken
a studio class in nearly 40 years. I cried when I began to move
my palette knife through the blob of blues, because I was so
happy to return to painting:
“Assignment #1”
This is an archival ink and pencil piece I finished
2 days ago.
“Travelers”
It may not be easy to pinpoint what makes people
happy, satisfied or fulfilled because we are all different.
That’s why, when you finally figure it out, the fight to
keep doing it and learning from it is yours.
