Switching it up.
Drawing and painting keep me alive.
Hello folks,
How has it been for you? Have you done anything nice for yourself today? It has been a while and I have been in a state of flux as I navigate our changing world. I have been painting daily for sure (see above) and applying for grants and exhibits as an artist does. Rejections show me I am doing the work. Acceptance is also nice :)
The work above is based on the photo behind it. It’s a block here in San Francisco. An American flag is hung backward off a tree and used as a makeshift cover on a tarp. A red water cooler is set up next to it. The light in the corridor, colorful wall, and the abundance of green is what stopped me in my tracks. I took a quick photo so I could give the person under the tarp some space. It feels relevant right now to study this photo as I paint it. This is the way that painting keeps me alive. It gives me a space to reflect and absorb ideas. This process helps to give me courage to participate in the world.
In the past I have relied heavily on Meta to keep folks posted about my work but in the current climate I am shifting my creative energy into other platforms and finding other ways to share.
Creating is about connecting so in that spirit, I have decided to change this up into newsletter and give you a heads up.
Going forward you can expect more frequent emails with work in progress shots and insights into my process. Think if it as a quick peek into my studio practice. It will be tidbits and tangents of thoughts as I paint in the studio. It’s wild out there these days and I hope this can be a place to rest your mind a bit.
At the end of each letter will be the sites to keep up with updates on my shows, current art news and completed work, my latest read, my latest art date, cool stuff that makes me smile and a shout out. Who knows, it might be you one day.
This might not be what you signed up for. No hard feelings if you unsubscribe but I hope you stay.
I am excited to share more of myself with you here.
Talk to you soon.
Zoe
Latest Read: The Hummingbird’s Daughter Buy at your local bookstore or even better, check it out from your local library!
Art Date: Pacific Northwest peeps! Go to this exhibit and bring quarters, trust me. Transgressors
Inspiration: Mike Monteiro’s Good News inspired me. You should sign up for his newsletter. He has good words.
Shout Out: To my dad who is prolific at sharing himself freely via email which I find courageous.
This is #1 of Zoe Ani’s Tidbits & Tangents. You can subscribe or view the archives online.
See my work: ZoeAni Cara.app Bluesky
