Hello fine friends,

These past couple of weeks have been packed. There were a few more art deadlines that were stacked up that I have been working on. It’s a constant reevaluation of my words and explanations of why I do what I do.

I used to push back hard on this. It was my thought that my work spoke for itself. That was really a cop-out to avoid writing and to avoid trying, because that would mean I cared. If I showed that I cared then I could be disappointed. I also had a hang up about pumping up my own work. I know that hang up came from religion and ‘the sin of pride’. I could not stand shining a light on my work. In my mind, feeling prideful was wrong.

I am not sure when it flipped in my mind. I do have a memory of someone telling me that I should look at rejection as doing the work. I can see it as tangible evidence that I am showing up for myself. Rejection gets easier after a while. Regarding the pride hangup, I recently had a conversation with one of my teachers of a mural class I was taking. We both commiserated about having to post about our work and invite folks to our shows. Basically the marketing part of the art world is a necessity and feels a little cringy. He said this; “Every dog has to wag their own tail”. That sentence was a revelation. The visual of the dog wagging their tail just being happy. I can work with that.

My tagline in this newsletter says, drawing and painting keep me alive. It’s not always in a financial sense but that is nice when it happens consistently. It’s more in a spirit, vital energy sort of way. Drawing and painting keep my heart open and alive. It has since I was a child.

There is a lot of turmoil in the world. I think keeping my heart open is the most important work I can be doing right now.

I hope you are finding ways to keep your heart open too.

Until next time, take good care out there.

Zoe

Latest Read: The High Desert A graphic memoir by James Spooner. This was my birthday present and I finally read it. Good stuff! Buy at your local bookstore or even better, check it out from your local library!

Art Date: Hidden Harmony At Heron Arts. Featuring Joshua Rampage and Lady Henze. I haven’t seen this show yet but I have heard good things. I will am going to check it out before it ends on April 16th.

Inspiration: Mike Monteiro’s Good News originally inspired this newsletter and now he has a book of selected essays titled “How to Die (and other stories)” Git it!

Shout Out: To my niece who is in her third year of residency to be an ER doctor. To all the doctors who use their capable minds to help people.