Artist - Charles Foster-Hall
All of this reads more like a to-do list, and certainly if it were, there were be much more to add here. This just sums up a bit of my life at this time of year.
Head Cold
I recently read an article that viruses may actually help to boost our immune systems, sort of up-dating our body's hardware. At any rate, a nasty head-cold is still unpleasant as ever, and even though I admit it has been a few years since I was knocked off my feet by such a thing, I still consider it an unwelcome guest. But alas, it decided to pay me a visit, with Thanksgiving right in the heart of its stay. It definitely took me out of the big, pie-eating event, missing all those other dreamy food smells and the sights and sounds of my grandchildren laughing, playing, screaming and running in no particular direction as they all do on a sugar-high… their exhausted parents just trying to get through the day as best they can, and me, usually fulfilled with their love but eventually happy to go home to a quite house. Of course, I love my family, and so missed their company this year. All this illness left me in a immobile couch-state, with two dogs vying for any available spot I did not use. This resting time placed me well in front of the TV, which leads to the next topic.
Too Much TV
Oh, my god…. I always knew I was prone to watching too much, but this kind of lie-on-the-couch-sick exposure convinced me that there is a fine line between brain fog, brain washing and brain-drain, none of which are good. I did spend some time reading, writing (see below) and doing internet time, particularly Facebook, which in itself may be known for zapping brain cells. But TV… wow. Okay, cable TV is clearly inundated with subliminal messages, mostly to sell us something while it convinces us that we must keep watching. Becoming zombie-like, viewers are numbed into watching all those repeat movies, number one on the list being, Independence Day… followed by Jurassic Park, Twister, Tootsie, In The Line of Fire, Unforgiven, Die Hard and a myriad of chic-flicks, including Twilight Saga, Legally Blonde, and my favorite - Practical Magic. Not to say that I have not loved parts of these films, but I cannot help but remember that we pay far too much money to have cable, and I am wondering, between all those ultra-long commercials with short spurts of the movie you have already seen 500 times …. why?. Other shows I like to watch with mindless abandon are some of the DIY and HGTV home shows. I don't even want to get started on this one, but will simply say… way too much TV!
Package to My Mother & Sister
Every year, right about now, I begin to collect small items to put into a package for my mother and sister to open on Christmas day. They really have little else to look forward to, so it has been a yearly tradition which I thoroughly love to fulfill, but the time limit is rather tight, making it difficult to insure that the package gets to them on time. I know I should probably start buying these gifts long before now, but somehow that just never happens in my world. As much as I know they love opening their little, silly gifts each year, there usually is this odd commentary that comes from my 89 year-old mother… something like, "well, we love to open your gifts, but I really don't need anything". How do you send something to someone who wants to receive the joy of your gift, but not the gift itself? Every year I ask them what they need, and usually get the same kind of answer. My mom, " I don't want you to go out of your way or spend your money". My sister, "I would like money". I am speechless every time. Of course, I will send it anyway. They are like two kids, desperate for something to arrive, and if it did not, the disappointment would be far-reaching.
Grant Writing
Oh, did I mention that I am writing a grant proposal for the Individual Artist Grant through Houston Arts Alliance and the City of Houston, which is due January 6, 2015? Yikes! Needless to say, this is a bit time consuming, but well worth the effort, I think. Working on this new series, which will show at Lawndale Art Center in August/September of next year, I would be more than grateful for a financial boost to help to continue with this process, and very happy for the opportunity!
Studio Time?
Speaking of the new series, seems there are rare few hours in recent weeks to get into the studio. The piece I started (I won't say when) looks rather neglected, sitting there on that fancy easel. It calls me in-between folding laundry, grocery and holiday shopping, coughing, sneezing, head-in-a-bucket-of-water-feelings, multiple couch rests with all the numbing TV shows, oh, and those few art events I have mustered enough energy to attend. "I will be making more time this coming week", I tell myself. I remind myself that every year around this time, delays are common, and perhaps this kind of interruption is really a happy accident. Frustrating as it may be that the aforementioned head-cold plays a big part in this, there are times when stepping away from a project is beneficial, whatever the reason may be. I intend to make the best of it, confident that I will find myself well enough, very soon, and once again, completely immersed in the process of painting.
Oh, my god…. I always knew I was prone to watching too much, but this kind of lie-on-the-couch-sick exposure convinced me that there is a fine line between brain fog, brain washing and brain-drain, none of which are good. I did spend some time reading, writing (see below) and doing internet time, particularly Facebook, which in itself may be known for zapping brain cells. But TV… wow. Okay, cable TV is clearly inundated with subliminal messages, mostly to sell us something while it convinces us that we must keep watching. Becoming zombie-like, viewers are numbed into watching all those repeat movies, number one on the list being, Independence Day… followed by Jurassic Park, Twister, Tootsie, In The Line of Fire, Unforgiven, Die Hard and a myriad of chic-flicks, including Twilight Saga, Legally Blonde, and my favorite - Practical Magic. Not to say that I have not loved parts of these films, but I cannot help but remember that we pay far too much money to have cable, and I am wondering, between all those ultra-long commercials with short spurts of the movie you have already seen 500 times …. why?. Other shows I like to watch with mindless abandon are some of the DIY and HGTV home shows. I don't even want to get started on this one, but will simply say… way too much TV!
Package to My Mother & Sister
Every year, right about now, I begin to collect small items to put into a package for my mother and sister to open on Christmas day. They really have little else to look forward to, so it has been a yearly tradition which I thoroughly love to fulfill, but the time limit is rather tight, making it difficult to insure that the package gets to them on time. I know I should probably start buying these gifts long before now, but somehow that just never happens in my world. As much as I know they love opening their little, silly gifts each year, there usually is this odd commentary that comes from my 89 year-old mother… something like, "well, we love to open your gifts, but I really don't need anything". How do you send something to someone who wants to receive the joy of your gift, but not the gift itself? Every year I ask them what they need, and usually get the same kind of answer. My mom, " I don't want you to go out of your way or spend your money". My sister, "I would like money". I am speechless every time. Of course, I will send it anyway. They are like two kids, desperate for something to arrive, and if it did not, the disappointment would be far-reaching.
Grant Writing
Oh, did I mention that I am writing a grant proposal for the Individual Artist Grant through Houston Arts Alliance and the City of Houston, which is due January 6, 2015? Yikes! Needless to say, this is a bit time consuming, but well worth the effort, I think. Working on this new series, which will show at Lawndale Art Center in August/September of next year, I would be more than grateful for a financial boost to help to continue with this process, and very happy for the opportunity!
Studio Time?
Speaking of the new series, seems there are rare few hours in recent weeks to get into the studio. The piece I started (I won't say when) looks rather neglected, sitting there on that fancy easel. It calls me in-between folding laundry, grocery and holiday shopping, coughing, sneezing, head-in-a-bucket-of-water-feelings, multiple couch rests with all the numbing TV shows, oh, and those few art events I have mustered enough energy to attend. "I will be making more time this coming week", I tell myself. I remind myself that every year around this time, delays are common, and perhaps this kind of interruption is really a happy accident. Frustrating as it may be that the aforementioned head-cold plays a big part in this, there are times when stepping away from a project is beneficial, whatever the reason may be. I intend to make the best of it, confident that I will find myself well enough, very soon, and once again, completely immersed in the process of painting.
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