Showing Up

The art in small everyday things

As an artist and writer, I thrive on quiet. Looking out the window. Staring at the sky. Watching the dogwood bloom and the birds fly by. Today, I saw a pair of geese herding a large brood of fuzzy goslings from the grass into the lake at the park.

These are small, everyday things in and around us all. Things I know we see but maybe, don’t see. Like flowers and leaves and birds, they’re all part of our daily life. But somehow, they stick with me and show up in my studio.

Flowering.

When I pick up a lump of clay, I don’t always know what I’m going to make. I’ve made many vases, bowls and plates but in the last year or so something has changed. One day, I rolled out clay and out came a face. I wasn’t sure why or what it was going to be, so I set it aside. Another day, I walked into my kitchen and saw a vase of sunflowers. Next thing I knew, this is what appeared in my studio.

Then, on a walk I collected oak leaves. And this appeared.

Another day, I bought some poppies. And this showed up.

On a fall walk, I picked up some of my favorite ginkgo leaves. And this happened.

And they all seemed to have a ladybug nosing around. I do love ladybugs.

Now what?

Shelves in my studio began to fill up with flowers and leaves and ladybugs. Some had faces and some were just birds or orchids or hibiscus. I thought the bigger ones could look nice on a wall. But the squares seemed to need something more.

But what? I finally figured out that a frame was needed. This is definitely not my are of expertise, so I asked for help. My daughter in law had the idea of shadow boxes. My clever husband figured out how to mount and hang them.

And it all worked! Now a few of them are on their way to a local show.

Who knew that a sunflower, some leaves and a ladybug would show up on a wall?