I have received several emails recently addressing the topic 'guilt'. Do I feel guilty that I get to paint all day? Ya, sometimes. I feel guilty that Dan Barney could be married to someone who has dinner on the table and isn't distracted. I feel guilty that other people have jobs they don't love. I feel guilty because life at home could be a little bit quieter. I feel guilty that I'm not involved in politics. I can think of lots of reasons to feel guilty but...
when I get caught in that hole, I've learned to step back a take a critical look at the people around me. Are my kittens doing well? Am I paying enough attention to each of them? How is Dan Barney and what can I do to make his life better? How is the rest of my family and friends and my house and church job and business? Then the important part is making adjustments where needed.
Each season of my life requires different things from me so I remind myself to be flexible and be present.
I'm working on a video that addresses a little bit more on this topic. I worry about other women that tell me they are moms who want a career in art. It's hard work and it's a constant challenge to keep career in it's place. I've made the mistake before of convincing myself that I was special and this ambition that I have was a gift that will better mankind but really...that was just a way of easing the guilt. I'm also happy for anybody who chooses art as an occupation. It's gives life a depth that might have missed had I chosen something else.
So...do I feel guilty right now? Nope, just grateful.

Lizzy House

Following my college graduation (pre-teaching) I didn't really have a plan or a vision about my career. I knew what I loved to do but I didn't know how exactly to apply it all.

I'm amazed when I meet somebody like Lizzy House who is starting her post-college year with a bang. I met Lizzy when I was in Idaho the past weekend. Lizzy studied printmaking with Carla Jimison. Lucky her that she did because all of what she studied got her ready to do what she is doing.

Above is a picture of Lizzy's top secret new work. She is designing fabric for Andover Fabrics. How cool is that! You an read her blog at lizzyhouse. Her designs are very cool. I'm excited to see that fabric. Below is one of her etchings. Nice.

Jennifer Barton, Cassandra Barney, Carla Jimison

I was surprised at how well attended our show was at BYU, Idaho. I was pleased to meet nice people and answer lots of questions. People commented on how well each of our styles of working complimented each other and shared a poetic, real, feminine quality.
I wish that I had a photo of one of Jennifer's paintings. I admire the way in which way lays down her paint. Her artwork is sophisticated and has a quiet feeling to it. Carla's prints were beautiful as well. If only the artworks were small enough to hide in my purse, I might have tried to lift a couple.

If the man in the photo above had been a really lousy teacher, I might not be doing what I'm doing today. See, as a freshman in college, even though I loved playing around in with art materials, I didn't take it seriously as an career at all. Then in my freshman year, I took a couple of art classes, one from Matt Geddes and one from the professor in the photo above, Gerry Griffin. Both of them were really good teachers. They didn't discourage the little people who didn't show much promise. I'm so glad because my artwork was ...not so good. Really, not so good. It was great to have artwork in the very building that I took my first real art class and get the chance to thank them. I'm thankful for good teachers. I still think that teaching is the best, most important job in the world.

Dan Barney and I drove around a looked at where we each used to live and where we met. It was a funny blast from the past. We agreed that don't want to go back but we're glad we did it.