kuophoto blog

I have just been under siege lately. Life coming at me from all sides. Despite the onslaught however, it’s interesting that for the most part I feel serene. When things are out of control you either fall apart, or relinquish. Notice that I said “relinquish” rather than surrender. I’m not raising the white flag just yet. I’m just letting go of the control that I never had in the first place. The irony is that the status quo or (kuo, yes pun intended…)  is still the same. Business as usual but with out the mental vice grip. Life is a completely different experience if you can live within this realm. But that’s just the thing. To exist in this radius on a consistent basis is the challenge. How can you exist in this orbit without letting the gravity of “life” suck you back into the  drama?

We had snow today. Or some version of it. It was not in the forecast and I woke up to a slushy sloppy mess. Too soggy for a snowman, too wet for the snow blower. Too overcast to be reflective and glittery. Well I proposed that we venture outside to make do anyway. What ensued was an afternoon of pure silliness and creativity. Not enough snow to go sledding but we rolled down the hill until we were dizzy and our coats were soaking wet. I hadn’t picked up my camera in a week and was going through major withdrawal but I got my creative fix by channeling Andy Goldsworthy. We worked with what we had, and even though what we were given was less than perfect, we did more with less than we would have if we were possibly given more.

"foundation"

snow boots

pair and right mitten

I’m glued to the book “The Artist’s Way.” I can’t recommend it enough. There are two exercises that are unnegotiable which are the journaling, and the weekly artist date. I am so overwhelmed every day in my life I couldn’t conceive of taking time out once a week for an artist date.  But once I committed to it, there was no going back. It doesn’t have to be anything profound. The artist’s date just takes you out of your “required” life in order to release the blocks from your creative energies. So in the end, you operate more effectively and become more proficient. It works.  So this past weekend I went to the DIA in Beacon with a bunch of friends. Best weekend plans I’ve had in a long time. I was inspired the minute I stepped out of the car into the parking lot. I said to myself that I can’t believe I don’t just drive up here all the time and walk around. The change of scenery alone was inspiring and a release. The creative juices were overflowing and I just could not drink it in fast enough. Getting so wrapped up in the doing, we forget about the being within the doing and when that happens what’s the point?

parking lot and berries

parking space

scarred for life. creepy ketchup bottle with moving "doll eyes"

program hat

serra

serra