Sometimes I'd Rather Be...

My Office

"I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love

than to be a success at something you hate."

George Burns

     I forget many things, but I never forget to laugh. Laughter happens. Reasons vary- a memory, a 'surprise', nervousness, but the best laughter is natural, an element of the moment, poured out. Sometimes laughter defies our control. Recently I was having a conversation with a friend, discussing some of the challenges of teaching High School. Before I realized the thought had formed, I said, "Sometimes I'd rather be making tombstones!" And then, I laughed.

Grateful for Solitude

     Life is best lived in the present. Today I fixed a toilet, outlined a book proposal, read a few articles, cleaned and filled Harry's litter box, watched a film clip of Monet painting and listened to a Patsy Cline album. My wife and daughter were out and about, having a Mother-Daughter day. My son was out with friends. Today was, for me and Harry the cat, a day of solitude. And I am grateful. Picasso said, "Without great solitude, no serious work is possible."


     The correct answer to a difficult math problem is a thing of beauty, even to those of us who aren't aware of what we are seeing. But few care to see the process; the pages of formulas, mistakes, numbers... and, so it is with art. Much of the process requires solitude. Countless hours spent with pencil and paper, palette and brush; the artist's due diligence, seen by none but God. R.O. Blechman put it this way,

     "...my trash basket is full of false starts and failed beginnings. Only after much work does a drawing become right."
Dear James, Letters to a Young Illustrator

    
 Today, as I was afforded time to make a few things right, I remembered that life is lived while fixing toilets and cleaning litter boxes. A good day. Here is an amazing video that also reminds me 'It's a Good day.'




And, here is Monet in his garden-

Sometimes I Can Hear

Castile

Robert Motherwell


"Sometimes I can hear the audience breathing."
Michel Camilo
Pianist

     In Thornton Wilder's classic play, Our Town, the Stage Manager looks into the audience and says, "There are things we all know, but we don't take them out and look at them very often." Our lives are filled with distractions, with voices crying for attention. We need silence. Yesterday was the Sabbath, a day of rest, a day of silence. It is on the Sabbath that I 'take things out and look at them', and in the silence, sometimes I can hear.

     

     I am a teacher who paints (as opposed to a painter who teaches, but that is another discussion). Yesterday I considered my calling; my goals as a teacher and artist. As usual, my questions led to more questions until I arrived at this fork in the road-

Is the goal of what I am currently working on to improve a skill?

i.e., to be better?

or,

Is the goal of what I am currently working on to be recognized?

i.e., to be better known?

     Recently my Dean of Students suggested having an exhibit of student work for Family Night. As I looked at the syllabus, I realized the goal of the current lessons leaned toward improving skill. I wondered, 'will the result of these lessons be show-worthy?' Working with materials can be messy. Sometimes progress is slow. But, as Babe Ruth said, "Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." So, I took a second look at the fork and found solutions. It will be a good exhibit. 

The Artist's View

photo by Samuel Carter