Making Marks and It's OK

I have been away from a good place for so long.

Now as I make amends and try to reconnect, I find that I have brought my fear into my studio. The result is that tentative efforts to work have been woefully far from the free and expressive place that I remembered could fire and consume me.

I try too hard, forcing minute concentrations of detail into a twisted tight fist of constraint and control.

This is not working and this is not helping.

Me.

To be free and unselfconscious is the thing.

And so today, with graphite blocks and paper of different weight and texture and with anxious brain ignored, I managed to begin again.

Let go and make marks.

Graphite on paper.



Graphite on grainy paper.



And wondrously (how could I have forgotten?), graphite on beautiful, old coarse linen.



Now I think I might just be able to carry on.

Comments

Jill said…
You've been missed. "This too will pass". Jill
Unknown said…
Please carry on. Your work is beautiful. I am awaiting more Maggie lines.
Maggie Ayres said…
Jill... Thank you so much for your kindness. "This too will pass is truly my mantra".x

Tierza... I am very touched by your warm words. Thank you. x
Unknown said…
So happy to see you, I am inspired by, and love your work.
Julie Shackson said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Julie Shackson said…
Hope this phase passes swiftly now my friend. xxjxx
Jacqui Galloway said…
glad to see you back.
Jacqui x
Maggie Ayres said…
Donna and Jacqui...Thank you so much for your warm words. x
Julie... At last I can feel that change is possible in me and that there is hope.
Thank you so much for your caring x
Ann Scott said…
Maggie, Your words hit a nerve with me today. Thank you for expressing feelings I can relate too about moving forward. Your work is wonderful and inspiring. I hope every day will be better and I look forward to seeing the new.
Anonymous said…
Hi Maggie, I just watched your video about encaustics, brought to my attention by my friend Kim Rodeffer Funk. I love your way of drawing and making marks. Also, I guess we know those moments of creative fear so well. It's good to see your marks, and I wonder, what you might have created since March, certainly wonderful staff! Hang on in there:) greetings from Paris from Andrea
Rolina said…
I love your art and hope to see more in this blog soon!

Popular posts from this blog

Spring Fling 2010

It's Personal - guest blogging on my husband's site

A Studio of My Own