Been a bit hasn’t it? I took a short hiatus from my work with Tampa Regional Artists as Exhibits Director earlier this year and returned as a co-chair this July/August 2019 with some fellow board members Gina Stark and Judy Milsaps. It was plenty of responsibility for one to tackle alone.
During that TRA vacay, I started working part time at my son’s daycare to help support our family’s bills (and help feed my art making need.
If you have been keeping up with my Instagram account, I took a break from the Cancer series as well for a bit as it was hard emotionally. I still can’t believe its been 3 years since my father passed from it. I painted some abstract expressionist paintings, etched glass and made books for a time so I could keep making art.
I couldn’t stay away from the Cancer paintings so once I got back onto a set schedule of work, family care, and art I was able to finish the newly added “CBC Butterflies” god forbid. It was previously titled, “Butterflies make the blood come out” but for some reason that title didn’t feel just right. Thus, “CBC (for Complete Blood Count) Butterflies” was born.
The next painting in progress is about my son. I did one of me and my mother, now its time for the next generation. He was born in a time of grief. He wasn’t even supposed to be possible, so the doctors told my mom when they talked possible side effects with her as I was receiving treatment in 1988. I apologized to my dad for not making him a cantankerous grandpa before he passed. Two weeks later after dad left us in that cold hospital room, I found out I was pregnant. He wasn’t expected but here he was when I needed it most. Not sure on its name yet. I’m sure it’ll come to me in time.
In words of the internet, TL;DL, took a TRA and Cancer painting break, etched glass, painted other things, started job, returned to both Cancer painting and TRA. Still an artist mom.