And Now, Time for Something Almost Completely Different

Destination II, 12 x 12" collage on board ©2011 Kim Hambric

Always squares!
Squares within squares!

For well over a year, I've worked with nothing but squares.

I've greatly enjoyed working within the confines of squares.  I'm not done yet.  I've got a long way to go.  I see myself as progressing within these squares.

I've turned inward lately.  Not sure why, but I know there are plenty of possible reasons.  My dad's health.  Long, cold Pennsylvania winters.  Complete lack of art sales.  My blogs have been pretty much tossed to the side.  I'm not doing those things on Etsy I'm supposed to be doing.  I'm not networking or connecting.  I am still making though.  That seems to be the point right now.

Last year at this time, I was going over my mother's death from 2010.  As autumn began, her health began to deteriorate.  By Christmas she was gone.  Last Christmas was better, yet things had changed forever.  Another winter passed in Pennsylvania.  I created and my finished art sat at home with me.  By March of this year, I knew something had to be done.  I had to go somewhere, even if I would have to return after a week.  Where could I go?

I had some money saved and my husband had stockpiled some frequent flyer miles.  I wanted to go to the last place that had made me happy.  Last summer we had visited Portland, Oregon, and my mind had been obsessed with ways to return.  Briefly we had thought about moving there, but decided against that as our friends and family are on the east coast.

So, the only solution seemed to be an Art & Soul retreat.  In just a few days I will be taking a 2-day painting class with Jessie Reno, followed by a 2-day collage class with Donna Watson. Could this be just the thing to wake me up and get me motivated? If not, there's always another solution. Shortly after signing up for these classes, my husband and I took our first trip to Charleston, SC.  Gorgeous city.  Incredible art scene.  Fantastic food.  On our last evening there, we sat in the lightly decaying courtyard of Kudu Coffee (and Beer).  I mentioned that I could, perhaps, live in a place as lovely as Charleston.  My husband agreed.  Then he said, somewhat quietly, "I'll see what I can do."  Six months later, it is done.  His work has been stretched and tweaked and expanded and altered in numerous ways.  A home has been purchased.  Vast amounts of stuff must be dealt with.  And in early January, a truck will come to pick up our belongings, and we will climb in our car and go.

More on that story later.

 Now it is time to pack for Portland.