Enthusiasm and the Art of Losing Your Mind

Work in progress, by Michele Bledsoe

 

It is rare when I introduce something new

to my beloved palette of colors…

That is an understatement.

 

But when I returned to my easel

after finally finishing my new book..

it appears that I have wondrously

and joyfully

lost my mind.

 

Without hesitation

I started gathering strange tubes of paint

one after another..

 

And as I fearlessly applied these alien pigments

to my work in progress,

I understood the true meaning of enthusiasm:

To be possessed by God.

 

Cerulean Blue, Sap Green, Yellow Oxide… I had to write them down so I wouldn’t forget.

Deconstructed Forests and the Art of Obsession

   Paintings by Michele Bledsoe

 

I am obsessed with trees..

and pieces of trees.

Planks and chunks

of carved wood,

branches and leaves

I paint them all the time..

cultivating my weird

deconstructed forest

on canvas.

 

 

Golden Raisins and the Art of Natural Beauty

Instead of our regular raisins,

my husband and I picked up some golden raisins

during our weekly trip to the grocery store.

 

When we opened the box

it almost took my breath away.

We marveled at the rich colors –

an assortment of gold, deep yellow and amber

tumbling like leathery gems

into our open hands.

 

Since we are both painters..

we tried to identify the colors we saw

in terms of paint:

Yellow Oxide?

Turner’s yellow….?

Burnt sienna??

 

As artists, we can only attempt to reproduce

these beautiful objects with brush and pigment –

We might even come close..

but they would taste awful.

 

 

PENCIL DRAWINGS AND THE ART OF PERSONAL MAIL

When Richard and I were dating

he mentioned how nice it would be to receive

some personal mail once in a while..

instead of the usual bills and junk.

As you can see..

I was more than happy to send him some.

PAINTING AND THE ART OF PARKING LOT TREASURE HUNTS

During breaks at work

I wander around the parking lot

looking for treasure.

Pine cones,

curling leaves

twisted twigs

a dead bee

a butterfly wing..

They follow me home

and sneak into my paintings.

 

 

42 Dogs and the Art of Repetition

42 Dogs by Michele Bledsoe

 

There are books on my shelf that I have read dozens of times..

maybe hundreds.

I could say the same for certain movies.

Experiencing such a deep passion for something

will do that to you.

Maybe it’s just me.

 

The painting you see is called 42 dogs.

I wasn’t trying to be cryptic

or intentionally weird..

the title is actually quite literal.

While painting it, I listened to Pink Floyd’s “Dogs”

42 times in a row.

 

 

 

 

Golf Pencils and the Art of Restaurant Dining

I usually don’t like going out to eat.

But, much to my delight..

a waiter handed me a piece of paper

and a little golf pencil.

I’d rather draw

than order antipasti.

.

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