looking for my mojo

I'm back. It's been a weird few weeks without my window on the world but now, finally, I have a new (to me) laptop, far less thrashed than the previous, so hopefully it has a long future as my right-hand man. I had no idea how much of what I do requires specific files and programs! It's not the latest MacBook, but meh! I don't really have a choice as I get my huband's office hand-me-downs, so I'm pleased as anything to have a laptop period, let alone a sturdy workhorse like this (IBM ThinkPad T60).

One thing I noticed in my absence (and, truthfully, beforehand as well) is that I have stopped thinking like a blogger. You know how, when you're posting frequently (or at least regularly), you start sifting your experiences through this kind of blogger's lens? If you're objective enough I think it makes you a better blogger. If you lose it it can be hell getting it back. Works that way with painting, too.

Speaking of which, I have started a new series of large paintings (more on imagery later) in which I'm trying out a few new ideas. Here I am adding some collage elements to the one I'm currently duking it out with. I also bought some lino-cutting supplies (this stuff is perfect for my needs) and am creating stamps to use for background patterning. The results are irresistably unpredictable and irregular -- kind of like blogging once you've lost your mojo. (D'oh!)

On the business side of art, I decided to try a new approach to marketing that has been somewhat less-than-successful. It occurred to me that a lot of lovingly-restored older houses on Vancouver's west side might like to have their portraits painted, so I had these cards printed up to drop into the boxes of likely candidates. Last week, in posh Kerrisdale, I test drove my idea. I avoided homes with front gates as the message there is pretty obvious, but at one house the gate was left open and I had a clear shot at the mail slot in the door. So I did the dirty deed and was halfway down the block when a woman came storming out the door, marched up the path and slammed the gate shut so hard my teeth rattled. Guess I won't be getting any of her custom.

Without a laptop at my beck and call, and when not working, I have mostly been carrying on with my conventional suburban routine of playing traffic cop to active boys, going to the gym, etc., but I also rediscovered The Printed Word. It started when I read two novels in two days (by Ian McEwan and Pat Barker) and has continued with Michael Chabon (thanks to a glowing recommendation from Girl Work Studios -- she was even generous enough to let me borrow The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay) though I've had to take a recess to go back to Barker and McEwan as three books I ordered just came through at the library.

Finally, today is a day of celebration for this blog. The post-with-the-most, Andrea Needs Help Finding Stalker Songs, finally got its 100th comment! It's not all Andreas (mostly, though) and about a half dozen of them are from me but still, I feel all happy and such (as Adam would say) anyway.