Tag Archives: road

Oct29

The Open Road … Where, exactly, is it taking you?

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I have written before about my love of roads in paintings. Simply put, I love roads. The road less traveled. Where the road may lead. The metaphorical representation of a journey. Memories of childhood road trips.

IMG_5509But the road has become even more important to me as time marches on. On the lighter side, I love adventure. I love going places and experiencing new things. Learning and growing from these experiences. I like how the changing of your backdrop (location) lets you examine yourself in a new light. The continual lessons of the road. But it is the inner journey that has become even more important to me and the metaphor of the road within. The outward journeys are as much about the inward journey as anything.

Life is one long journey and yet altogether too short. Who we are on that road? Who do we choose to surround ourselves with? Who will we love? What will we choose to stand for?  We all have our own choices of how we will view the world.

IMG_0424I believe in the words of Joseph Campbell: “You bring your own meaning to life; that is the meaning of life.” For me, that means time in nature and with my dog, with my beloved husband and cherished parents, friends and family.

It also involves a love of work. Work, I feel, is what we do in life to give back, and giving back is intrinsically woven into my meaning of life. My meaning comes from sharing my love of art, art as a language that gives voice to the voiceless, as an escape and as sheer, pure joy. Art saved me, not because I was in trouble but because I needed this language to fully communicate, and I know art can save others — if only in the appreciation of it, the joy of it. And so this is my road. And it’s the road I paint again and again.

This road becomes more precious, more dear as I get older, as life happens to me, and what is important is elevated.

Where will the road take you? What does it mean for you? I’d love your thoughts in the comments below! As for me, I shall keep traveling along, enjoying each moment as best as I can, ever, ever aware of the journey!

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Mar10

Where the Road May Go Really is Up to You!

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Bump, bump, bump goes the truck along the dusty road, as the vast and beautiful Ethiopian countryside sweeps by. It’s stunning, and I’m enchanted. The road is a reoccurring theme in my work. I’m simply taken by the open road.

My latest series on Ethiopia is all about the road, as I look back on the more than 60 sketches I did while in Ethiopia — almost half from the truck. The road is a central theme. It’s about a journey, not the destination. On the road, you are already there, you’re right where you’re supposed to be, and the road reminds me of this.

I may be on a journey, but no single part of that journey is more important than the next. You may be filled with anticipation for where you’re going, but don’t forget to look out the window and be where you are.

Don’t miss the joy and fulfillment of putting the pen to paper, so to speak, and authoring your own life. May the road and these paintings remind you to stop, take a deep breath and experience the joy of being where you are!

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