As a contemporary of your parents (and mother of a son called Tom!) I'm utterly charmed by this piece - not just by the two of them and their abundant creativity, but by your tender and thoughtful appreciation of them, while cunningly avoiding schmaltzy tweeness! Bless you!
In the work I do with my clients I always see this shift. Once we have sorted out their SHEET, they want to start digging into their creative side. It's almost as if that's what we are supposed to be doing, and AI should be doing all the shitty tasks, like cleaning the shower (why on earth isn't it self-cleaning?).
So inspired by your mum. By her proving she's an artist by just bloody well making a lot of art, rather than sitting around sighing or ruminating about it. I'm 42, still figuring out what I can do, and I already feel too old, too weird, too slow, like everyone's racing past me, but I know the way forward is to just keep quietly making stuff regardless. Thanks, Jo, for being a light on the path. Thanks, Tom, for sharing her story.
Thanks Josie. 42 is pretty much adolescence in artistic terms. The internet has a way of making it feel like everyone’s racing past you, though, that’s for sure.
Your mum's art is beautiful! I love how she doesn't hesitate to utilise various techniques as opposed to sticking to one, yet you can see a common theme and style woven through all of these different approaches.
I was so worried that you were going to end this piece with her artwork floating down the river! Thank you so much for sharing her story with us. I’d love to be her neighbor.
This essay is so beautiful, as is your mum’s art. I’m exiting the workforce at the end of the year and it will be interesting to see if I start using all of the art supplies (and yarn and fabric) I have squirreled away over the years.
I loved Notebook and am about halfway through Villager (I think I’m going to need to read it twice).
Best of luck, Teri! That’s great to hear. I did write it as a book to be read more than once. It always amazes me when people actually make time to do it, though.
As a 53-year old who’s only just feeling like he’s finally found his place in the world, daily drumming up the courage to press publish, I absolutely loved this Tom. It’s never ever too late. Inspirational.
I would happily purchase a couple of coffee table books of your Mom's work. Looking forward to y9our new one, mainly because I want to see your new style of writing.
I've bought lots of your mum's beautiful art from her Etsy shop over the years, and had some of her prints up in my Dubai apartment, where they kept me and my cats great company, and were much admired.
As and when I have a little money spare, it's always her site I gravitate towards ... I now have a stack of things, waiting for the day I have my own space again, and can have what I want on the walls.
That was just what I needed to read, this Monday morning. Me and the better half are trying to harness our skills and get a wee business up and running and sometimes you need a bit of inspiration. Cheers.
As a contemporary of your parents (and mother of a son called Tom!) I'm utterly charmed by this piece - not just by the two of them and their abundant creativity, but by your tender and thoughtful appreciation of them, while cunningly avoiding schmaltzy tweeness! Bless you!
Thanks so much, Liz. None of us are big schmaltz or twee enthusiasts.
In the work I do with my clients I always see this shift. Once we have sorted out their SHEET, they want to start digging into their creative side. It's almost as if that's what we are supposed to be doing, and AI should be doing all the shitty tasks, like cleaning the shower (why on earth isn't it self-cleaning?).
Your mum's artwork is astonishing in its quality and variety of style and method. That she found this later in life is inspiration for us all.
What a lovely story. We should all be so blessed as to answer “art,” when asked what we’ve been up to all day.
So inspired by your mum. By her proving she's an artist by just bloody well making a lot of art, rather than sitting around sighing or ruminating about it. I'm 42, still figuring out what I can do, and I already feel too old, too weird, too slow, like everyone's racing past me, but I know the way forward is to just keep quietly making stuff regardless. Thanks, Jo, for being a light on the path. Thanks, Tom, for sharing her story.
Thanks Josie. 42 is pretty much adolescence in artistic terms. The internet has a way of making it feel like everyone’s racing past you, though, that’s for sure.
Your mum's art is beautiful! I love how she doesn't hesitate to utilise various techniques as opposed to sticking to one, yet you can see a common theme and style woven through all of these different approaches.
Thanks Ramona. P.S. Put your book in the post this morning.
Thank you! Really looking forward to it. I enjoyed Village and Ring the Hill very much, so it will be curious to compare the three 😊
Thanks for posting the link. Love your mum’s art! Bought a piece to remind me to hope - on this very dark day in the US.
I was so worried that you were going to end this piece with her artwork floating down the river! Thank you so much for sharing her story with us. I’d love to be her neighbor.
You are a very talented bunch! Her paintings are so lovely. I wish I had that ability! Thanks for sharing these.
This essay is so beautiful, as is your mum’s art. I’m exiting the workforce at the end of the year and it will be interesting to see if I start using all of the art supplies (and yarn and fabric) I have squirreled away over the years.
I loved Notebook and am about halfway through Villager (I think I’m going to need to read it twice).
Best of luck, Teri! That’s great to hear. I did write it as a book to be read more than once. It always amazes me when people actually make time to do it, though.
As a 53-year old who’s only just feeling like he’s finally found his place in the world, daily drumming up the courage to press publish, I absolutely loved this Tom. It’s never ever too late. Inspirational.
I would happily purchase a couple of coffee table books of your Mom's work. Looking forward to y9our new one, mainly because I want to see your new style of writing.
I've bought lots of your mum's beautiful art from her Etsy shop over the years, and had some of her prints up in my Dubai apartment, where they kept me and my cats great company, and were much admired.
As and when I have a little money spare, it's always her site I gravitate towards ... I now have a stack of things, waiting for the day I have my own space again, and can have what I want on the walls.
Thank you for this captivating piece!
What a talented family you are! And your love of cats is the icing on the cake for me!
The picture if the house in Dartington is stunning, I’m sure the Elmhirsts would have approved.
Thanks Lynda. I hope they would have too.
That was just what I needed to read, this Monday morning. Me and the better half are trying to harness our skills and get a wee business up and running and sometimes you need a bit of inspiration. Cheers.