by Anthe on 10/23/2009 12:04:58 AM
Music of Maine
Well it’s been a while since I have blogged. I hope you have had a great fall. It feels like we may be heading into a cold winter although the past few days have been beautiful with a touch of fall/summer.
I have exciting news to report. I have been busy working on new paintings, teaching several students and baking many new concoctions.
This is not a complaint but an update. I have 5 new students and I am enjoying getting to know them as well as helping them develope as artists.
I have recently painted a few paintings and mixed media pieces, with more to come all with a musical theme. This series started when I attended the Monteaux School up in Maine while on vacation visiting my artist friend Dan Miller with another artist Bea Pitcairn during the summer. We went to a concert where I was able to sketch the hands and the feeling of the music. From my drawings, when I returned to my studio, I worked my sketches onto the canvas to capture the music. I worked hard to grab the musicality and motion and believe that the pieces so far accomplish my goals.
On another note...recently I saw the movie "Julia and Julia". I found it quite entertaining but realized for me the balance between writing and creating are much harder than they were for Julia who wrote a blog daily in the movie as she baked each of Julia Child's recipes. I have written poetry and children’s novels in the past however, it is usually when I am blocked and can’t make art. It seems to free me by moving from one medium to another still allowing my creativity to flow through another venue.
Julia in the movie based on a real life person, who was able to blog daily, bake, shop, and do house work. Ok maybe she didn’t do the house work as some of the scenes had piles of dishes but still the apartment was fairly clean.
Why do I mention this? Because I have been baking a lot, as I have developed many allergies the past few years. I am allergic to; all Dairy, Casein, Eggs, and Gluten... So you might say that I am leaning towards Vegan cooking. Since I developed these allergies I have had a hard time finding foods and or recipes that are interesting, good tasting, and flavorful. Through the search, I have bought many cookies, cakes, mixes, vegan food products and breads and other such goods which conform but mostly don’t taste very good. I have wasted money and time searching. So I have started working on my own recipes which taste delicious and satisfy my sweet tooth and are good for the whole family. I am experimenting on family and friends. Eventually I am hoping to have enough recipes to be able to share.
So far I have made and perfected a banana spice nut cake with chocolate icing, a mock butter/sugar cookie ( which has neither butter nor sugar but tastes like it does), and I am working on Greek sesame butter cookies but have not perfected that recipe. It’s close but not these quitethere yet. I have also worked on a stuffing/dressing for special occasions which my whole family likes. I have converted my mom’s recipe to one that utilizing Moochi, which is a brown rice base and vegetables, rosemary, sage, thyme, carrots, celery, red peppers, mushrooms, chestnuts, and some other variables.
I can see however why it took years for Julia Childs to complete her recipes and compile them into a book. Just the trial and error of portions, calculating, cooking times and flavors is a challenge. I never have been one to shy away from a challenge.Who knows maybe some day I will do compile a book of my recipes. However, I can’t imagine blogging my recipes daily.
So when I am not in the studio working on a newest project, I am either in the kitchen baking, cleaning or possibly... just goofing off... which I manage now and then.
And so it goes.
Does anyone really read these blogs? I often wonder! I haven't figured out how to track these. I had one person tell me that have so I will continue to write when I have something to say and when there is something I think you, whoever you are, might be interested in hearing. I would love to hear your comments if you are out there and reading this.
