Progress (thankful for little things)

photo by Flickr user Laskhmi Arvind

I have a SuDoKu taped to the refrigerator. It is an 'easy' puzzle. Numbers are written in orange colored pencil. It also has a date written on it.   I have completed my first SuDoKu puzzle since the injury.  I have no idea how long it took me to complete. I just remember that it was hard to focus on something and keep all of the numbers correct. I kept checking my answers and re-checking.

When I placed it on the refrigerator, I felt like the kid who got her first "A" in math.  I know it's something to be proud of, this accomplishment, but I also know that it is one in a series of small steps to getting "better".  I have a niggling fear that I won't ever return to 'normal'.  But I also have a hope that whatever becomes of me, that I will be good and interesting and grateful. 

If you had the ability to re-shape your life, what would you do?

Arthood

My portfolio was featured on Arthood! I think you can click the pic to make it bigger.

CARF Butterfly

H.M.Craig, "What Lies Within Us", acrylic and oil on hardwood panel

Good news!  The above painting has been selected to be in CARF International's corporate collection! CARF International is a nonprofit organization that works on accreditation for rehabilitation facilities  (like the one I went to).  They had an art call for people who have been or are going through rehab.* There were about 1,000 submissions.    I consider myself lucky to have been picked.

Even better news, some new friends of mine, Luca and Sebouh, also had pieces selected! They have also had brain injuries and are very passionate about creating art. We have come to know each other because we all volunteer at Spaulding Rehab hospital's Peace Art Gallery committee.  Joan Horgan, the head of the committee, made sure our achievement was celebrated and brought in a wonderful chocolate ganache cake with all of our names on it. We met David Storto, who offered his congratulations.  We were also given a toast by another great lady....... who's name I totally forget (memory problems), but I can tell you that she had a beautiful green necklace (me and shiny things, go figure).  There were pictures taken, and Sebouh declared us to be the "Dream Team".


*art therapy is a big-time healer of minds and lifter of spirits!

This is When I Dance Around Like a Little Girl

 HMCraig, Opportunities, 30x40", acrylic on canvas

One of my paintings, "Opportunities", was selected to be in a TBI art show in Seattle.  I know, this is fantastic, right??  Wait, it gets better....   One of the local news stations, King 5, did a segment on the show.  Opportunities was shown a few times, one shot up close!!!   :)


Here's a link to King 5's segment about "Recreating Me", a show by TBI artists in Seattle, Washington.

I wish I could have been there, but it's sooo good to see and hear that the event was spectacular.

Recreating Me... a show in Seattle

HMCraig, "Opportunities", 30x40", acrylic on canvas

My painting, "Opportunities" has been accepted to show at and event sponsored by the Washington State Brain Injury Association. "Recreating Me: Exploring and Healing Through Creative Expression" is at the Burke Museum of Natural History from July 7-11.

The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
NE 45th St &15th Avenue NE

University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-3010

Art Committee

 So Many Things to be Happy About by Cobalt123 on Flickr

I now belong to an Art Committee that selects and puts on shows of artworks by disabled people. My first meeting was at the beginning of June. The table was surrounded by intelligent, compassionate, and talented people. This feels right, almost like I'm on a different road than I intended to go on, but the journey seems richer... as though I am taking Route 20 across the United States as opposed to one of the quick but bland interstate highways.   

Marblehead Festival of the Arts

HMCraig, "You Were Only Waiting for this Moment", acrylic on canvas, 30x40"

The lilac painting was juried into a show for the Marblehead Festival of the Arts.  When it was dropped off, I had my doubts whether it would be taken in or not (there was a lot of good work).  But, here we are...  :)

The festival runs from July 1-5, with a Champagne and Culinary Arts Reception on the 27th. I've been told that a lot of people attend the events.

The Administrative Artist (or the beautiful life)

photo by maessive on flickr

There is a book titled "I'd Rather be in the Studio", and it is a highly recommended tool to have for artists. There is another book titled "The Artist's Guide: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love". I know what the general perception by the public of artists is- people who get to play with paint/marble all day and have no adherence to the rigors of what the rest of our society has constructed to be a normal productive life (no 9-5).  So, here I was, a sundress wearin' croissant munchin' artist with paint up to my elbows, surrounded by flowers,  and a dreamy view of the world, when it really started to sink in.... there is a business side. There is a marketing side. There is an administrative side.   Uh oh.  Trouble in Shangri-La.

photo by angelalachan on flickr

No, not really... it sort of crept in every week. Blog. Check. Online website. Check. Submission forms for shows (with submission fee). Shipping arrangements for shows across the country. Inventory list (keep track of what paintings are where). Free online portfolio pages (to increase traffic). Marking things in the calendar with alarms (that pesky memory thing). Supplies log/ordering. Art Association memberships. .... 

This past week, though, it has been about business and post cards. One must have business cards. Postcards are also helpful to leave with artwork, just in case anyone has any questions about the artist or would just like something to hang on their refrigerator/cubicle/inspiration board.  So, I set out to design some. And then I had to find companies that would produce them (good quality for a reasonable fee). There is too much involved in something so simple (and my brain injury wasn't helping).  So, I made sure to order a lot, because I don't want to run out anytime soon, and start the whole process again (this may be a misstep, not sure yet).

photo by timmygunz on flickr

Yesterday, it was shipping and submission forms. Later on today, I am going to figure out how to get to a hardware store and get a hanging solution for a storefront. Tomorrow I have to deliver paintings, postcards, and a release form. After that, there is an art commission meeting. Sometimes, I am at stores (thrift, antique, grocery), looking for new objects to include in paintings.    I "work" on art all the time.  Just not solely on paintings.   

One of these days, I will figure out a schedule to relegate administrative duties to. The alternative plan is to get so fabulously well to do that I can hire an assistant. Wouldn't we all like assistants? 

Comments, for Real

  photo by 1HappySnapper on Flickr

HA!  Finally!

Northeast Prize Show

 
Heather with her painting "Clementines and Blue" at CAA's Northeast Prize Show

Thursday was a bit of an anxiety test for me. The Northeast Prize Show opening was that night. All day, I worried about whether there would be too many people there, I worried whether I could carry on a conversation with new people about art (having art conversations isn't easy). I worried about whether or not I should say something about my injury, just in case I said something outlandish. For the record, telling new people you have a brain injury is a conversation killer. I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me, but if I do something that I realize is odd, I want them to maybe understand why I said this or did that.  Social skills are a challenge.

I got so anxious that I couldn't take my nap.  THAT is a problem. It just magnifies my symptoms when I don't have sleep.

Thankfully, the show went well. I met new artists and saw beautiful work. An artist friend of ours showed up for support.   I had a great night and  couldn't stop smiling for hours!   Although, right before I fell into medicinal sleep, I asked G if I did all right with conversations. He said I did well.  Sweet dreams, indeed.

ArtHash Interview

 Bokeh Star by Maschineraum on flickr

I got interviewed at ArtHash!  Follow the link to see my interview as well as other artist's take on things.

Marblehead

They like my work! I received a congratulatory email, and I am now an Artist Member of the Marblehead Art Association. The people there have been very friendly (I even got a hug!), helpful, and encouraging. I am looking forward to working on and exploring art with them.

I also get to explore the beautiful town, too! 

photos by Rick Harris on Flickr

Goings On

HMCraig, Clementines and Blue, 40x60, acrylic on canvas

I've been busy these past few days.

Today, I learned that Clementines and Blue was accepted into Cambridge Art Association's Northeast Prize Show. It was juried by Cheryl Brutvan, the Curator of Contemporary Art, Norton Museum of Art.

The opening reception will be Thursday, May 20th, 6-8 pm; awards at 7 pm

And... I was encouraged to become an artist member with the Marblehead Arts Association. It is a jurying process, so I had to bring 5 pieces to Marblehead today so some of their current members could check out my work in person and decide whether I'm the right stuff or not. The Art Association have been extremely kind and encouraging to me.  While judging goes on today, the results won't be out for a few days, I'm told. I will let you all know what happens.



And... I recently finished the delphinium painting I was working on (it is now named "Oh, my" after reading a touching passage in a Kurt Vonnegut novel, which follows). The image with this post is still a WIP image, because I forgot to take a photo of it before it was whisked off to Marblehead. I will post a finished photo.

"She did not have enough breath left to make her vocal cords buzz. She could only mover her lips noiselessly. 

Here is all she had to say about death: "Oh my, oh my."

****

  Like all Earthlings at the point of death, Mary Young sent faint reminders of herself to those who had known her. She released a small cloud of telepathic butterflies, and one of these brushed the cheek of Dwayne Hoover, nine miles away.

   Dwayne heard a tired voice from somewhere behind his head, even though no one was back there. It said this to Dwayne: "Oh my, oh my."

 -Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions

Field Trip (big adventure, small steps edition)

Dora the Explorer gets Lost, by Arkadyevna on Flickr

My horizons are getting wider. I had a support group meeting this weekend, and G is pretty supportive in going with me, but the weather was gorgeous and ripe for rock climbing (I can't begrudge him for wanting to enjoy what he enjoys most).  So, G went and climbed in the sunshine at Rumney, NH. I learned about the Boston MBTA (G did help me figure out a good travel itinerary beforehand).

I haven't been on public transportation by myself since the accident. Before that, I had only been on the subway part. So, to throw the bus, the commuter rail, and the subway at me was an exercise in anxiety. To top it off, I had to be at a certain place by a certain time. I made sure I had my phone, GPS, and RoadID on me. I also had a list of itineraries organized according to time for my return trip.

Headaches and my Art Therapy

My headaches have gotten less frequent, less intense. Thank goodness.
I still get them. Mostly when I have to deal with paperwork and deadlines. Things that challenge my cognitive abilities and attention span.

Painting is the only thing that doesn't give me headaches. It is the best form of therapy I have. I get to play with colors and shapes in a very intuitive manner, and when I am done with a project, I have a solid result that contributes to a sense of achievement (if anyone with a brain injury feels the slightest amount of achievement, it's been a really good day).

I have had many things taken away from me in this past year.
My art, though, has grown to fill those empty spaces with small tatters of happiness. When I thought I lost my sense of self, I slowly regained it through my painting.

My Site is Live!

HMCraig Art is finally up!

Cue Ludwig



It took me a loooooong time to get this otherwise simple site together. Small things would hang me up for days. It's been particularly hard. I remember when i could put together a website in a weekend, this took months. Little bricks...put enough of them together and you can build something substantial.

Working with Bricks

I am trying to build a massive wall. It's a bit hard, though, because I have some limitations. I get confused by some relatively simple things (which will then occupy me for a while), and have a bit of a problem with sequencing. Throw in headaches and fatigue and it's quite the party!
My massive wall is what amounts to getting my artwork out in the world. This blog is a section of the wall.. The little things that go into this blog (such as deciding on a font for the text, or trying to write up a profile, or just adding a post) are each a brick. I'm pretty happy if I can get two bricks laid perfectly in a day. Then it is naptime, because those two bricks sucked the energy out of me.
I have laid down two bricks today (this post, and putting up a parked image* on my website). I am feeling pretty accomplished.

I will be posting my artwork, I promise. One brick at a time.

btw, I totally stole this idea. Will Smith. I couldn't watch it all the way through, because I can't focus that long, so I get to watch the rest later.

*I already had a website, but didn't have content on it. So, while I was paying for the website, the hosting company was using it as advertising for themselves. I just made a quick (as quick as I can move...which isn't that quick) image to claim my space.