Light from Darkness

Goya

Maya Bloch

Kathe Kollwitz

Guardians and angels are on my mind of late, and what it means to be a guardian. I'm one of my daughter Lisbeth's legal guardians, and she has many other sorts of guardians, celestial and terrestial. So do I. How do they show up? What do they look like? These are the thoughts I'm taking with me to the studio today...

Mondays with Lisbeth

My daughter Lisbeth will be joining me in my studio on Monday mornings to "do art." Today she was not in the mood to make art, but wanted me to draw her. She sat for about half an hour. I have made several portraits of Lisbeth over the years. It's an intense experience, because she is so intense, and our bond and joint history is so intense. In a thirty minute period, Lisbeth can rapidly vacillate between giddiness, anxiety, anger, sadness...it's all there.

We're On (the) Line!

Brainstorm Studio is up and running as of yesterday! And we've even had our first sale!! Very exciting!!! I believe that this shop will help Lisbeth in many ways. Because of her traumatic brain injury and chronic seizures, Lis has high anxiety about being out and about in the world, and is not capable of working a daily job like some folks with special needs are able to do. She suffers from depression, too, and it is our hope that her involvement in this project will help her spiritually and emotionally, as well as financially (I also want to look into supporting epilepsy research with a percentage of the proceeds....). Lisbeth does enjoy working at home, though, where she feels safe and secure with her one-on-one helpers (God Bless them, everyone!) and her little cat, Milkweed, by her side. We are working to make a more organized space for Lisbeth in her home to create her snowflakes - an official studio space! And I have started a blog for Lis where we can document the progress of her business, and where she can share some of her feelings and stories!



We are off to a good start!