Friday, November 6, 2009

The Gift

Evening's Approach
24 x 48
Private Collection

This week a gallery director called me a mid-career artist. I had to laugh considering that my upcoming birthday on Sunday (it has a big zero on the end and that's all I'm saying!) might not qualify me for being "mid" anything. Needless to say, I've been reflecting a lot this week about my life and my work. I most definitely feel a sense of urgency that didn't exist even a few years ago. But, I am choosing to focus on something else right now. Despite the frustrations and uncertainties of an artist's life, I would not want any other life. Its greatest gift is a sense of perpetual becoming- that there are always new things to learn, new ways to see, and new work to be done.

9 comments:

Suzanne McDermott said...

Warm wishes for a very happy birthday. (Most people love to be able to label others so our job is to let those labels not stick to us in any way). One great thing about aging is that we have the opportunity to be fueled by a sense of increasingly limited time and to use our time as well as we can. You're doing a great job!

Anonymous said...

happy 20th Deborah! the the painting is so atmospheric and it is wonderful how you describe the life of an artist. recently i described my life to my sister as she wanted what she thought was the simplicity of mine: she chose the complexities of her own:)

Deborah Paris said...

Thank you Suzanne- I'm paddling as fast as I can!

Ha! You are a funny lady, Rahina!

Laraine said...

Very well said, Deborah. Vincent Van Gogh said, "It is a pity that, as one gradually gains experience, one loses one's youth." It is a pleasure to follow your painting progress -- happy birthday.

Dean H. said...

Happy birthday, Deborah!
I know exactly what you mean in your commentary.
In Aug. I will leave my 5th zero. But I still get the thrill of waking each morning looking forward to that perpetual sense of "becoming".

Susan Hammer said...

Happy Birthday, Dear Deborah,

Your work and life are so inspiring to me! Thank you for being you. Susan

Janelle Goodwin said...

Happy Birthday to you, Deborah! I agree with Susan. Your work and life are inspiring to me too!

And I love your philosophy on becoming!

Don Gray said...

Happy something zero birthday, Deborah! I love what you said about "perpetual becoming"--so true. Like you, I feel that despite the challenges, I've been given such a gift to be able to live this artist's life.

Casey Klahn said...

A very happy birthday, Deborah.