Such a Sensual Process

Ganesh, Ganesh…I’m growing very connected to this little guy. And I’m in such a better head space now that his endearing hands are done. Whew! Yesterday as I was finishing his ears and making a crown I totally lost track of time. What a great feeling of being immersed in the creation. Later in class last night I started the pasting part; such a sensual process. I love it.

To make sure his neck is very strong, I had to bring him home to apply the pasted paper to that area and not move him for a couple of days. I stayed up past midnight as I could not stop pasting more and more areas (and there’s still more to do). With the tape disappearing behind the smoother layers of glued paper it’s like polishing a stone, the details are starting to show up as various planes and I am starting to visualize painting him. Well, one step at a time.

Having stayed up so late last night, I thought I would be totally drained this morning but I woke up ahead of my alarm and was ready to head to Mysore practice at my usual time. Had a great practice and have been productive at work all day! Hmmm, maybe all the stars are aligning in this full moon week. I’ll take it. Who knows what next week will bring! I know what tomorrow brings though – a day off. Heading to Stinson Beach with my husband for the weekend. We rented a cottage near the beach for a long overdue getaway.

[Top photo is the last “build” stage (looks like a mummy or a severe burn victim- ha!). The other photo is the beginning of the pasting stage.]

Ganesh - Remover of Obstacles

Continuing with my Ganesh in cartoneria class (first mentioned in my 10/31/08 post). I finally got the hands, tusks, and ears on last night. I'll finish up the little tidbits tonight and tomorrow making the form stronger, then start on the pasting this weekend before next week’s class.

As I create this figure in paper mache I am learning lessons in humility and patience, and clearly seeing what stops me in making art. It's ironic or poetic that I'm working with Ganesh. He's the Remover of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings, and patron of arts and sciences. As I understand it, he breaks obstacles by working around them helping you find other ways of overcoming the obstacle. It is said that the real obstacles he breaks are those which prevent you from recognizing alternative solutions.

Apparently I have two teachers in this project - Ganesh and Ruben. Both are patient with me as I work through this “ambitious” project. For the past two weeks I have been so incredibly anxious about creating the hands. Ruben gave me several options on how to work with them but I was stymied as I tried a few and failed to get exactly what I wanted.

I take Ganesh home each week, thinking I'll work on him before the next class, but he sits there on my bench quietly, patiently...sometimes taunting me. I almost cried in class last night as one hand was just not cooperating. Frustration swelled and I was overwhelmed with the thought that I'll never get this done! Ruben, my teacher (a blessed teacher he is) talked me out of my anxiety spell. He told me (again) to take a step back, and breathe. I realized I was taking it too seriously and all too personally, wanting perfection, when this craft (and this figure) are not about that. And I must keep in mind that it’s my first time with this medium! I took a deep breath and allowed myself the opportunity to fail if necessary. Suddenly the hands were coming together as I envisioned them. I stepped back and one classmate commented that I had truly captured the spirit of Ganesh. So true on many levels.

When I started the class in cartoneria I was thrilled by the whimsy and play of it all and the freedom working with recycled materials to form the object. No problem if I made a mistake or changed your mind, I wasn't wasting too much time or materials. Last night I lost track of all that for a moment, but thankfully was able to work around it and get to the other side, and even laugh at my seriousness.

I’m removing obstacles to my creative flow, recognizing alternative solutions and I’m pretty proud of the results thus far with Ganesh. Om gam ganapataye namaha!

Ephemeral Moments

Well believe it or not I have been creative every day...just no tangible "art" to show for it! Had an epic, post-downpour ant infestation in my house over the weekend. Billions of ants carried billions of their eggs into my home office to stay dry and discovered the scanner makes a great incubator - there were billions I swear. We had to throw out the scanner.

Instead of scanning, I photographed some sketches I had made but they didn't look so great...so nothing to share for the moment. I have also been terribly distracted by the election so feel my creative juices are just not fully flowing...except Sunday night, during shavasana I had a great vision of an image. Unfortunately when I got home from yoga class there were more ants to contend with so I lost the vision once I sat down with pen and paper. These creative moments can be so ephemeral. Part of my challenge this month will be seizing those moments, manifesting them into a visual piece of some sort, and sharing the results with the group. I'm grateful for the art that is being shared in the group - seems to be a full spectrum of creative souls....I'll catch up soon.

Meanwhile I'm posting here an older Polaroid SX70 manipulation I did. Poppies in my front garden...ephemeral blooms. (Wish Polaroid didn't cancel this film. This was becoming a favorite portable medium of mine.)