House Dreams: Tapping into Valuable Real Estate

Net Drawing with House, 2011
Gesso, Stabilo pencil, collage on
book page
©2011NanciHersh

House dreams seem to be a barometer of where my head is emotionally.  Renovating or moving dreams stayed with me for months following both of those activities. My nightime sleep reflecting the challenges and anxiety that came from those experiences during the day.

During a summer printmaking program at the Santa Reparata Graphic Art Center in Florence, Italy the house in my dream was a vast and gorgeous palace.  No doubt, reminding me that my days spent in the museums, streets, and art studios of Florence had the power to inspire and transform me well into my return to Oahu and my failing marriage.

The most recent House Dream took me to an urban setting of undiscovered rooms including an exquisite glass atrium, and one filled with lots of old and unused easels. Meandering through I met interesting neighbors and discovered street windows surrounded by brightly painted bricks that offered exciting possibilities for work, not unlike my exhibition last summer at theFashionCenter in NYC.

Waking up to a reminder that opportuities and possibilites can be found in every situation - whatever the Real Estate Market!

Tactile experience

sometimes you have to feel your way thru things

Different day- different approach

March 12 & 14th Tea Bag drawings:

how to be fluid and approach each moment with a freshness.

I woke up to an amazing dream within a dream. It was exhilarating and scary- I was in some sort of competition and had to jump down from amazing heights, often over stairs. It seemed impossible to jump out so far without landing so hard, but hey, I was dreaming so I knew I would be fine, and I was. Faith.

Spring Colors & Tea Bag Drawings

Just as almost spring thaw was upon us, I found a patch ice (thanks to my beloved Dini the Doggie) and now I am sporting a purple cast on my wrist for 4-6 weeks. Fortunately it is my left so my daily ritual of drawing tea bags continues.

Delayed Opening- Snow Shots and a Tea Bag

A beautiful morning- a delayed opening. Sleeping in a bit longer. Outside with camera in tow, the lovely morning light, and ... my tea bag drawing from yesterday. slightly larger in scale, but still on the page so I can scan it in. my daily practice, like my meditation and yoga, and homage to my morning ritual of making a cup of tea for Scott.

Letting Go and Forming Connections

As 2009 is coming to a close this wet gray day I am reminded of my intention in yoga this morning- to Let Go. Let go of anything that no longer serves me - or others. And with that I would like to add Connecting - Forming Connections. Making art is often a solitary act and as I reflect on this past year in our new home I see I have created new work (www.nancihersh.com) In my Inherently Found series I started using tea bags. Tea bags to stain paper, tea bags with encaustic hanging from my utensils and also drawings; a drawing a day to be precise. My morning ritual consists of making a cup of tea for my husband Scott. This connects us and reminds me of the Japanese Tea Ceremony I participated in back in Hawaii in the 80's on the beach of Haleiwa Beach Park. This ritual steeped in tradition and meditation brings us to the moment of awareness and gratitude- something I intend to cultivate in my life.

My days (like everyone else's!) are constant to do lists; filled with taking care of my family, our pets and our home, teaching, volunteering in the community, work around our book Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings, yoga, meditation, journaling and other forms of exercise- and making ART. The pie sliced is so many pieces. Often at the end of the day I would feel frustrated or angry that so little if any time was spent in my studio. I decided to make a regular practice to drawing every day- something simple and present - like a tea bag. Some days I spend up to an hour drawing the tea bag or bags, and others they are quick sketches. I decided I would commit to this practice and see what happens. I spoke to Jay my web guru today and he is going to set it up on my site so I can share them on the web with you. For now here is one from yesterday as well as a sculpture I did over the summer titled 8 Cups of Tea (also referencing the book 3 Cups of Tea that I found so powerful and compelling.)

Happy and Healthy New Year to one and all!