It’s that glorious time of year when the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing and I get to be at my beloved camp, Aloha Hive. With all of the health challenges of the last two years, my participation is limited but still filled with joy and wonder. I have spent a few mornings a week in the Arts and Crafts barn, doing art projects with campers. These are girls, age 7-12. They are exuberant, curious and living their best life. How lucky they are.
When I am not at camp, I have become immersed in art projects at home- mostly multi-media art and collaging. This is a new avocation for me and I am utterly hooked on it. I find it peaceful and restorative. It has given me a creative outlet when I am not able to be in the theatre.
The question I am pondering this morning as I paint in my sketchbook is what the heck took me so long? There were opportunities along the way. When I was a camper in my youth, there was a spectacular art barn with weaving, pottery, jewelry making. You name it and it was there. I never went to this barn. Not once. I was too busy rehearsing for the annual summer show or playing tennis. What a missed opportunity.
There have been bursts of creativity along the way like the year we created el-wire costumes to bring to Burning Man. We were a big hit as we hit the playa after dark. This photo captures friends Cal and Tedford and sister, Amy.
Happily, I have found ways to be creative in my garden and in the kitchen. And I have reveled in the music and theatre in my life. What is so much fun about my new passion is that I have the rest of my life to get good at it. For now, I am just playing. I am experimenting and putting no pressure on myself to get it right. Not yet. I did have a fleeting thought the other day of actually showing up at a craft fair someday to sell my creations. HA! We won’t hold our breath for that.
For now, I am grateful to have discovered this new aspect of my creative life. I am appreciative of the campers who I am spending time with this summer as they are inspiring me. And there is a whole community of multi-media artists on Instagram- #FodderSchool who are inspiring me as well. Check it out. Maybe you’ll discover a new part of you too. Jump in, the water’s warm.
