So, I just gave an informal talk at the informal meeting of an informal group of women who are also artists and who are hoping an artists group will inspire them, help them make more and better work, and give them an excuse to see themselves again as artists. Jen nicely asked me if I'd start them out with a talk, with a little drawing, with some stuff about myself. And I prepared myself to inspire. I gathered some sketchbooks, I brought in some show and tell, I practiced my talk and even made a handout. I made sure I thought of everything and packed the room with pens and paper and slides.

Only, I didn't prepare to be inspired. But see these women are smart. And these women talked about the things they have made, the babies they have, the ways they already manage to juggle family and work and various degrees of art making and as we all sat around a room in a safe space with cookies and comraderie, I remembered that I don't have all the answers (I don't have any answers really), I don't have a failsafe plan, I definitely don't have a baby.

But I do have a driving passion that tells me that everyone who feels like they have to make art and feels like they have to find ways to create and feels like they need to be in a room with other artists...oughtta make some art, oughtta find ways to create, and oughtta find ways to get into rooms with other artists.

I feel more inspired than inspiring and definitely excited about my new sketchbook and some new friends.

take care,
Rachael