We Work With What We Have
November 10, 2016
Left: In the smallest landscape Hahnemühle Nostalgie sketchbook which is about 6 x 4.25 inches—a Pentel Pocket Brush Pen sketch from a photo in the Sktchy app, while waiting in the doctor’s patient room. No new cartridges, just the barest flow of ink…I had to keep trying to move around the face and get in a bit of everything.
Roz Wound Up is a blog about “my many enthusiasms.” The banner clearly states that.
It would be disingenuous of me to not tell you that Tuesday’s U.S. Presidential election result has been difficult for me.
The link between the life of an artist and the new president might seem nebulous—but I believe that drawing and observing your world actually brings you more into life. It makes you more aware of the rich diversity around you. Drawing exercises the engine of wonder. That wonder in turn generates a spirit of goodwill and connection with others.
Honest observation, which I have attempted since I was a child because my circumstances required vigilance, brings with it a love of facts. Of observable, verifiable truths.
Only cynics believe that they can spin events in whichever way may suit them.
Artists keep looking deeper. And question.
Yesterday a friend asked me, “How can I explain the election to my grandson?”
I thought about it and finally told her to sit her grandson down and watch Hillary’s concession speech with him. Next break down each line of the speech, explaining why those statements are important, because in her speech Clinton encapsulates what we cherish in our form of government. Her words prompt us to recall that we can and must go forward in a world that seems to have rejected our values of equality, civility, hope, and our concern for our fellow man.
Add to your discussion the many specifics of your family’s tradition of inclusion and the need to take stands when there is injustice.
Explain to him that bullies are never right—even if they sometimes win.
While this loss hurts we must remember, as Clinton said, to “never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it. It is.”
The hard part of democracy started Wednesday. We show up. We don’t agree to fear. We do our work. We work with what we have.
Get out in the world today and sketch.
Keeping a sense of humor is vital for me. For me that does not mean making light of a serious situation but helps maintain a balance and not be consumed by worry and anger. Last year watching “Black Books” (a brilliantly silly sitcom) on Netflix kept me in stitches while I recuperated from serious and painful injuries inflicted by a drunk driver. My righteous anger only made the pain worse. Roz is so right: the work still needs to get done and it never ends. That fight is never over. The Dalai Lama has one of the best laughs ever; if he can still have a great sense of humor after all he and his people have endured anyone can!
Thank you for your words. My facebook post was all about what do I say to my 14 year old daughter that a man who sees women as objects for his pleasure or idiots to be treated as shit will be in the highest govt seat in our country. Tbr same true for my 16 year old son. How do i tell him that even though he holds “huge” power, his behavior is unacceptable and not to be iemulated. It is an important time for those of us in the majority vote to continue to make our voices heard andcontinue yo foght the important fights.
Pat it’s so important to keep our sense of humor. Last night for no particular reason I looked at two comedy specials on my NetFlix watch list—Dana Carvey, something with 60 in the title because he’s 60 years old, and Kathleen Madigan: Don’t Bother Jesus.
I watched them in that order. I haven’t seen Carvey perform for a while and it’s wonderful because I have such fond memories of his early career. And because he is such a mimic, and because he takes impish joy in discovering what to poke fun at. It was made before the election so while there is a little Trump campaign stuff it’s otherwise on other topics.
Madigan on the other hand was hilarious. I laughed so hard I started to cough. Dick watched that one with me and he was laughing too, something that you don’t see often. Her humor is mostly social and not political. She deals with some very serious topics but like all good comics she shows us how frail and resilient humans are.
I recommend them both if you have Netflix.
And “Black books” is marvelous!!! Tamsin Greig is also in “Green Wing” which is about doctors in a hospital setting and it’s quite good as well if you haven’t seen it. I saw it awhile back on PBS but just noticed it’s on Netflix or Acorn, I’m not remembering which.
Hang in there Pat!
Keep going Tina. It’s always fun to see your work when it pops up on my Facebook feed!
Suzale, you’re in a difficult situation, but the good thing is your children are old enough to have good chats with. I’m seeing a lot of “fear” issues among friends dealing with younger kids who don’t understand the same way as teens can. But I’m personally very angry on behalf of your daughter and all daughters who have to see this. At least there are some good role models out there, of women and men and healthy interaction. (Like the Obamas). Keep fighting for your kids.
Thank you, Roz – I stopped by and read this post – it worked as a hug! 🙂
Thank you Nina for reading and posting a comment. I’m glad it had that effect for you.