For several years, I made artwork out of used tea bags — partly out of choice, and partly because that was all I could afford. Having just left the corporate world, I was living in Ireland where I had no money for art supplies (or anything else for that matter), but a huge desire to make artwork. I looked for materials that were inexpensive. You can’t get much cheaper than used tea bags, and in Ireland, there was an abundant supply. Where one person sees trash, another person sees beauty.
Archives for January 2013
Quote of the Week for Jan. 21
“Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and do the work.” — Chuck Close
Losing Control with Carrie Underwood
This week, I lost complete control of my car. Driving from my house to visit a friend only two miles away in town, I rounded a bend on a flat and recently plowed road, driving the speed limit in the Self-Esteem Wagon, which was properly equipped with all-weather tires. Nevertheless, I hit a spot just right and begin to spin. And spin.
Quote of the Week for Jan. 14
The Self Esteem Wagon
We call my car “the Self-Esteem Wagon.” In reality, it’s a 2002 Suzuki Grand Esteem, which is not a particularly popular car. We bought it used, sporting only 13,000 miles and an electric blue color that is way too bright for me. I have seen just one other Grand Esteem in the past five years and the owner of that car got so excited he honked his horn repeatedly as if we were old friends. My friend Howard Mansfield christened the car several years ago and the name stuck. When I make an appointment to get one of our family cars serviced, Sandy at Valley Automotive says, “Are you bringing in the Toyota or the Self-Esteem Wagon?” The running joke (or maybe it’s a theory) is that if you’re in a bad mood, just drive around in the Self-Esteem Wagon for a while and then you’ll feel really good about yourself. Works for me.