Duplicitous

Duplicitous – that word has been roaming around in my brain for the past few days, and sometimes bounces off my tongue, completely unbidden, into the silence that surrounds me. Because silence is what I like in my home during the daytime, interrupted occasionally by a warning bark, sometimes justified, oft-times not, from one of my furry girls. Duplicitous – how I feel about the current state of the world.

I wonder why it is that it is so difficult to find the truth, to get the full context of what is spoken, rather than the carefully-edited-to-make-the-speaker-look-the-way-I-want-them-to repeat. Whether it be this most distasteful “presidential” (not) campaign, or the advertisements that pop up on our televisions, in our social media, in printed word. Why is it okay to distort, select, misrepresent? Why do we so readily accept what is presented, why do we so readily believe that which agrees with our beliefs without question? Duplicitous. Is this the way we are to live?

With these negatives surrounding us, is it any wonder that my freeform art these days takes a rather murky viewpoint, presenting the possibility that the eyes out there are watching, as in “From the Murky Depths”?

My time of late has been spent primarily in producing sets of coasters, with my eye on offering them for sale. I have been experimenting with designs, following my heart and doing what appeals to me at that moment. I have been experimenting with finishes, trying to find one that gives the surface look I want, that will withstand usage. I think epoxy resin is the answer – it’s certainly the one with the least offensive odors – although it does leave a temporary impression of objects set upon it. Perhaps with more time that will occur less frequently, I’m not sure. This ongoing search for perfection, an unattainable goal, I think. Perhaps the search needs to be for the best we can do.

Our weather is definitely fall weather. Winds, sunny days occasionally breaking a series of cloudy days with some rains, lots of pine straw on the ground protecting garden plants for the winter, becoming less a benefit in the spring when it’s time to bring out the rakes. For now, my work outside is done. For now, I will focus on inside activities.

The alcohol inks – the last in the series of online classes I’ve been taking focus on water – I have attempted the swan with its reflection, but am not happy with the result.

For now, I am taking a break from the swan and the classes. I will return to them when I am feeling more inspired, more ready to be challenged. For now, I am giving myself a break, reducing my expectations, letting spontaneity rule when playing with my inks. When spontaneity rules, the sheet on which excess inks drip from the current project becomes its own piece of “art”, pretty much representing the way my mind is working right now.

So that’s how it is. But we know relief will come, right? The election will be over, things will hopefully return to a more normal, a more sane, way of living. Duplicitous will not be bouncing around in my brain. We can hope, yes?