Carol Larson - textile artist

A couple years ago I decided to upgrade my digital camera. I spent at least an hour in our local Kodak camera store (remember those?) going over the bells and whistles of the various cameras; and choosing one that was versatile enough for traveling as well as professionally shooting my own work.

Fast forward to earlier this year when I badly felt the need for a treat that was non-fattening and non-toxic: the iPhone! The camera on this phone is so remarkable it puts the previously mentioned Olympus 6.0 mp to shame.

This post is an assortment of impromptu photos I have taken with my iPhone lately. I am seriously considering leaving the camera behind next time I travel. I have done nothing to these images except resize them for the web. Amazing!

This morning the doc was running late for my post-surgical eye exam (20/20 both eyes, thank you very much!) so I did a lap around the block and found this gorgeous deteriorating rose.

The bark photo was taken in a Safeway parking lot where I was meeting an old friend to go for cocktails after moving my father’s gear into assisted living. There amongst all the stress of the day was this incredible peeling bark. My sister who was along for the ride thought I had lost my mind totally shooting tree bark with my iPhone. What can I say except I have?!!!

Last week hubby dearest and I went for some culture at the local playhouse. This shot was taken while standing in line before going in. It is a former schoolhouse built in Spanish style. And the one at the top is one of Sonoma’s mighty majestic oak trees.

It’s been two weeks since I posted which is probably the longest stretch ever in my blogging life! Part of it is I have nothing witty to say, but most of it has been dealing with real life. This week we moved my elder father to assisted living. All of this is such a reminder that no matter the quality/history of the relationship with our kin, the end of life brings reminders of other losses and other blessings.

In the past two weeks I have also been in the studio piecing scraps making wonderful little bags. I also joined a local open studios group to do that this fall. It is another of those things I have avoided like the plague. If this has not been the decade of pushing through the fears, I don’t know what is.

Additionally I have been sending Tall Girl brochures to venues, writing lectures, and waiting patiently for another summery day. We are given spring in liberal doses this year which really does make one much more appreciative.

Nothing witty, I fear.

Last night we cleaned up and went over to Berkeley for the opening reception of the 2010 fiber exhibit at ACCI Gallery. I am one of the exhibiting artists and was quite pleased to find 7 pieces of my work hanging in this show as evidenced by these images. The most fun of the evening was interacting with other artists. By far the people I have met as a member of ACCI has been the best part of this exhibiting experience.

After admiring her work for years, last fall I met fellow member Leslie Carabas who also has incredible and inspiring work in this exhibit.

Last night when I stood close to examine her incredibly detailed machine stitching my new eyeballs went tilt. They could not focus in on close-up. All the new things I am learning about my new vision! So I stood back about two feet and fully took in the experience of her spectacular work. And then we had the chance to talk a bit about her new work and listening solely to one’s own voice.

Art is such a great metaphor for life. It is through my art that I have learned another huge life lesson. The lesson of listening to one’s own intuitive over anything anyone else says. These past months that I have been unable to work because of something said to me about ‘improving’ my art in December. This unsolicited advice about what direction I should take in my work literally froze me in my tracks. And while I had come up with a fantastic idea for new work, I was unable to actually start.

This all became abundantly clear to me the past few days, post surgery when at last my desk was clear of marketing chores and I could work in the studio once more. I went in and started to work my new fantastic idea but hated it, so I gave up and walked out. My conversation with Leslie at the opening last night was just the jolt back to reality that I needed. She commented that I clearly had developed my own voice and style in the work on exhibit. And then it hit me…yes, this work is what I loved designing. And then I stopped. Why? Because of something someone important in my life said to me about how she thought I should make art. Wow, it hit me upside the head like a ton of bricks.

Decades ago I had the self-esteem of a wet noodle. Now that I have self-esteem that seldom happens. And yet, it did again, when a wolf in sheep’s clothing conned me into believing I needed to change the spirit of my work in order to succeed…whatever that means! Ah success, that is a subject for a whole ‘nother post. I already feel success in my life and in my art. Why would I want to mix it up because someone else thinks I should?

All the tests…this is what I love about life!!! Because I have done so much inner work I always see these tests as just reminders. Had I not done the work I might have wandered down that path for YEARS but because I came to my senses this detour lasted just 4 months, fortunately. Now I can’t wait to get into the studio and do what I want to do!!! Thanks, Leslie for reminding me of that.

Yesterday I left town solo for the first time in five weeks; since my first cataract surgery. I had been chauffeured since that day because of no depth perception. Just 5 days ago with the second bad eye corrected the world opened wide to me once again.

I drove the slough and delta pathways over to the East Bay to see my father who is residing in a rehab hospital after breaking his hip 2 months ago. Then I drove hills, valleys and tunnels to Berkeley to ACCI, to drop off 5 pieces for their annual fiber show and work 3 hours at the sales counter. Then back again over water, navigating one bridge over the bay while simultaneously viewing two others and the city skyline at dusk.

It was a mind-altering experience. Being a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, I have always known there was something very special about this region. It is not just the weather that has drawn others to move here. There is such a serene natural beauty which for me in the past few years has been lost. All I have been focused on has been the over-crowding, the traffic, the NIMBY’s.

Yesterday I saw none of that. I actually drove slower than usual, which in itself is a scary thought. The woman can see so she slows down! Mostly I was smitten, captivated and completely enthralled with the colors, the layers, the textures; the shapes, the patterns of the hills, the foothills of the coastal range, the buildings, the green grasses, the slopes as if a rubenesque woman on her side. The entire Bay Area of visual delight.

Oftentimes when I drive West on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge I wish I had a camera built into the windshield, which I could click from the steering wheel. I tried once using my cellphone while driving, which my husband frowned upon…no sense of humor that one!

Yesterday, I never thought camera once. I only thought how blessed am I to have this second chance to see life anew. I can only imagine how this will improve my art.