Hard Times and What to Do With Them

Greetings!

I hope life is treating you right and the journey back to school is going well for those heading back or loved ones saying goodbye to them.

It is hotter than Hades here in South Florida which oddly enough is just how I like it. I’ve loved the heat my whole life.

My mom used to live in Redwood City, California and she drove a little red Karmann Ghia around town. I used to love getting into that hot car after it had been sitting a few hours in the sun and I loved the smell and feel of those vinyl seats that burned my butt.

Haha, I do recognize that I’ve always been an odd one but as they say, normal is just a setting on the dryer!

This time last year James and I were building out and expanding the Amanda James Gallery. We love our new gallery space and we’re looking forward to the second phase of our expansion.

We will be having our first official opening in our new gallery space on November 13th, 2021 with a group so please save the date as we will be sending out more info soon!

Dealing With a Heavy Heart

I thought I might share some of my personal trials and tribulations with you all.

I’ve been working steadily in my studio creating new work for the coming Florida season. In the past few months especially, I strongly felt the need to take a break from watching the news or staying glued to current events.

I was finding myself overwhelmed with grief and sadness at so many things that I am powerless to change. Hopelessness had settled into my heart and I know that that's not a healthy space to live in.

An Egyptian Coincidence

Ever since I was a child I have been incredibly interested in Ancient Egypt. Some of my first successful drawings were studies of hieroglyphs and I believe that this linear style informed my current style as an artist. I like to think that I was connected to Egyptian life in some manner in a past life. It’s fun to imagine myself a tomb painter or artisan, or even possibly a cat in the house of one of the Pharaohs!

Back in early May, I had a vision for a new painting. I collected my inspiration material and immediately got to work. I painted an image of a Khufu’s boat floating in the deep blue sky with bright orbs floating up towards the heavens in the evening sky. I titled the painting "I Built Us a Boat to Travel Home In", signed it, and put it away.

Two weeks ago, I had the sudden urge to change the painting. I removed the floating orbs and replaced them with a giant feather wing. I was thinking that this was a bit of an odd painting for me to do. There wasn’t one human figure in it and it was rather dark.

That Saturday afternoon as I put the last touches on the piece James came flying into my studio. "Look look" he said, handing me his phone:

Why King Khufu’s Solar Boat Is on the Move After 4,600 Years

I was speechless! As I mentioned earlier, I hadn’t been keeping up with the news or anything that would have given me notice of the move.

What I find so interesting is that before the boat moved and I had changed the orbs to the wing, 22 mummies were moved and I had painted 24 orbs. Off by two, not too shabby!

Connectivity

What this means and signifies to me is that no matter how lost I am, there is something bigger moving me. If I can tune out the noise and turn inward, I can find the answers that soothe and rest my soul. Painting helps me process the emotions in my heart. I discover thoughts and feelings mirrored in my paintings that I didn’t even know I had.

Lately, my work has shown a preoccupation about death and the afterlife.  It feels like my wisdom found me somehow and reminded me of the experience we all share. Whatever the journey home looks like, I hope my voyage to the sun can be in a boat as spectacular as Khufu’s!

In the meantime, I can’t wait to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum and see it in person.

What to Do When the World Weighs Heavy

I’d be remiss if I didn’t address the recent ongoing events occurring in Afghanistan. It’s another example of a world that feels out of order and a feeling of helplessness for those in danger. There isn’t a neat piece of wisdom or a clear action to take that makes that specific horror less tragic.

What we do possess is the ability to reflect and recognize the great need for kindness and support to those around us that we can make an impact on. To be extra compassionate, decent, and generous with our love at each opportunity that presents itself. A little bit of peace that could mean a world of difference to someone.

Wishing peace and good will to you and yours.

- Amanda J.