Process

In response to a question about creativity


When I read, all I do is read, as if it were a full time job. When I painted all I did was paint. It's the same with writing. I am not able to combine obsessions. Creativity takes me like a possession. It seems effortless at its best. Only the editing is work.

When I painted it took a lot of time to learn when to stop. I had to back off to mere suggestion of line. I deconstructed my painting to pen and ink and very few lines. I did my best portraits during this period. One was of my third husband and he looked like James Joyce. I captured him in maybe five or six lines. The suggestion of the man.

I've done many self portraits. Unable to afford models I painted what I saw. I did still life, interiors, architecture, but portraiture was my favorite. My best were sold. One was a gift to the third husband who burned the house down after I left him. And with the house, went those two portraits.