{photo originally posted in November}
One of the most amazing things to me about this blogging experience is the connections made through it. And how in so very many ways, it makes the world feel a bit smaller to me. Sometimes that manifests in connecting with someone clear across the globe, and sometimes, it means connecting with someone I never would have otherwise met right across town, and in my own 'neighborhood'.
Such was the case with Martha Miller - a Portland artist, teacher, and Mama (and Grandma!) Extraordinaire. She says she found her way to this blog after doing a search for "clotheslines," where she was led to this post. Martha has her own love of clotheslines, which has manifested in her art in many ways (check out this description of her performance piece "Woman Hanging Wash" - I so wish I had seen it!).
Last fall, when Martha began a new portrait series of creative folks in the Portland community, I was honored to be invited to sit for her. So a few months ago...with Harper still on the inside, I sat for Martha in her studio. I knit. She painted. And we talked. We talked of mamahood and art, of blogging and babies. The many things that connect us. I left her studio that day quite in love with watching her process.
Being around people truly in love with what they do - watching people with
passion for whatever it may be - I think it's one of the most beautiful things in this world.
A few weeks ago, a print of the finished piece made it's way here. In the time since our sitting, Martha continued to work on the piece, and incorporated a few of my photographs into the background as well (she has some great detail photographs of the piece on her blog). And even a wee bit of Harper and his red pants, too! Like magic with her paintbrush, she managed to capture so beautifully so very many things and people and colors that are so important to me and so reflective of this time right now in my life.
Martha has written about her new portrait project and this particular piece on her blog here and here. You can see some of her beautiful portraiture work on her website (her self-portraits are especially wonderful!), and you can find some of her fibery art pieces for sale in her Etsy shop, barnfirestudio.
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The snow is falling so gracefully right now as a storm just begins. Stay warm and cozy, all you locals! It feels like a good day for making art...