I’m still doing the Purge Project. It just takes me time to get around to all the things I make plans for because I make too many goddamn plans. Eventually, I’ll get to it. I have a stack of books in my book room, and I’m still not finished going through the shelves. In the meantime, I’m trying to fit in everything else during a time I am bombarded with nearly crippling fatigue. It’s been like 2 months now and it’s driving me absolutely bonkers. I feel like I am moving through a Jell-o mold, and I want to sleep all the time. It’s like having narcolepsy. It sucks when you have a lot of things you’d like to do. My best time is in the morning, so I am doing all that I can during those times, and doing the best I can through the rest of the day. Napping helps a little, but for some reason I feel guilty when I do that. Napping is for babies! Haha.

Last night I had an Open Studio at Moppet and it went okay. A lot more people came through than usual, which was nice, and my assistant (and good friend) Jennifer came to sit with me, making life a whole lot more bearable. I even worked a little bit while she was there. She made me more comfortable I guess. She knows me pretty well, so she understood how difficult it is for me to sit the space and answer questions about my work. In fact, she said it must be very hard for any artist to have to do that. I think it probably is, not just me. Don’t we tend to be pretty introverted? We aren’t the car salesman types, but then again, I have met a few artists that really do like to go on and on about themselves. I have done it myself out of nervousness before – just ramble about stuff no one has even asked me about. The truth is, I’d rather not be around at all when people are looking at my work. Let them figure it out.

Speaking of talking about your art, I have to do that tomorrow at LMU and I’m pretty nervous. I am there to give a lecture on my work for a class that focuses on art in Los Angeles. I have no real idea what I am going to say yet, but I’ll put together an image presentation, some background info, and maybe bring some of my books. I’ll have to wing the rest and hope I don’t choke.

I made this little ink drawing for The Circle of Women’s National Stamp Project Exhibit created by artist Margaret Garcia. She invited visual artists, poets, musicians, print-makers, or just people of culture to create a STAMP IMAGE. Each stamp will bring to life an affirmation which we desire to be STIMULATED OR CULTIVATED—for example, health, wealth, love, creativity, generosity, intuition, humility, faith, illumination, spirituality, forgiveness, intelligence, wisdom, courage, growth, tolerance, hope, vision, abundance, talent, music, kindness, fellowship, prosperity, etc. There will be an exhibit of stamp art and opportunities for print exchanges. Venues in Los Angeles, Texas, Oxnard and San Francisco have expressed interest.

I am very much looking forward to another project that I have been planning for some time. I’m renting a house out in a very secluded area of Joshua Tree for a couple weeks that has an art studio. It has no phones, no internet, no television, etc. All I am going to do is draw and rest. Hopefully, it’s just what I need.