Sarah Louise Levenson

Night before a move

2010-05-28T23:01:00.003-04:00

Right now I want to talk about companionship. I just spent a good humorous 2 hours watching videos on the internet. First, John Mayer has a tv show. Then Its Kingsley Bitch and Chris Crocker on YouTube. A lot of the youtuber's schtick is complaining and bitching and being up in arms. Being candid and real..and saying opinions without obvious thought of whether or not future employers will see this, if this portrays their character in the best light for audiences, properness, ethical considerations, moral impact...etc.

I follow some artist's blogs. Like 3. So I know that isn't an appropriate sample size from which to draw my general conclusion that I am about to drop, but these are people doing what I supposedly want to do-make art, get money for it, live loving artful lives.

Ok. So there are three artists who have been in years-long committed relationships. One of them goes on long emotional rants (sorry for lack of better word) that even make me a little nervous...so this does not refer to her....and then other artists just put up their art and talk about shows.

Where is the mess of a breakup? Where is the haunting loneliness and alienation? Where is the tortured artist soul? Do they clean themselves up, edit it out before they click on post? Or do they not experience it?

I am reading Walking in this World, which is the sequel to The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. And she goes into great length about all sorts of ugly, hard, unprofessional emotions and experiences that artists (and everyone else) may have...and affirms it. But even talking about it affirms the experience.

So I am a little disappointed that I have not found an artist's blog that is as candid, emotional, wacky, and at times incriminatingly honest to themselves as the Youtube accounts of Its Kingsley Bitch and Chris Crocker. I mean, I know these two are moderately to severely acting on their material---but damn, it feels good to watch...to watch someone be unpackaged. Ok I might have contradicted myself there- its a bit put on and therefore packaged--but what is being put on and packaged is a refreshing seed of truth displayed theatrically that has not to my knowledge been previously displayed in this loud manner.

Maybe visual artist's keep that in their visual art.

I don't know. Im not that kind of person. Every aspect of my life spills into every other aspect. Its exhausting and utterly uninspiring to walk this world packaging myself into an "acceptable" person...but I have not yet found the courage, confidence (what else do i need?) to walk this world unpackaged, unapologetically authentic, and thus a bit out there. There exist very few kind labels for an individual who does this. ok genius...avant garde....innovator. but these labels seem too big and too grand. I would love to hear, Sarah. Great. Meaningful. Heart-felt. Inspiring. Encouraging. etc....

Maybe this is a start. Right here tonight.

A night before a major piece of my life -my dwelling- changes-might also mark the night before a major piece of my life reveals itself outwardly.

Maybe tonight will be the start of a project I have been carrying around for awhile. It is The Opposite of Hiding.

Happy Flower

2009-11-07T17:30:00.000-05:00

fishleeve

2009-11-06T20:10:00.004-05:00

Another fish. Spring 2009.

Inspiration for a line of little animal cut-outs made from rescued coffee sleeves. Keep an eye open for more to come.

Also, please leave a note if you have an animal/shape request.

Or if you can donate coffee sleeves that otherwise would be thrown away! Can I convince you to start a collection bag among your friends?

2009-11-06T20:08:00.001-05:00

A self-portrait. My first show piece-I showed it for a fundraiser in Greensboro, NC last spring.

Black frame, not shown. $100.00. Please contact for more information.

At last!

2009-11-06T20:04:00.001-05:00

Nice to report that I am posting this from a yogurt shop in the arts district of Charlotte during the art crawl night. My yogurt is called "Tree Hugger".

Things are syncing up. And more ways than just the sugary sweet ones already mentioned!

New City - New Inspiration - New post

2009-09-30T21:36:00.004-04:00

Hello. I've moved southward by 84 miles. I've moved forward in immeasurable ways. This past summer, I lost faith in faith, I fell deeply in love, I grew up a bit, I regressed a bit, I spoke my purpose, I forgot it for awhile....

the word "crux" comes to mind. merriam webster says this means "an essential point requiring resolution or resolving an outcome..... "

Every once in a while I come across a quote that becomes my go-to sentiment or encouragement.

For example:

Anais Nin's

"And then the day came,
when the risk
to remain tight
in a bud
was more painful
than the risk
it took
to blossom."

this was very helpful in college. (2004-2007)

I found myself reworking it in my head during my public transport commute home after current 8-5. please forgive the butchering of this great writer's words...

"And the day came when the risk to remain in the 8-5 was more painful than the risk it took to do something i am passionate about"....even if it means risking failing at it.

am i the millionth person to point out how we cling to all the times (ok maybe the one time) we hear "you cant do it" and almost completely disregard or discredit all the times we hear "you can"? Yes. But it bears repeating until doing so spurs taking action and actually doing whatever it is you just want to do. one of my goals this year: stop following the rules.

*****I will upload some pictures of the paintings I am working on very soon.

2009-03-17T12:11:00.002-04:00

Alas, the other week my laptop was taken from my house via break in. I am going to the public library to check email and finally post here. I will work on getting the artflow going again asap.

Happy to have two followers! Bonjour! Hola!

Fish

2009-03-06T09:16:00.004-05:00

I was cleaning up a bit in my studio room and fish cutouts were everywhere. Fish are popping up in most of my projects these days. This one is made out of a scrap piece of watercolor paper.

2009-03-06T08:43:00.004-05:00

Had a very good week. Spent Monday frolicking through the snow. Wonderful snow. It was nice to get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors. This is inspired by a local company that makes furniture with custom painted knobs for children. Also, eco-friendly. Go http://www.funhousefurniture.com/

Welcome!

2009-02-24T16:42:00.001-05:00

2009-02-24T14:49:00.000-05:00

Watercolor, Fall 08

2009-02-24T14:11:00.000-05:00

Crow sketch. Fall 08.