Wabi Sabi

 

2025 was a full year, alternating between moments of complete exhaustion, joy, confusion, relief, excitement, and frustration.  We knew when we embarked on the move that it would be a giant undertaking, but nothing prepared us for the chaos that kept coming and rolling over us in waves.  The good news is that we made it through and love our new community in Raleigh. We are still acclimating, but things are slowly falling into place. Jim is working from home for one more year, my studio is in place with a whole new aesthetic, new medical care has been initiated at Duke, and we're happy to be close to the Sams.  

My goal for 2026 is to embrace peace and presence and that will require changes of pace and mindset.  I've always been fascinated by the curated wabi sabi concepts that first hit my radar when they were explored in the art world in the early 2000s.  Some of my contemporaries did art studies using this approach and I was intrigued.  I now know that it's more of a worldview and the tenets really fascinate me. It also is me coming full circle since it's a Japanese aesthetic and I am married to one. 

Wabi Sabi's cornerstones are acceptance of imperfection and the embrace of the weathered, cracked and aged patina.   I turn 65 in May so I'm working on accepting my own patina, lines, and limitations.  I've been working on authenticity for the last decade and in general have that down (at least with others). It's another cornerstone that I covet.  Acceptance of oneself allows peace and that's key for me moving forward.  Now finding beauty in my body's imperfections and my own impermanence will definitely be a work in progress.  I have accepted that in my art for decades and it has become part of my aesthetic.  

I am working on slowing my life down this year (note the phrase "working on" and making choices.  I fatigue much easier now and have to say no to things that even a few years ago, I would take on.  I need to accept these changes, knowing that they are permanent.  The first part of these changes happened this month when I delayed my ornament sale.  It was hard to do, but it was the best decision I've made lately.  I don't regret it at all.  

Simplifying my schedule will allow me to focus on what's the best for my health, my soul, and also what brings me the most joy.                                                                                                                 

                     

    

Don't worry, there will be art, (hopefully lots of art), but there will be breaks in my time in the studio. We have two trips planned this year. We'll be going to Alaska in August with the Sams and to Australia to celebrate Jim's retirement with our besties in November.  And yes, there will be painted pumpkins and the ornament sale in July.  Another change is that for the foreseeable future, I am not taking commissions, but there will be new art prints and originals from time to time. I also plan at least one addition to my collaged bird series.  Look for that late winter.   

                                

           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

I wish everyone a peaceful year full of whatever brings you joy.  For me, its the ordinary moments with our family and friends (canines included), my time in the studio, and my time with God. Whatever it is for you---go for it.  Those practicing Wabi Sabi recognize that nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect. Be kind to yourself.  As always, follow me on Instagram and Facebook at Nancy Curry Art for my art and my website is Nancy Curry Art.  My store is not set up after my move, but if you see something you'd like, shoot me an email or message me and we can make a sale that way.  The tax structure is different in NC and I have not figured out how that will work with my store.  
 

  

 

 

Yet

 

If you've followed me for a while, you already know my wordsmithing passion. When it's time to decide my focus for the new year, I mull over many choices.  Usually one comes to the forefront during the mulling period and when this one did, it surprised me.  Yet is a small but powerful word.  It can be applied in many circumstances, positive and negative.  Who can forget the "Are we there yet" from the backseat of the car or in my case, out of my mouth in the car?  Merriam-Webster has two entries for yet.  It can be a conjunction substituting for but.  I remember those papers where teachers said that my verbiage was redundant.  I'm sure that at some point I substituted yet. Studying the dictionary, the far more interesting usage is as an adverb and that's how it spoke to me as I leaned in to what I want out of my 2021 life. Don't worry.  I am not going back to my roots to present an English usage review, but I was interested in how such a little word can change how you think about something.  In 2021 I am looking to yet as a door to possibility rather than a focus on the fact that something hasn't happened.  This way of framing may teach me some patience in my artful and personal life.  Yet will be a precipice of sorts in my head. Something out of current reach but not completely out of the realm of possibility.  I'm going to try that thinking on for 2021. It's a little word as I said, but little words can pack quite a mental punch either way.   I'll let you know how it goes.  I'd love to hear what your words are so please comment back any time. 

A hearty thank you to all of you who came to my online sale.  It was the most successful one since I started selling this way.  I loved sending art to other continents.  I still can't believe that happened.  My show I spoke about in the last entry has done well considering the lockdown situation here and I am happy that so many originals went to people not only in Missouri, but in other parts of the country.  I was so honored to be part of Green Door's Signs and Wonders exhibit. Check out their site to see the resident artists' works.  They are fabulous.

Today is the last day to get the December reduced rate for Creative Jumpstart.  It starts tomorrow.  Holy Moly. I've talked about it for a month but if you want to get in at the reduced rate,  click on that link.  It will blow your mind.  

Well, I must get ready for dinner and champagne.  I leave you with a hearty thank you for supporting me and enjoying my art, my poodles, my ramblings, etc.  I appreciate all of you.  

xoxo

Nancy

Merry Everything!

I spent last night reworking and updating my website a bit so thought I would take the three hour late night drive to update my blog and fill in the blanks since I last wrote. Healthwise, it’s been a long road back, but at least I’m on a straight stretch of road and not taking detours. I feel mostly good but every now and again I hit a wall and need to take a breather. Creatively speaking, I’ve been in a burst most of the year. But even that has worn me out at times. The first half of the year was almost exclusively Citra artwork as mentioned in the last blog post. The cherry on top was the filming of my first online class in March for StencilGirl’s new class platform. Citra Solv Art debuted in August and has been well received. I am posting bonus material for those taking the online class and for those who have taken my in person class, Transformations. Message me if you are interested in knowing more about it.

Madcap

Imperfection

October also saw the release of my first club stencil kit for StencilGirl. For those that don’t know, StencilGirl has a monthly subscription service that I’ve participated in since its inception. It was fun to design for it and then even more fun to see them in use by others.  The best part is that if you join you can always order past month's stencils. 

Into the Woods

                              

                                   Umbrella

                                       

Alcohol ink work has dominated the second half of my year. It started with my incarceration at St Luke’s. I had no idea said incarceration would occur so I was unprepared and my anxiety went through the roof. It didn’t help that we were all wheeled into the hallway for a tornado warning during my first few hours there. My husband saved the day and brought the only art supplies I had packed. A new series was born that week. I’ve had two small batch sales and I am so grateful for all the support for this new direction. I was even more grateful that my work caught the eye of Dick Blick and I had a featured demo there in November.  Into the Woods and Umbrella are fall additions to the series. The rest are not up in my gallery (updating over the Christmas holiday) nor Etsy yet but if you follow me on Facebook and Instagram, you’ve probably kept up. The next pop up sale will be the first week in February. Newsletter recipients will get sneak peeks and other perks. Sign up here.

In between paintings, I’ve become obsessed with making ornaments so much so that I’m adding them as a class opportunity next year. I’ve got some special tips, tricks, and tools to share with everyone. I’ve had a blast and there are several time lapses and lots of photos sprinkled on my social media to show my enthusiasm. This is my new favorite done on a navy glass ornament. True confession:  my favorites come in and out of focus because they all have different vibes.

I’m sure there will be many more to come as I explore the possibilities. I’ve been very blessed to have sold quite a few from Instagram and local queries and I love sending them out into the world. The most interesting commission so far has been the order of a blue and a pink to become baby reveals for  the grandparents on Christmas Day. 

For those interested in non-art sightings, here are the boys dressed to the nines for the holiday season.  Angus is on agility hiatus until January 5th.  I've been told they're crowd pleasers when they run.  

            

and the best for last..... DPT White Coated daughter.  I also call my dear husband and her #myeverything. She's about to finish her first of three clinicals in Knoxville.  Next up in January she heads to Virginia Beach and finally to Annapolis for the summer.  Then it's time to graduate and take her boards.  She's my inspiration. 

If you've stuck around this long, I'll let you know I've already picked my word of the year for 2019.  It's actually two words and it's very important to have both.  "Live inspired" will be the focus next year.  It's one thing to inspire.  It's another to model living inspired.  The components are mind, body and soul.  Stay tuned.  My teaching schedule will be evolving so stay tuned for that as well. 

I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season and to look upon the new year with expectation.