Editor’s Note
We are What We Make
The past year gave me clarity that I didn’t expect and I’m not sure I appreciate: I like art. But I’m not an artist.
Months of weekends with nothing to do, long evenings and insomnia-driven early mornings mean I have a lot of time on my hands. I don’t feel like doing anything that I should be doing: organizing closets, mastering recipes, reading books, grooming the dog. I’m restless, a condition I blame on Living Through a Major Historical Time (LTAMHT).
So I did what millions of others have done: I went on Amazon and ordered art supplies.
Creatively Average
I started with origami. I thought it would be a fun art to master and I ordered a tablet of origami paper. My YouTube instructors led me through complicated-looking videos until I found one designed for children. It was still really, really complicated.
I powered through, and after a few short hours, made an origami chicken. I progressed to Christmas trees (harder than it looks on the videos) but finally gave up after a major star-folding fail. Conclusion: I’m a Below-Average Origami Artist. Let’s say D+.
Next up: Watercolor painting. I consulted my YouTube instructors and quickly realized that mixing pigments and managing brushstrokes, combined with a lack of artistic talent, had all the makings of a setup.
Undeterred, I bought cheap watercolor pencils, paper and a pack of $5 brushes. I’m committed to art; my wallet isn’t. Fortunately, the instructors were patient with me and I made a few (shamelessly copied) paintings. Conclusion: A solid C. Good enough.
During this LTAMHT, I’ve also tackled silk scarf painting and, briefly and inexpertly, calligraphy. Again, solid C work. I’m reluctant to call it art.
My artistic friends are making better use of their LTAMHT. One is a quilter who, not content with that impressive talent, made paper caricatures. Another is spinning wool, and a third is assembling art screens.
All this creativity is exhausting. I need a break. I need to see people. I need the vaccine.
I’m not sure of their artistic aptitude, but Mike and Sharon Hargrove’s baseball experience is a solid A+. No couple is more linked to Cleveland baseball than the Hargroves and we thought they’d be the perfect face of springtime.
Turns out the Hargroves have been navigating LTAMHT much like the rest of us: Zooming with far-flung family members, scrambling for vaccine appointments and looking forward to promising new seasons of both baseball and life in general.
With our theme “Second Chances” we’ve got stories about work, home and love that we hope will inspire you to take another chance (or two). None of them mentions art, but don’t let my experience discourage you if you want to take a shot.
With the weather warming, I’ll direct my art skills to the outdoors. I saw a TikTok video that gave me a few ideas, starting with scrap metal garden art. I’ll keep you posted. First on the agenda: extra Bandaids and a tetanus booster.
This LTAMHT is getting old.
Stay safe,
Marie
