{"id":1417,"date":"2026-07-02T13:19:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T17:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/?p=1417"},"modified":"2026-07-02T13:19:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T17:19:12","slug":"where-does-the-time-go-midsummer-art-notes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/2026\/07\/where-does-the-time-go-midsummer-art-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"Where does the time go? Midsummer art notes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Well! I had fully intended to post updates on my creative happenings in March, then no, it would be April for sure \u2026 certainly before the solstice!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now suddenly it is July. In my haste to get and spend, I risk missing nature\u2019s steady march through the seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Bluestone Wild Forest, June 10, 2026<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What have I been up to? Frankly, for the last several months I\u2019ve been spending most of my limited free time gardening: having acquired a little workman\u2019s cottage in Kingston, New York with only the barest beginnings of a garden, it has been hard work but also a joy to exercise the creative urge in cooperation (we hope) with nature. My goal here is to get native perennials started and create a natural, organic, chemical-free haven for my non-human neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
I’m letting the <\/em>Erigeron annuus go wild in my garden.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been slow going, but things do seem to be coming together. Perhaps I will post further details about the garden in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Asclepias tuberosa<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m much inspired this week to begin reading Thich Nhat Hanh<\/strong>\u2019s book\u00a0you are here<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0(2001\/English translation 2009):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThe first miracle of mindfulness is our true presence\u2014being here, present, and totally alive. Then, if you are really here, something else will also be here: the presence of the other. You are here and the other is here. What is the other? It could be your heart; your eyes; your body; or your in-breath. The other is the sunset, the song of the birds. Or it could be your lover, your partner, your son, your daughter, or your friend.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Among the many others I am seeking to be present for are the hummingbirds visiting the feeder I put up. Now I must be responsible! There are beaks to feed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

All this is inspiring new artistic activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In January and February, before the garden chores really took off, I took a couple of short classes at Kingston\u2019s Neighborhood Print Studio<\/a>! Great fun, and also challenging: the woodcut typography class was inspiring and difficult, as I had not really done any kind of art involving typography before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Drypoint experiment, inspired by Hasbrouck Park, Kingston<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
It beats strongly, isn’t dead, this undaunted heart<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m continuing with the watercolor practice, and I think some new oil paintings are on the horizon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While engaged in the meditative calm of painting the garden fence, I\u2019m also wondering what sort of mural trouble I could get into this year or next?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m slowly refreshing my website and other online presences. Instagram<\/a>, for better or worse, remains the most current source of updates on my comings and goings. I also use Threads<\/a> frequently. I would be happy to have you follow me there!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But being present, bearing witness, to the beauty all around us, is of first importance. Let\u2019s all take Thich Nhat Hanh\u2019s wise words to heart:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cBeing truly here is very important\u2014being here for yourself, and for the one you love. How can you love if you are not here?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Time-Being (Being-Time), July 1, 2026 14:45 local time<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Time flies while gardening at my Kingston cottage. Art is happening in its own sweet time, inspired by the natural beauty. Thich Nhat Hanh is reminding me to be here now. Catch me on Instagram and Threads for updates!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Hey all, did you know I also have a blog, hosted on my website? Yeah, I forgot about it too! Well, I've finally managed to get a post together. Check it out and let me know what you think!","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[143,144,16,89],"tags":[7,145,10,141,21,52,133,36],"class_list":["post-1417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gardening","category-nature","category-studio-notes","category-thoughts-and-ideas","tag-art","tag-gardening","tag-johnazelvandre","tag-kingston","tag-painting","tag-photography","tag-printmaking","tag-watercolor"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5zpKF-mR","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":214,"url":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/2015\/03\/upcoming-dirty-little-drawings-at-leslie-lohman-nyc\/","url_meta":{"origin":1417,"position":0},"title":"Upcoming: Dirty Little Drawings at Leslie-Lohman, NYC","author":"John Azelvandre","date":"March 14, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm participating in an exhibition and sale of erotic works on paper at the Leslie-Lohman Museum's Prince Street Project Space March 27-29. \u00a0In the words of the organizers: The Dirty Little Drawings exhibit and sale offers viewers the opportunity to become instant art collectors, with a dizzying array of original\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Announcements"","block_context":{"text":"Announcements","link":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/category\/announcements\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/JADLD1-a.jpg?fit=1000%2C669&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/JADLD1-a.jpg?fit=1000%2C669&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/JADLD1-a.jpg?fit=1000%2C669&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/JADLD1-a.jpg?fit=1000%2C669&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":240,"url":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/2015\/03\/this-weekend-dirty-little-drawings\/","url_meta":{"origin":1417,"position":1},"title":"This weekend: Dirty Little Drawings!","author":"John Azelvandre","date":"March 25, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"As I shared the other week, I am going to have several pieces in the Dirty Little Drawings show and sale this weekend. Here are all the details: What: Dirty Little Drawings is an exhibit and sale of erotic art featuring the male form. Each piece is on sale for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art"","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/category\/art\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/JADLD-6.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/JADLD-6.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/JADLD-6.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/JADLD-6.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10,"url":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/2014\/12\/2014-a-year-in-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":1417,"position":2},"title":"2014: A year in review","author":"John Azelvandre","date":"December 31, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"2014 has been a good year, although I pretty much felt like I was shot out of a cannon right from the beginning. Even before I've started to put up the window dressing and what-not in this shiny new blog space, I want to give you an overview of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art"","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/category\/art\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Winter Landscape","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/A20140108-800px.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/A20140108-800px.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/A20140108-800px.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/A20140108-800px.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1015,"url":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/2020\/11\/dark-spring-photos-from-the-nyc-lockdown-spring-2020\/","url_meta":{"origin":1417,"position":3},"title":"Dark Spring: photos from the NYC lockdown, Spring 2020","author":"John Azelvandre","date":"November 4, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I'm experimenting with Adobe Spark and putting together some photos previously only shared to Instagram (maybe Twitter). This photo essay narrates, loosely, the pandemic lockdown New York City suffered through from March to May, 2020. Despite the distressing circumstances, it was fun exploring nighttime street photography. 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Since then, I've been extremely busy setting up and testing my new page on Patreon.com. \u00a0I'm now ready to officially invite you to come check it out, and help me keep making art!\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Announcements"","block_context":{"text":"Announcements","link":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/category\/announcements\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Official-launch-768x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Official-launch-768x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Official-launch-768x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1417"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1417\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1431,"href":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1417\/revisions\/1431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azelvandre.net\/artistseye\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}