Being a Novice
Calligraphy, painting, poetry Laurie Doctor Calligraphy, painting, poetry Laurie Doctor

Being a Novice

Each time I begin a painting, or prepare to teach a class, I become a novice again. What am I doing? How do I start? I am going through this process now as I step into a new painting series for an exhibit in 2015 and prepare for my classes in Canada, Colorado and Italy. There is the paradox of being an experienced artist and teacher, but apparently needing the discomfort of feeling lost, of starting over. This sense of beginning from scratch keeps my work alive.

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Returning Home
painting, poetry, retreat Laurie Doctor painting, poetry, retreat Laurie Doctor

Returning Home

Haven't we wanted, all along, to try on boundlessness like mutable, starry clothes? This phrase from Mark Doty's poem, Nocturne in Black and Gold, comes to mind on return from Canyon de Chelly, where I had the privilege of spending a week with ten women– one of whom is a Dine (Navajo) guide. It was a poetry retreat.

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painting, poetry Laurie Doctor painting, poetry Laurie Doctor

Envy Disguised as Compassion

Now we come to the fourth devil in the exploration of obstacles to the creative pattern and Marie Howe's poem: Magdalene– The Seven Devils. It is: envy, disguised as compassion.

I have thought about this one a lot- it is the most difficult one for me to unwrap. I was struggling with how to approach it– so I put it down. It was a Saturday, and still dissatisfied with my attempts at writing about envy, I decided to take a break to run errands. I was listening to Moth Radio Hour on NPR in my car. They were featuring stories on coincidence– all kinds of wonderful stories from listeners.

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