Counting Time | Redeux | Self Portrait Artist

 "Counting Time"

I reedited a previous Covid art piece called "Counting Time" .

I originally created this piece in June 2020 to show the time passing of indoor lockdown and how much time we spent not doing "normal" activities. On Saturday our last mandate of wearing masks was lifted. My kids went to school today maskless for the first time in 2 years. 726 days into Covid. As this could be the last mandate as we return to daily life, I wanted to update this counting time piece to reflect the entire Covid journey. I must say all the tally marks really pop on this version!

Enjoy!

Take Two

Take Two

"It is always possible to do a thing better the second time." - Henry Ford

Here we are again. Covid take two. For my state we went backward in our numbers and now restrictions. We have officially entered the second phase of the virus. 

One thing I have been thinking about during this phase two lockdown is what I didn't do during phase one. I believe I am not alone in wishing they had done more back in the Spring, like projects around the home, teaching or learning of a skill, and/or used the time to do something you usually wouldn't. There are things I did of course, but I look back and wish I had done a few others. Right now we have the holidays to keep us occupied, but looking at the new year I want to use this time efficiently and not look back and wish I had used the time home better.

Now for those that haven't shut down or changed their lifestyles as much or have relaxed since Spring, its also a second chance to quarantine, cut back on activities, and/or look at what actions you can do to help minimize the spread of the virus this time around. 

Whatever you do during this second lockdown, do it better!

Extra: I have two versions of this image. One for my specific state and our date of when regulations went backward and then the one that is a generic phase two. The generic will be used in my official Covid series and on my websites, but wanted to make myself a specific image to have for my own personal collection.

Solitude

 Solitude

"“In solitude, there is healing. Speak to your soul. Listen to your heart. Sometimes in the absence of noise, we find the answers.”  - Amanda Ricks

Theme: Solitude

In isolation, time stretches and the walls close in. Solitude captures the ache of loneliness and the heavy stillness that defined so much of the Covid-19 experience, reflecting both the pain of disconnection and the quiet resilience it demanded.

Separation

Separation

“Sometimes you have to be apart from people you love, but that doesn't make you love them any less. Sometimes you love them more.” ― Nicholas Sparks

Another in my Covid19 series. In this series I am creating images that represent different features of our Covid struggles. A big part of that is not being able to see loved ones. Here is my image representing being separated from those we love.

Special thanks to my mom for cooperating for this one!

Art Statement:

During Covid-19, separation from loved ones became a painful reality. Separation captures the emotional weight of distance, the ache of longing, and the enduring strength of love across barriers, honoring the unseen moments that defined that time.

Emptiness

Emptiness
"And like the moon, we must go through phases of emptiness to feel full again" - Anon

Theme: Emptiness

Another in my Covid19 Series. I wanted to convey the mood of our hearts feeling empty during this time. When thinking about this theme, I came across the above quote and loved how it conveyed what I was feeling. We need to go through this hard time, have things taken away, to really appreciate what we love and what we want most from life.

Sidenote: I also want to add that I am terrible at titles for my artwork. I can finish a piece and sit here for a few days trying to figure out a title! It's another reason I love doing this project. If I can't figure out a title, I just use the theme. Sure its not original, but its better than sitting here for days without a title or coming up with one that really doesn't fit.

Boundaries

Boundaries
"Boundaries are part of self care. They are healthy, normal, and necessary." - Doreen Virtue

Theme: Boundaries

Another for my Covid series. I wanted to create a piece about the boundaries we need now. Backing up from people. Keeping our distance. Being aware of being too close to someone. Respecting if someone would like be social distancing. I feel like I could have my arms up all the time telling others to back away. To give me space.  I wore the mask in the photo to represent these times with Covid and how this is the time we are currently living in. However, this could represent how many feel anytime of the year or in their lives. Not everyone is comfortable with people being very close or in their personal space.

Bravely Broken

"Bravely Broken"
She was brave and strong and broken all at once. – Anna Funder

Theme: Willpower

I've had this quote written in my idea book for a few years. When I heard the theme of willpower it was a perfect time to use it to create an image. 

During this time of Covid19 we need the willpower to remain brave and strong, all while feeling broken at the same time. 

Letting Go

Letting Go
"Starting today, I need to let go of what's gone, appreciate what still remains, and look forward to what's coming next"

"Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on" - Eckhart Tollie

"Doing nothing is somethings one of the highest of duties of man" - G.K. Chesterton

Theme: Letting Go

This isn't a self portrait, but wanted to share it with my other fine art work. Over the last month my kids have had to let go of just about everything they had in their lives.  When I heard of this theme I wanted to highlight the things they have had to let go over this last month. It is a very unique time in their lives as we are usually very active people with activities every night of the week. Now it has been a month since they have had an activity and have no idea when and if things will resume.

This is what March and April look like. Their activities are just ghosts and memories.

Additional info:

What the photos represent from left to right:
*Brett was suppose to be in a local parade playing his trumpet on April 4th.
*The boys were 1 week into the flag football season. They only played on March 8th. The rest of the season was cancelled.
*All scout activities were cancelled. Alex was going to go to his first merit badge class and over night activity on March 21st.
*Baseball. Both boys made select teams this year. Games and tournaments have been cancelled.
* School is cancelled for the rest of their 5th and 7th grade years. That means Alex is done with elementary school and does not get a Jr high fun day or send off.
*Alex was going to have a project at the Puyallup Spring Fair on April 18th. He would get to stand with his project and answer questions from those visiting the fair.

Perseverance

Perseverance
"Doing something despite difficulty"

Theme: Perseverance

I've lost track of how many days/weeks we have been in at this point. Plus, we will be inside for another month. It takes patience, dedication and overall perseverance to maintain this quarantine.

We have an empty April calendar. Nothing to do. Nowhere to be. We are staying home to stay safe.

Not only is perseverance the theme for this week, its the theme for this time in our lives.

Do Not Touch

"Do Not Touch"
"Being brave isn't the absence of fear. Being brave is having that fear but finding a way through it." - Bear Grylls

Theme: Fear

**I already have a fear series started. It's an idea I have been working on since September 2018. So I was excited for this week's theme. However, originally I had a more light heartened idea, but I needed to be at my parent's house to the photo. Which of course isn't possible right now. But, it gave me a chance to explore more with the quarantine/covid/social distancing theme I have been working with lately while we are in the thick of this new life. **

Haphephobia is the fear of touch. While I do not have this phobia, touch is not my favorite thing. It's my last love language. I don't like when people are in "my space" or touch me out of nowhere.

That still hasn't prepared me for where we are right now in regards to touch. Right now touch can hurt us. A simple hug from a friend, handshake from a co-worker or a high five from student can be dangerous.  The best thing is to avoid touch. It's made many of us have a temporary fear of touch. 

Even as someone who doesn't care for touch, I have found myself missing it and needing more of it. Something I do not even like. It's weird how when something is taken away how you need it even more. I cannot wait to hug people again. Give high fives again. To not be fearful of someone touching me.

Quarantine

Quarantine
"Stay Home, Save Lives"

Theme: Trapped.

I'm a little late on this and it was not my first idea for this topic. But I'm glad life got in the way and delayed me. It has given a chance to record what is going on around the world. I was suppose to work on this theme the week of March 2nd. Instead I shot this image on March 29th. What a different world we live in now on March 29th than we did on March 2nd.

We now live in a world where we are all trapped in our homes. The last time I left my home was for non medical reasons was on March 11th. I went to purchase groceries. Since then I did have a bad kidney stone, surgery, overnight stay in the hospital, and a doctor appointment to remove a stent. But those were necessary. Other then that entire ordeal I have stayed away from people. I have disinfected. I have done laundry frequently. I have stayed at home. I have no plans to leave my home for the next month.

This is a crazy new world. A world where we stay in. A world where we stay in our homes. A world where events are cancelled and we have no where to go. We are an extremely busy family. We are out every night at sports, events, concerts, activities, scouts, and school functions. However, being home is my new normal.

Social Distancing

Social Distancing

"the practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance from other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of a contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection"

Theme: Distance

Another one I had a different idea for but felt I wanted to record our lives in this new world. Here is our March 2020 Family Portrait.

I usually like to create more fine art work for the lightbulb project or my self portraits,  but the theme was "distance" and that spurred this idea for me. And well since my family was on board to do it, I went for it :)

When I started this 52 week project back in January, I kept a notebook of dates and themes. Then broad ideas for some of the themes. It's really crazy how different my life is right now than I envisioned it to be back in January. Originally, I had an idea of me running toward a door in the distance. An idea I have had for awhile. In fact most of it is shot. Figured it would be a good chance to catch up on editing an idea I had back from 2018.

But here I am, two months forward. Living in a different world. Social Distancing is the new life. 6 feet away from people. This seemed more appropriate. I can always create that running door self portrait sometime else. But right now this felt like the right image to create for the theme distance. This is March 2020.