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Bohemian Folk Art by Tracy Dove

SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

“And here in my isolation I can grow stronger. Poetry seems to come of itself, without effort, and I need only let myself dream a little while painting to suggest it.” ~ (Paul Gauguin)

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I am often called a recluse, a hermit,  an agoraphobic, depressed and/or a loner. I have been accused of avoiding or running away from my problems or escaping and hiding from the world. This is all humorous to me for several reasons. Most of all being that I have felt this was something that I needed to defend or explain. On more than one occasion, I’ve questioned why my desire for solitude is stronger than my desire to engage outside of my “queendom”. The answer is simple.

My creative fire has been burning full force again. Last night I painted until the morning hours on a few fun things and baked a cake in between the paint drying times. It was so cool to look at the clock when I pulled the two 8″ rounds out of the oven and see that it was exactly twelve o’clock midnight. In that moment it became a “magical cake”! My black cat sat on the kitchen floor watching me bake, so that really added to the “good witch” feel of the whole experience. I finished reading my friend, Kathy Cano- Murillo’s latest craft novel, “Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter” and was inspired to create and bake. I even went outside for a little moonlight garden watering.

It could not have been nearly as rewarding if someone else was in the scene. It was just me, my quiet animal friends, plants, and my own thoughts. I heart those moments the most of all.

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“Of course, when one is faced with a canvas, one is no longer alone, and the sense of solitude diminishes. This can be an agreeable passage of time. In fact, solitude then becomes a kind of companion.” ~ (Pierre Alechinsky)

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3 Comments

  1. susie carranza

    wow - i could have written this, tracy. i know exactly how you feel, and you’re right of course - your experience would not have been the same if someone else were present.
    love your words, and love your art! thanks for the continued inspiration! ♥

  2. tracy..what a very meaningful blog ..it touch a chord within me..I fee lthat way too. I love that your cake became magical at the witching hour ..black cat looking on. I love you sister!

  3. Penny Swing

    Tracy, I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your experience in words for us to read. My heart hummed in unisense while reading it, and then I read the 2 other women who commented, and I felt comfort in knowing that I am not alone in the understanding of this beautiful solitary life I live. I do love people, and I do love to be one with the universe, Mother Earth offers so much more than most can see…….when I am quiet, still, and listen……the magic happens…Ahhhh, the call of the Goddess…so close to my heart…..Love, Love, Love it…..Blessed Be.

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