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The Perks of Being an Artist

~ Because demented people need love, too.

The Perks of Being an Artist

Tag Archives: ani difranco

Beauty That Moves

31 Wednesday Jan 2018

Posted by emilypageart in art, culture, gratitude, kindness, painting, Uncategorized

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

ani difranco, art, artist, beauty that moves, Emily Page, Emily Page artist, evolve, true definition of beauty, watercolor painting

I have a friend who said to me recently that she’s never felt beautiful. Actually, I’ve had a couple of friends who have said that, and it makes me so incredibly sad. These women are, objectively, lovely. I’m an artist, so I get to pretend to be an expert on these things. And when you get the chance to know the women who have told me this, they become even more beautiful. It’s unbelievable that no one has told them just how lovely they are in a way that convinces them. We all have our doubts about our own beauty. The media preys on that insecurity, and even the most gorgeous among us will obsess over her “flaws.” It claims to know the true definition of beauty and insists that we agree, even if we don’t fit into the current beauty fads.

But even with that knowledge, it’s been seriously bothering me that my one friend, in particular, doesn’t know what a beauty she is. There’s a line in an Ani Difranco song, Evolve, that says,

“it took me too long to realize

that i don’t take good pictures

cuz i have the kind of beauty

that moves”

I think that’s true for so many of us. Ours is a beauty that moves. It is in our laugh, or in our look of love. It’s in the kindness and joy and sadness and vulnerability that shine from our eyes. This beauty is not static, or easy to catch and capture. It flies, it runs, it does somersaults. Our beauty does not sit and wait for a photographer to tell us how to pose.

My friend is actually a photographer herself. It’s her job to make other people see their inherent beauty. She brings out the best in her subjects. And it’s high time someone did that for her. So I took a photo from her Facebook page and created a painting of her as I see her. It’s still not as beautiful as she is, but I feel it captures at least a hint of this beauty of hers that refuses to sit still.

Audrey

“Beauty That Moves” 11″ x 14″ watercolor on paper

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Freak Show

06 Monday Mar 2017

Posted by emilypageart in dance, kindness, music, Uncategorized

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ani difranco, David Bowie, freaks, freakshow, halloween, Monday morning, music, music to start your day, savage, the goblin king, The Labyrinth, timmy trumpet

Today is all about freaks. Why? Because I said so. So here are 3 freaky things for your viewing and listening pleasure. This outta help you start your day off right.

First, several years ago, I was David Bowie from The Labyrinth for Halloween. Because David Bowie:

David Bowie.jpeg

Yes, that is a rolled up sock (actually MULTIPLE rolled up socks) stuffed down the crotch of my pants.

Second, I give you the first song I started my day with: Ani Difranco’s Freakshow. This is an excellent song to screamsing to.

And third, I give you the the second song I started my day with: Timmy Trumpet and Savage’s Freaks. This is an excellent song to stompdance to.

Good morning. Now go about your freakish day.

***********************************************************************

Thanks so much for reading my ridiculous thoughts! If you’d like to see my ridiculous thoughts translated into art, visit my website, or follow me on Facebook and Twitter. Know a caregiver, or someone with dementia, or someone who knows someone with dementia, or someone who knows someone who knows someone else who’s a caregiver? Or heck, do you know a person? Well, you should tell them about my book, Fractured Memories: Because Demented People Need Love, Too. Part memoir and part coffee table art book, I recount my family’s heartbreaking and hilarious journey through my father’s dementia. Available to purchase here (this is my favorite way if you live in the U.S.), here if you’d rather get the eBook than a print copy, and here (especially if you want a hard cover copy).

book-cover-1

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Today’s Dance Party

08 Tuesday Mar 2016

Posted by emilypageart in dance, music, singing, Uncategorized

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Anais Mitchell, ani difranco, dancing away the sad, folk opera, Hadestown, music, musical

My dance jam this morning is from Anais Mitchell’s folk opera, Hadestown. This album is freaking awesome. So creative and varied and sexy and heartbreaking. Plus it’s got Ani Difranco on it, so you can’t go wrong. I highly recommend it for long car rides. And, obviously, dancing away the sad:

 

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Are You Tending To Your Joy?

20 Friday Nov 2015

Posted by emilypageart in art, culture, gratitude, mental health, music, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

ani difranco, back back back, combating depression, first world problems, gratitude, music, putting beauty into the world

As I mentioned last week, I’ve been in the Artist’s Shame Spiral, where I get down on myself for not having more art sales. I don’t spend the time necessary to market myself properly, so it’s no surprise that sales have been slow. I just hate the bragging side of promoting my art. But that’s not the point of this post.

The point is, I have it really fucking easy. I am not fleeing a war torn country. Is there always a threat that a terrorist of foreign or home grown descent will shoot up the movie theatre or mall I’m in? Yes. But the odds are slim. And while I do have some health issues, ain’t none of ’em gonna kill me any time soon. I have friends and family that I love. There are a thousand little things each day for which I can be grateful.

As a person who battles depression, I need to cultivate happiness. I do this in little ways, like trading a weekly email with a friend with a list of all the things that happened that week for which I’m grateful, or taking a little extra time to snuggle with S and the cats, or enjoy a good bourbon. Tonight, I’m reminding myself via Ani Difranco. She’s the shit. No. She’s the shit the shit wishes it could be. I’m going to share a couple lyrics of hers with you, and then I encourage you to listen to the whole song:

Back back back in the back of your mind

Are you learning an angry language?

Tell me boy, boy, boy are you tending to your joy

Or are you just letting it vanquish?

…Your arrogance is gaining on you and so is eternity

You better practice happiness, you better practice humility

You took the air and you took the time

You were fed and you were free

Now you better put some beauty back

While you got the energy

Yeah, you better put some beauty back

While you got the energy

Here’s the actual song:

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Emily Page

Emily Page

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