Hand painted Satsuma Moriagi elephant ashtray, circa 1942.
A four-inch tall elephant occupies space in my studio. She serves as a visual reminder for me to be more courageous about speaking up and out against behavior that is detrimental to the physical and emotional well being of others.
“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.”
~Margaret Mead
© 2015 Theresa Mae Funk. All rights reserved.
Objects in the mirror are larger than they appear.
© 2014 Theresa Mae Funk. All rights reserved.
Early evening walks to the American River soothes my soles and inspires the next set of ten
in my Something to Write Home About postcard art series.
Eileen Brunetto, my dear friend and Vermont based author, recently invited me to tag along on a blog tour that her fellow Goddard College MFA classmate, Tamryn Spruill recently initiated. I’ve not yet met Tamryn but in accepting Eileen’s encouragement to participate in this tour, believe that a cosmic door has been opened, and that a personal interaction with Tamryn in the near future will likely occur. I’ll reserve my opinions and experiences with manifestation for another time. The purpose of this blog post is to answer the four questions that Tamryn is interested in having answered:
1) What are you working on?
Aside from my weekly blog posts, I’ve been writing new songs and re-working those that were recorded in 1996 with Full Moon Heart, a Vermont based acoustic quartet from the Mad River Valley. Picture Postcard Lullaby is the current working title for the collection of songs that I hope to record live at a few historic Sacramento locations for independent release in 2015.
2) How does your work differ from others’ in the same genre?
How my work differs from other writers or artists isn’t something I give much thought to because it makes me feel like I’m comparing myself to other artists. But for the sake of answering Tamryn’s question, I think that my work differs from others in the essence of the story, the authenticity in the sharing of an emotion.
3) Why do you write what you do?
I write in response to the emotions I feel in reaction to what I see, read, or have experienced.
4) How does your writing process work?
I take a walk with my dog along the American River every morning before I write or make art. There is something about physically moving through space that conjures up all sorts of ideas that I can then take back to my studio and translate into words or sketches. Other times, an idea presents itself and a song can be written in a span of 20 minutes. That is the most amazing process to experience, and I am so very grateful that I allow myself to be open enough to surrender to the muse.
© 2014, Theresa Mae Funk. All rights reserved.
Every artist has a muse and every muse, an artist. Mine are dressed in yellow and green. Sunflowers continue to bloom this week in the garden with stunningly brilliant perfection.
©2014, Theresa Mae Funk, all rights reserved.
Vibrant yellow petals lure me to the garden’s edge. I measure the stalks and make note of nature’s brilliant accomplishment.
© 2014 Theresa Funk, all rights reserved.
El Dorado County has more than 2,000 acres of grape vines growing at the highest elevations across California. I managed to capture a few rows of one vineyard’s crop growing in yesterday’s late afternoon sunlight. With more than seventy wineries in operation throughout the county, there is no shortage of visual inspiration for my art.
© 2014, Theresa Funk. All rights reserved
© 2014 Theresa Funk, all rights reserved.
American River water is generally characterized as high quality surface water that is low in alkalinity, mineral content, and organic contamination. It is also a source of artistic inspiration for many Sacramento area artists. This moment was captured on my mobile device during a post-rain storm walk along the river, and continues to be reinterpreted as part of my Conservation Art series works on paper.
© 2014, Theresa Funk, all rights reserved.
I love the spontaneous wonder of nature and science that I’m able to capture with my mobile device while riding in the passenger seat of George’s car. He has excellent driving skills.
~T.
© Theresa Funk, all rights reserved
THERESA MAE FUNK 