a tribute to pat passlof

i can't remember the first class i took with pat as i was rather shy and awkward then -she probably terrified me, but it wasn't a terror i held onto because i studied with pat for many,many years. or at least it seems that way. i was in love with her of course,and in the big word she held in her beautiful hands-the artist word,the word that tauunts and terrifies and beckons us fom afar, and although i think she called herself a painter, she was an ARTIST to me,the first real artist i had ever met. now that i've started i'm not sure what i should say about her-what do you say about someone who irrevocably changes your life, who takes you on a journey to a place you never even knew existed. who lights in you a flame that never goes out-in short a person who makes a blind person see, and she did all those things for me especially the latter. i was blind and she taught me to see. and as an added bonus she taught me to paint. she set me on the path i continue to travel today.and though i don't know what she would think of the work i've done in the last year or two, it doesn't really matter. i am on my own path now, the one she set me down on, and she will always be the most important art teacher i have ever had; and though i have studied with some fine teachers,none of them even come close to teaching me what she did. she turned me upside down and cracked me over the head with a look or a word or a paintbrush taken out of my unsure hands and into her capable ones, to demonstrate something there were no words to convey.i wish i could do that now- take a brush in my hand and convey what words cannot, to try and do justice to her, and to thank her for all that she taught me ,things i have no words for. i can only hope in some small way that i do justice to all that she gave me, and that she knows how much i love her and continue to learn more about all that she tried

to teach me all those years ago. to pat with love, brigid.

snow snow snow or i know ican iknow i can

hi everyone-at least the snow is on the ground and not in my head anymore. i'm back to my sunny delightful self and thanks to all of you who responded with a kind word or words of empathy- it meant alot,knowing i'm not alone in all of this life poo-we all doubt ourselves,and sometimes feel as if we're the only ones who feel this way. it helps to know that you aren't alone.because that's whats scary about life sometimes-you feel as if you're the omly person on the planet who's plagued with self doubt and the old "who do you think you are,calling youtself an artist YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!! but really that's what i am- good enough. not the best, not the worst, but all right, and i plan to be good enough for a long,long time to come.stay tuned there's more to follow, but right now i have to go be good enough in my printing class . cheers-brigi ps the painting in this post is a small version of a series of mixed media porttraits of women tnat i'm currently working on- this one is called small woman#1.d

happy new year 5 days too late

ello ello ello-HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! never mind that it's jan. 5th- at least i got the month right. this promises to be a splendid year- i don't know why but i promise anyway.i've been busy being off from my fake job and working hard on my real job as i'll soon show you. i have been doing portraits-only one of which is a real person and i will post them as soon as i take pictures of them,which will

be very soon.two of them will be exhibited at the art lab's open show, which opens on sunday the9th at the art lab so go and see the show. it's going to be a blockbuster,with every artist on staten island jockeying for wall space.exciting stuff,thanks to my wonderful ian who wired them for hanging and drove them to snug harbor to submit them for me. and thanks to leigh at the art lab,, for accepting them a day past the deadline.my christmas was lovely and it was even fun to get snowed in on hilary's birthday(the26th). we ate alot of nonvegan chocolate-though we did have a vegan dinner with stuffing as the main course(who needs tofurky), and a vegan chocolate cake, played scrabble and dominos and drank endless glasses of sparkling cider and cups of tea. we laughed alot and i got dressed up in steampunk finery for a laugh. which reminds me-i've signed up for two classes at the artlab one of which is a steampunk jewelry making class taught by the inimitable laura delprete, and printmaking with the ever enthusiastic and extremely talented pat decicco. this time i'm trying a self portrait, god help me.i tried to upload some images to go with this post but i don't know if they're going to fly.if not my words must suffice. i'll be back very soon .pip pip