sketchbook: ReVision 116 in progress

Dear Tina,

How are you? Yes, Brett & I had a wonderful little get away for our anniversary. We stayed in  Portsmouth, NH where we haven't been in many years. Even got a little nostalgic and spent a day at Hampton Beach where we met. I was only 14 years old when we first met, so young and carefree. Strange how memories come flooding back from your youth, things you hadn't thought about in years. We relieved our day playing ski ball, walking "the strip" eating pizza and sharing a Blink's fried dough. SO much fun!

I have been thinking about your last letter and how you asked me about not putting a size limitation on our ReVisions. The funny thing is that I was actually going to ask you the same thing! We are totally on the same page. It will be interesting to see this work bigger. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your new work by the way! The juxtaposition of the bird and the branch, adding the sewing and combining the two to give them new meaning I find very inspiring.

My mind immediately stepped back in time to my dad's garden as I thought about what to do with the tomatoes you gave me for Vision 116.  Although I love tomatoes now I didn't care for them much as a child. I wish I did. I remember being in the garden many afternoons with my friend Sue with her enthusiastically feasting on all the lush varieties he grew. They are amazing and of course, only now do I appreciate them when I live so far away.

I have one tomato plant growing in a terra cotta pot in my backyard and decided to let my mind wander while I sketched the bright yellow flowers and small green tomatoes that were forming. I know it sounds ridiculous but I never really thought about how important that tiny little flower is. I think this is what I like about drawing from nature, making connections I hadn't before. Unlike you I am not sure where I am going with this but I have done some color studies and started an abstract underpainting. I agree with you, there is something magical in the way our work together blends with our own individual studio work. I am excited to see where this leads us.xoLaura