cookie and canvas comfort

I formed a new habit this semester (this LAST semester). When my brain was boiling, or my heart was hungry, I learned to bake it out. It started with a batch of chocolate peanut butter cookies during the wood shop days of my sculpture class. Then it was the can't-write-anymore-of-my-thesis days, which resulted in a home-made cake phase. And now, as a final send off to stress and a waistline, last night was chocolate cloud cookies.

The new experiences with coco and eggs fluffing, were generally more about the satisfaction of getting amazing results for average effort (following recipes isn't exactly equivalent to welding steel for this girl), then it was about the sweet treat at the end of the cookie therapy.

Looking back through this school semester, the fullest load thus far, what caused the most blood sweat and tears, quite literally, was the carving, bronzing, and welding days of sculpture. It amazed me just how bad I could be at something. I won't go on and on about the effort that was put in the wooden box and steel cube. Because I have complained to everyone who would listen on my daily walk from the Pourhouse to the studio. But I will say this, this semester I completed three, yes only three art projects in this class. As my instructor said to me after my pile of scrap pieces doubled as the mistakes increased, "I think this will be good for you." I have to admit, I have a new found urge to take things apart, make furniture, and be more innovative with my art, but can't say I will continue to shape, mold, and scrap, unless we are talking about cookies instead of wood, bronze, or steel.

The course was left some stretch marks but I am thankful I did it. But for now, I am back to a paint brush, and will be finding comfort amidst the job search with chocolate chip cookie recipes.

So, I will continue to try new recipes and look beyond canvas for the surface of my art. But as I sat today wanting chocolate chip cookies and painting, I was completely comforted. After a four months of art labor, and a few new cookie recipes, painting and chocolate chip cookies, never tasted so good.