You don't know what you got 'til it's gone

During last night's open studio, I sold "Domino effect," the first post on this blog.

The reason I'm bringing this up? Well, a few months ago a former editor of mine, Jan Leach, asked me whether I would miss a collage once it was gone. I was pretty cavalier about it, shrugging off the question with a quick "Nah." I've sold plenty of pieces since with no sense of loss ... until this week.

I lived with "Domino Effect" for close to a year and grew to like its simplicity and wit. Beyond that, I had a sentimental attachment to it, because it was one of the first pieces I made after moving into my first studio, which was at the Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati in Mariemont.

There, I was welcomed and nurtured by Diana Taylor, president of the club. The Barn - yes, it is a beautifully renovated barn - houses a handful of studios. Much to my surprise, most of the artists were never there. So, Diana became my sounding board. She has a keen and critical eye, and let me bounce ideas off her when she could spare a minute or two from her hectic schedule. She also was a fantastic cheerleader, boosting my morale and giving me confidence.

I moved to my current studio at Brazee Street Studios after six months at The Barn for a number of reasons; primary among them: I can walk there, the studio is bigger, the complex houses close to 20 artists - and most of them are at work nearly every day. This group offers the same support that Diana did and have made me feel part of the larger artist community. But I still miss her - and now I miss the collage that reminded me of how welcoming and patient she was to an emerging artist with a lot to learn.