New Times Tell me about your new house. Do you have your own studio now? How has it affected your painting?
Lena Rushing We recently moved to a house that has a huge bonus room; half of that room is my ‘studio.’ At the old house, I used my little kitchen counter as my workspace, where looming daily dinner obligations limited my creativity but I made do. I steal time away to wander in there and paint because I have more privacy and am surrounded by all of my materials, and I am more apt to dive in on a whim. Typically I paint when my family is asleep, from about 10 p.m. to midnight.
New Times You are a busy woman; you have two small children, a busy husband and social life. Where do you find the time to create art?
Rushing Art is a fickle thing. In the past two years I have had plenty of time to complete at least a baker’s dozen of fine art canvases … but I haven’t. When I do paint it’s all consuming; in the spaces between, it’s frustrating. It’s not really something I’m in control of. I have found a way to satisfy my creative needfulness when I am feeling blocked—crafts. Crafts allow me to indulge my imagination and experiment with different media without the pressure of … well, of anything really. Art exposes me and begs the question of my talent, my authenticity as an artist, it’s something I am passionate and secretive about. I beg my own husband not to comment on any of my paintings. Crafts have become my intermission. I don’t prefer them to my paintings but they are a welcomed affair when my attempt to paint goes unrequited. I can be a danger to my own paintings and have been known to give works away just to save them from myself. In the past two years I have made gourds.
New Times Excuse me, gourds?
Rushing A few years ago I was flipping through a magazine when something caught my eye. There was a picture of a house decorated for the holidays and on a shelf in the background sat an adorable Santa gourd. I couldn’t wait to get home and try my hand at painting one … or two … or 20. Thank goodness I had a friend who lived on a farm littered with gourds. Each gourd is one of a kind and takes between three and five hours for me to paint. I’d like to think that the purchaser of one of my little guys will give him a good home and that he will be passed from generation to generation like you would a cherished ornament.
New Times What does it mean to you to be an artist on the Central Coast?
Rushing It means being an outsider … an outcast. I love where I live, it truly is paradise, but as an artist I don’t think I fit in. The artists who are successful here paint lovely landscapes, flowers, the ocean, wine and grapevines. I think that my paintings would be better received in L.A. or San Francisco, or so I have been told. I paint for my own satisfaction and could care less if there is a market for me, but I do get a thrill from doing a show and the flattery from a sale is intoxicating. It makes me feel included, like somebody “gets” me.
New Times Speaking of a gallery show …
Rushing It has been over a year since my last show because it’s a small community and I couldn’t go back with any of the same pieces year after year. I wanted to wait until I had at least ten finished available paintings before I attempted to solicit any venues. I dread that part; I really need a representative to do my booking.
New Times What’s your New Year’s resolution?
Rushing My resolution has nothing to do with art. My relationship with my art is delicate and I would never do anything abrupt to piss it off. Every year my resolution is the same: Learn fluent Spanish and guitar. I have been staring at my left-handed guitar and “Learn to Play Guitar” books for 10 years but my attempts are just pathetic. I need a professional.
Christy Heron can be reached at cheron@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Dec 18-25, 2008.