Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
This week’s theme has thrown me into a swirl of indecision. Technically in the Bluesky Art Show, multiple entries are permitted. My personal approach to the challenge is to pick only one, though. It forces me to slow the fuck down and be very deliberate about the choice.
So what to do about this week’s theme? My dear man and I don’t have items we’re overly attached to—nothing we’d be devastated by if we lost them tomorrow. Our favorite things are more conceptual—how we spend time together or tending to our native yard. So this week I struggled with not only choosing a “favorite thing” in that realm but how to represent it.
I finally landed in a completely different place—on an actual physical item. And—believe it or not—it’s not something obvious like my motorcycle.
It’s actually my coffee mug.
I love this mug for its generous size. It’s also unique and handmade. I love that it’s not perfectly round and uniform like its mass-produced counterparts. I smile at the humor of it every day. The green trim is one of my favorite colors. I love that it’s made by a local artist team who are lovable, amazing downtown merchants and all-around nice people.
It also satisfies the tactile-phile in me. (That’s probably not actually a word but I’m going with it.) I’m an extremely tactile person. I revel in the feel, weight, and texture of things. My bumpy, textured, hefty mug gives me the sensory feedback I love.
Of course, I don’t spend a lot of time making images of our household drink ware. So on the fly as I was packing to leave town—and my favorite mug—for a few days, I put my photographic muscle-memory to the test. Could I quickly craft a somewhat artful depiction—a portrait of sorts—of a largely utilitarian item?
So here we go, a little tribute to my humble coffee mug.
Not long after securing my beloved mug, I discovered what I hope is an intentional “easter egg” that makes me love this mug even more.
Let me know if you see it. If you don’t, you can cluck off. [Was that enough of a hint?]
Cheers, friends! Feel free to share your favorite things in the comments.
Bluesky Art Show
This post is inspired by the Bluesky Art Show, a challenge to share artwork surrounding a weekly theme each Saturday.
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