Where the Wild Things Are

“And Max, the king of all wild things, was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all.”
― Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

The book, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak both fascinated and frightened me as a child.

My favorite scenes occur as a forest grows in Max’s room. Then the banks of an ocean appear. Max travels solo in his boat, by night and day for almost a year! Or at least, what feels to be a year! (Some days are just like that.)

As a child, I could hide myself in those spaces and that imaginative solo voyage.

Max finally reaches a far off shore, after his long voyage … only to be confronted by giant terrible Wild Things!

Now looking back upon the story as an adult, I am even more so struck by young Max’s courage to stare down and shout at the Wild Things,

“Be Still!”

I am reminded that there continue to be many things out there that roar at us, no matter what our age.

Sometimes we have the words to face those Wild Things. And sometimes, we have to steadfastly seek them.

Either way, whichever might be true for you . . .

I hope you always have someone who loves you best of all.

Where the Wild Things Are
watercolor
12” x 17”

Neujahrsputz

I believe I am more excited about a fresh start and new year this year than in previous years. A proper and thorough Neujahrsputz has already taken place in the studio. (And yes, there is a German word for that deep clean we tend to do after the holidays and a new year approaches or zwischen den Jahren the German phrase for the time between Christmas and the new year.)

For 2025, I have ideas upon ideas alongside art making goals that may be a little upon the ambitious side . . . like making 50 paintings during the year that I will turn 50! But after all that 2024 held for me, I am inspired to take them somewhat seriously. My idea of what success as an artist means is also shifting. The older I get, the more I continue to learn from the other artists I know, meet, and work alongside. I am becoming more and more convinced that success as an artist truly looks different for everyone and is subjective. While there is no one path to it, for those who find it for themselves, those observing can see the objective qualities.

As the new year ushers in, thank you for the creative conversations 2024 held, and thank you to everyone who invited one of my little paintings into your homes.

Often people attempt to live their lives backwards, they try to have more things or more money in order to do more of what they want so that they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are then do what you need to do in order to have what you want.

Margaret Young

A New Song

A New Song
watercolor with gold leaf
18” x 24”

This painting will be part of the 2022 SPARK Invitational Exhibit in the West Gallery of Public Works Arts Center in Summerville, South Carolina September 23 - November 5, 2022.

It is a visual and personal reflection; representing all 2020 until this moment has held for me.

I want to describe all the minutia. The cracks and the solid ground. Grief and joy juxtaposed.

My observation of an approaching crescendo began on March 13, 2020. The word of the day in my German classroom was Hamsterkauf, describing the global hoarding of toilet paper which was underway.

By Monday, schools closed and virtual teaching began: as did an onslaught of polarizing opinions, politics, loss, fear, hot tempers, and uncharted waters to navigate through. And I learned, humanity is a fragile thing in a time of sound and fury. Tender in a forest of clanging and discordant words.

How long to sing this song?

Pandemic Pressings

In March of 2020, I began collecting flower pressings. I thought it would be a short lived pastime. Who knew I’d fill a book?

Now these petals, which chronicle the months, remind me that despite the standstill of time I continue to feel; the seasons will change. Blooms will appear again.