Dear Lizzie (24 Oct 25),

Dear Lizzie

Number 4 moves out tomorrow and I wrote in my journal that I don’t want to be an artist, I just want to hold little hands and boil eggs with soldiers and pack little backpacks for travel and knit in the warmth of my car while watching my girls play soccer. But then I remembered Anne Truitt, funny we should both think of her, I remembered her talking about the the mother and the artist. The artist thinks of nothing but her work until the mother in her calls her inside for tea and a bath and I realised how much I need my art especially right now. And so to answer your question, I bought a goblet from our favourite op shop (across from our favourite wool shop), it’s Bendigo Pottery and it is something I would use and display (because I’ve decided this is a pre requisite for anything I purchase to paint). I spent Friday afternoon drawing and painting the goblet, mostly in ink, then water colour and I forgot for a while that I had a daughter moving out. My art mothered me. Then I saw your letter and I was so happy that we have started this and although we have already accumulate over 5000 text messages, there is something very precious about these letters we have begun. Im so grateful for our friendship and for this bridge between us. 

Love S

PS. Oh, and I’m reading Letters to Gwen John by Celia Paul because you recommended it, and yes, I’m going to fly through it just like you said I would. I’m also reading Elizabeth Strout’s Tell Me everything. I think she might be my favourite author. I’m listening to Sally Mann on The Great Woman Artists podcast because you said she would resonate but I’m also listening to Sentimental Garbage because I’m obsessed with Caroline O’Donahue and Dolly Alderton.