When I was growing up I was fascinated with the Russian nesting doll that sat on the shelf in our home. I loved opening and lining up the the family of babushkas. I insisted on matching the painted tops to the painted bottoms – aligning them as precisely as possible and then setting each smaller one next to the larger in a perfect row and then nesting them all cozy back together and repeating the process.
Maybe it was to honor the artist’s composition that I needed to match the pieces or maybe it was a hint of compulsion for order. I compose the objects around me – if I see a painting is catawampus or items askew – I need to place them just so which is contrary to my desire to ignore basic clutter. I couldn’t care less how well my underwear is folded or how the pots are stacked in the cupboard or even how I have my art supplies in my studio but once items or objects are purposely composed, placed, or designed then I need to see them just so.
I think it may be part of what keeps me making my apples – I couldn’t bear to see the set uncompleted and lined up.
Until tomorrow.
Jenna
Day 256 was created in pen & ink.
It’s funny how alike we are in that way. My personal spaces are overflowing with.. mess (as much as my husband with OCD will allow them to be), but I was obsessive as a child about the exact same thing – lining up my stacking dolls juuuust so. I’m the same way with crooked frames. There’s a restaurant we frequent that has their picture frames screwed into the wall, and I twitch when I look at the ones that aren’t level.
Hey Mary, I’m so glad you stopped by and told me I’m not alone in these compulsions! I also have a twitch when I see a painting or photo hung too high – problem is that everyone seems to hang them too high! I guess it’s the artists in us – I call it chaotic order! I’ve got a post I’m dying to write about chaos but I haven’t had the energy to write it! Uugh! Oh well – we do the best we can. And – as long as our personal spaces have a door to close away the clutter – eh!
I’m headed home to Maine for a few weeks – I’m going to have to get out the Russian dolls!
Jenna
I was the same way with our Russian Stacking Dolls!
Hey were yours Red & Yellow?