Happy Friday

Nothing But Blue Skies

Acrylic on Canvas

12"x36"

Enjoy The Day

At Day's End

At Day's End

6"x6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Friday

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my little studio? 

 I do!

Today I started the process of reorganizing all my "stuff" as I haven't since I moved to this new spot.  I more or less just dumped everything in there and worked around it but today the sun was shining  and I was feeling inspired.  Although my studio is small and a tad cramped I still smile whenever I walk through the door ... mostly cause I'm grateful to have a place to be ...

to create ...

to dream...

that's all mine.  

work in progress........

The last year one my of most favourite books has been Stephen Mitchell's translation of the Tao Te Ching... I keep it on my night table.

In eighty one brief chapters, The Tao Te Ching or Book of The Way, provides advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit and teaches us how to work for the good with effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao - the basic principle of the universe.

The passage that is resonating with me most these days reads as follows:

Fill your bowl to the brim

and it will spill.

Keep sharpening your knife

and it will blunt

Chase after money and security

and your heart will never unclench

Care about people's approval

and you will be their prisoner

Do your work and then step back

The only path to serenity

(Tao Te Ching, translation by Stephen Mitchell)

Favourite Things

Calming

A perfect orange on a white plate

A hot cup of tea in the afternoon

A new shipment of art supplies

A great salad and a glass of red

The very beginnings of a new painting.....

And last but not least my new "most"  favourite thing is Juliet's Room.

Amazing organic products by herbalist Stacelynn Caughlan from Vancouver, B.C.

I haven't tried the entire line but so far these three are my absolute favourites.  Every ingredient is listed so you know exactly what your getting which is a nice change from all the other products out there in which you can't even pronounce half the chemicals they contain.

And.....they feel amazing on your skin....

Not A Whole Lot To Say

Dimming of The Day

Work in Progress

8"x8"

I had all intentions of blogging yesterday but a bunch of last minutes came up and by 9pm last night I just wasn't in the mood. I guess not having a lot ot say kind of put a damper on it as well. I'm just spending most of my time painting away in the studio and trying to adjust to having the girls home for the summer. Tomorrow is Canada Day and the village I live in never fails to put on a great show. Everything from a parade, BBQ, musical entertainment and a Strawberry Social. You just got to love small town living.

Flexibility

Tomorrow I'm off first thing in the a.m. to take a yoga class at the Y with my friend Diane. She is a member and has a free pass, one of which I used last week to take a Pilates class with her. The next morning when I got out of bed I felt as if I'd had a C-section in the night. My abs are still sore. When they say "work the core" they're not kidding. Speaking of yoga......

little known fact about me is that I'm a certified yoga instructor. Yes, I keep up a practice every day at home but it sure is a treat to take a class. Flexibility becomes even more important as you get older in both body and mind and believe me, I'm older so I know.

I've got three paintings to varnish before Friday. The Silverbridge Gallery wants to take some bigger pieces so I'm headed up to cottage country then. Truth be told I really hate varnishing. I just feel as if I'm going to totally screw it up and ruin my work. I generally use the brush on kind but am seriously thinking of the spray. Anyone out there with any advice?