Fading Rituals

Mixed Media on Canvas

6"x6"

SOLD

This week as far as work goes (the art kind) ...will be a write off. 

 My inlaws arrive on Monday for my daughter's graduation and then leave on Wednesday for Toronto.  Wednesday I start cleaning the house and grocery shop for the second shift as my family arrives on Thursday.  They depart on Sunday just in time for my inlaws to show up for dinner on Sunday night.  Come Monday all goes back to it's usual comforting pulse of silence....o.k. maybe not silence as I forgot the girls are off school for summer break........you'll find me working in the garage.

Things have been slow lately and I'm simply trying to finish up two pieces to deliver to Carol Currie for the Thunder Beach Show on July 17th.  Other than that I've been kind of wandering around doing my best to reorganize and purge my house of "stuff" that seems to have collected in drawers I never find the need to open.  I know there's junk in there so that's why I never open them.    The rain here seems to be relentless and day in and day out it seems rather gloomy.... not good weather when it comes to being inspired..sunshine is my drug when it comes to creativity.

At the moment I'm  reading "Committed" by Elizabeth Gilbert and am really enjoying it.  If you read "Eat, Pray, Love" and think this book will be anything like that..."it's not".  I read many of the reviews on Amazon and thought the people that didn't like it were looking for a sister book to EPL.  This book stands on it's own merit and as far as I'm concerned she's a really good writer.  It's frank and honest and 

gives you a sobering look at marriage as a whole.

Anyway, I'm off.. ..time for a bit of meditation as my practice has been lagging lately

There Were No Balloons or Cake at This Party (ok there was cake)

So yesterday when I was in my studio storing my art away I decided to have a little party for one.........a pity party. You know the "poor me" kind. Where you neglect to look at all the great things you have in your life and just concentrate on the crappy ones. The rain outside didn't help much as it has been a constant the last six days. So I'm organizing my art on shelves and thinking "why aren't I selling more?", why am I not the famous artist I think I am in my own mind?". Well all that pathetic whining does get tiresome after awhile so after getting some great advice and general cheering up from my "amazing" blog friend artists, I went and made some homemade chicken soup(really good) and then ate a big piece of banana cake (that wasn't so good, at least for the waistline).

I'm smart enough to realize the career path I've taken is not an easy one. Maybe I should have been a psychologist. I had seriously thought of that at one time but ruled it out in the middle of my Psych 101 class after I had drawn throughout my entire notebook as well as over some of my notes. Tracy said to me yesterday "Maybe you should just stop making art". I know what she was trying to do and I thank her for it. It made take a good hard, long look at what it would mean to "stop making art" and to realize that would not be a possibility. I'm driven to get into that studio everyday not because I think I'm going to get rich but because it is such an integral part of who I am. So...............I pick myself, dust myself off and get back at it. Then I started feeling really guilty about being so self absorbed when there are so many other tragic things going on in the world. I really am so very blessed. My life is a good one, a really good one and I'm grateful.

I've got this great guy who loves me (ok I know this is a line straight out of Jerry Maguire but it's still one of my fav movies. Long before Tom was jumping on couches and married "Free Me" Kate.) I've got great kids (granted they think I'm a little weird but hey, they are teenagers what do they know...in 20 years they'll think I'm cool but I won't hold my breath). I live in an "arts" supporting community and I do get to work in my studio every day.

Sometimes you just have to venture into the dark side for a short period of time to realize how bright everything truly is. May sound corny but it's true.

Eat, Pray, Love.....Reflections on Friends and Food

I think last night will stay with me for quite sometime. It was to say the least an extremely memorable evening. I don't think you can go wrong when you bring together friends, good food and thought provoking conversation. And thought provoking it was. If you've read "Eat, Pray, Love" you will be aware that there is an endless source of "stuff" up for discussion. Everything from faith, hope, love, balance......it runs the gambit and I do believe last night we covered all of it. Everyone had very strong opinions on all of those subjects which made for such interesting dialogue between us.....

We all ooohed and ahhhed over the delicious food..........the ultimate in yummy. Kelly's tiramisu was the best I've ever eaten.....and yes I did have two servings as well as a couple of mouthfuls standing at the kitchen counter pretending I was cleaning up.

It all wrapped up around 12:30 and with a smile on my face I fell into bed. Exhausted but so very pleased.

Much thanks to:

1. Liz for your fascinating insights
2. Marilyn for your strong convictions
3. Judy for the random acts of kindness you perform all day long
4. Anna for always being a strong supporter (cheerleader) for everyone
5. Amy for your interest in all things spiritual
6. Sarah Jane for your unshakeable belief
7. Joan for your honesty and reflections on life
8. Kelly for your wicked sense of humour that never fails to crack me up.

Speaking of thanks......much gratitude goes out to Andrea Pratt for her kind mention of my work on her fabulous blog. Yes, Andrea we will get together whether it be in Toronto or Vancouver for that glass of wine.

The Blue Door

I just completed this piece a couple of hours ago and have decided on the name "The Blue Door" maybe not too creative but descriptive none the less. I've thought about doing an entire series on just doors. Something so intriguing about what may or may not be behind them. This was inspired by a photo I took of a doorway in Sinta, Portugal. I love the rough, textured look of the stone on the walls and the beautiful potted flowers on the stoop. So very welcoming!

Today the sun is finally shining which always puts me in a good mood. I heard snow and ice were on the way tonight but in this moment I see sun and I'm hangin on to that.

I'm also figuring out my dinner party that I had elluded to last post. I read Eat, Pray Love before it became the sensation it is now and loved it. Since everyone I know is now reading it, I decided to have a dinner party for eight of my friends who are just finishing the book. All women from a variety of backgrounds and careers but all good friends for sure. Kelly will be there of course (anyone who has been following along with my blog will know Kelly), Judy who works in management for the actors union in Toronto, Joan who is finishing up her PhD in archeology, Liz works with troubled teens, Anna owns the local newspaper, Sarah Jane works in career counselling, Amy works for an engineering firm and Marilyn is the founder of the Livingstone Theatre Project and who is also leaving for Africa at the end of this month. What an interesting group.
Everyone will be assigned a dish to bring for dinner. The meal plan will revolve around the three places Liz Gilbert visited during her year long trip...... Italy, India and Bali. I will be making the pasta (ok, Tre Sorelle will be making the pasta, I'll just be picking it up), Kelly is bringing Tiramisu, Joan will prepare a Balinese appetizer, hoping Liz can do her fabulous Indian Curry. That's as far as I've gotten but will throw the rest of it together today. I absolutely love dinner parties..........delicious food, good wine and a continual flow of great conversation. Cheers,