Saturday, September 17, 2011

A 'Before And After' That Gives Me A Happy Heart And Something To Look At!

Do you need to do a little trimming in your life??  Need to cut some things out?  Have you let it go too long?  Sometimes we allow things to grow up in front of us.  We allow 'life' to block our way.   We get busy trying to take care of the basics that we forget how important it is to remember the things that need tending in order to add the good stuff to our lives.  You know, the reason for living, for breathing, for seeing, for dreaming.

Many of you know that I live on the water.  Nice right?!  Well.....not if you can't see it!!!  Yep, you got it.  I have been living on the water and unless I walk down to the dock, I haven't been able to see it in years!! Well, until today. 

Right now, I am the happiest person in the world, just because I finally got around to having a group of guys come out and remove all this overgrown landscaping.  Okay. Nothing glamorous here.  Nothing too life changing.....or is it, could it be life changing??  I think so.  Look at this "before and after."  I get heart palpitations just looking at them.  Check these two images out!.... 
Before

After

Yeah!!!  As I am typing this, I can SEE WATER out the back of my studio!!!  The tide is coming in pretty rapidly. I love observing the cycles of nature. Tides come in, tides go out.  There is something about it that gives me a sense of stability and peace.  No matter what, I can count on the tides.  I gain energy from being able to connect with the miracle of it all as it rolls past my window.  Such a simple task has brought it back into my life.

Do you have anything that needs 'trimming' in your world??  May I recommend not waiting 4 years to do something about it?!!  It might not be old landscaping blocking your way.  Bet you know what it is because you are thinking about it right now.  So what's stopping you? You got this one life. See it. Live it. Breathe it.

-The End-

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Ponderings from the Studio...A Work In Progress

I'm in the studio today with my brush on the canvas of a painting in progress.  I thought about working today on a furniture project so that I would have a 'reveal' to post on my favorite blog linky parties,  but ehh....I just don't feel like it.  Ahh....  Since I took a break in August from blogging, I have found such a renewed sense of who I am and what I should be doing.  To hell with killing myself on projects and posting them in order to 'market' The Homeless Finch!!!  (I'm sure that I will feel differently tomorrow and will beat myself about not working on the furniture piece. *wink*)

As this painting is developing, I am seeing themes that my work use to address years ago cropping back up within the content of my strokes.  This interests me.  The 'why' I use a color or 'why' I paint an image is on my mind today.  I don't source my images from anywhere concrete, but my from memories and my emotional feelings at the time I mix a color.  I feel most comfortable working that way.  I like not questioning a choice in the moment.  It feels right.  I got with it.

I think this applies to so many areas of our lives.  Sometimes, it is just more real and right to go with our gut reactions and feelings regarding decisions.  Over thinking anything just seems to muddy it and kill the energy.  Of course, we can't go through life, not thinking.  I don't completely throw caution to the wind in life or my paintings.  Or do I?  I do let my spirit carry me in directions that I feel passionate about.  If that is a mistake, I feel confident that I can live with the results.  That's my philosophy.  It's who I am and at 47 years old, I don't think it's changing. 


What's your philosophy?  Are you a 'throw caution to the wind' person, or a 'I have to cover every angle with research and well thought out plans?'  Many people fall somewhere in the middle.  I don't.....and I'm okay with that.

-The End-
Linking to:


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

September and My New Front Door Wreath

Added a 'little something' to my door yesterday.  Today I hope to find a new door mat and a few freshening up things for my entryway.  It is also my daughter's 14th Birthday tomorrow and I am busy putting together a few surprises for her.  Maybe in a few days, I will show you some progress shots of another painting I have started.  Until then...

I found this wonderful little poem and wanted to share it with you.  Take a moment to enjoy...

September

The breezes taste
     Of apple peel.
The air is full
     Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
     Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
     Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
     Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
     Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
     With suds, the days
Are polished with
     A morning haze.

-John Updike


Have a wonderful Tuesday!

-The End-