Finding Time

BC asked me where I find the time to paint and draw and blog and take care of houses and dogs and spend time with friends and Ginger... what a good question???
I can answer by saying I don't think I do such a good job of it. A few weeks ago I checked out a DVD from the library on how to get organized. Problem was: every time I tried to watch it I fell asleep. One thing I did hear was to "team clean with other people, one room at a time". Well, I latched right on to this as I don't really like to clean, but love a neat and tidy house. Ginger thought this was very funny and started calling it "couples cleaning". But once in a while we try to manage our mess this way and it is faster.

One thing I have finally learned is that art takes my "best" time. It needs the time of the day when I am energized and centered, not so great after a day of work. I have found that if I work in the studio in the morning on my days off the whole day feels better.
And then there is just hanging on to my art time. We live in this world where everything claims our attention and it's easy for me to "give away" my art time. I want to please everyone and saying no is hard. I'm working on this.

And... I always carry a sketchbook in my bag and the "right" pen, a uni-ball, fine, waterproof roller ball. If I'm waiting for something: take out, bus ride, waiting for G. running errands, well, I just draw and then I feel accomplished.

These little drawings were done in the airport and at the conference.

Hope this all helps someone. Managing my time and keeping clutter out of my life are constant struggles, but worth the effort. When my parents died I got it that I only have one life and it's up to me to figure out how to make it what I want!

And I have lots of wants: girlfriend, family, friends, art, a home, work, and health and probably a bunch more. Thanks for the good question BC!!!

Finished Painting

I love this painting. I don't often feel this way about my work. Most of the time I'm pretty ambivalent about a piece's "worth" in my creative world. But, this painting means something to me. My figure feels very vulnerable and has the perfect boy reminding him of how different he is all the time. I love his hair and his intertwined hands.
If you have an opinion about this painting please let me know. It's ok if you don't like it. I swear it won't derail me.
Happy Wednesday, Lost is on tonight!!

Mariza... love this

Totally Unexpected

We had tickets Sunday eve for a concert. I almost didn't go as I was so tired. I am SO glad I didn't stay home. This is Mariza, a singer from Portugal. Our local concert venue advertised that people could buy tickets for any price. No one was purchasing tickets because no one had heard of this woman. So with our ten dollar tickets we were treated to a thousand dollar concert. Mariza sings "fado" which is the Portuguese equivalent of the blues.
oh my, she was the most amazing diva. (and I love divas)
wow...

More from Southern California

Sitting in the conference I reaffirmed the fact that drawing and listening use two different parts of the brain. I actually think I stayed more alert by sketching the other attendees.
Or, it could have been another excuse to draw!

This is the miracle of my trip, reconnecting with Mona. 29 years ago when I was a very green psych nurse I had the privilege of learning (from Mona) how to appreciate and help those we serve in the hospital. I learned that being a real person, and helping everyone to laugh and enjoy the moment was healing. People like Mona come along once in a lifetime. We had such a great day, picking up right where we left off like it was yesterday.

and... Mona made me cupcakes!
I am soooo lucky to have found my dear friend again...

I'm still digesting all the events of the last week... more to come.

Some Weeks Are Very Large

I do love palm trees...

I spent the week in La Jolla, California at a great nursing conference.
Good ideas and theory will enrich my work life.
I'm not a Southern Californian anymore. Too many people and cars and new buildings.
I am really glad to see Oregon with it's green and grey environment.
I guess I have to choose. Beautiful Mediterranean sunshine, coast and temperate climate or rain and big trees, open space and fewer people.
ok... I choose Oregon.

One day after the conference I walked to a large outdoor mall and came upon the tanning booth shown in the photo above. I laughed so hard. It was like a big porta potty! You go inside, remove your clothing and some machine spray tans you! Naked in the middle of the mall! As you can see it was in use when I snapped the photo.
Yawn, I'm not caught up yet... more soon.
Hi Mona!

Home from the Coast, off to La Jolla!

Ginger and I spent a long weekend at the coast house.
We celebrated our 21st anniversary.

A walk on Ona Beach means crossing a beautiful little river.

Although we pleasure ourselves with the same activities each time we go to our coast house our experience is always different. Ginger always hunts for rocks, but I can't remember her ever finding a blue agate. What a gorgeous little planet in her hand!

Yesterday was a day everyone had been waiting for: 70 degrees and sunny. The new little cones on these conifers were glowing red. From far away they looked like flowers.

At home in the evening, Simon getting his curls combed out.

We did lots of yardwork: bush trimming and picking up fallen branches. Ginger found this guy in the ground cover. For some reason I am quite fond of him, and although he is a squirrel, he looks like he is perched on a tidepool.

Now I'm running around trying to get ready to leave for a nursing conference for the rest of the week. I am quite excited about going. I hope I learn lots of good stuff and come back inspired. I was going to bring paints and things to work on in the eve, but I think a sketchbook is enough...

I hope all my friends and family have a very good week.

Fun With Recycled Materials

My friend L gave me these children's blocks a while back. They are about 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches and they have that great little half moon cut into them. They stand up! Anyway, they are being a lot of fun to paint on, especially being two-sided.

So if anyone out there has any "funny shaped" wooden "things" they want to get rid of, I'd love to use them for paintings. I'm not sure these are done yet, so as usual comments are welcome, you won't hurt my feelings.

I've been tired all week. My friend said she was tired too. When I asked her why she said it was because she was sad. Seems like a good reason to be tired to me. We all miss Curzie. Oscar the multi-toed hoodlum cat of my heart has been sober and quiet. Monty seeks lots of pets. and Simon the fuzzy guy... well he seems ok, I figure he knows something the rest of us don't.

Off to the coast tomorrow for some much needed time with Ginger, books, and the couch. I hope everyone has a beautiful spring weekend.

I just need a cupcake

Thanks to all my friends for being so kind and supportive. Life is kinda strange sometimes.
Sometimes like right now I just want a plate of cupcakes...
A big plate of cupcakes
A nice nap
A visit to the azalea we planted for Curzon
and a clean house
just the basics...

Curzon, friend to all 1995-2009

My sweet barn kitty Curzon died today. I found him in his favorite chair sleeping peacefully. It wasn't until I touched him that I realized he was gone. I am so sad, but also amazed at how quietly he left us, making not a ripple. We should all be so lucky. Here are some facts about my boy:

1. He was the gentlest kitty I ever met. Never, ever put a claw out.
2. His nickname was "Zoney" or "Zoney-lesbioney"
3. He was born in a barn. His mother was Barney, a stray kitty my friend took in.
4. He loved to gently butt you with his head to get petted.
5. Simon adored him, see above photo.
6. He lived a long life, he would have been 15 on June 9th.

I'm glad he didn't suffer a long illness, but it is so strange that he is just gone...

While painting I am thinking...

Ginger and I have this Netflix affliction. It's titled, "Who ordered this movie? Did you? No, not me.. Well why did we order THIS!!! ?" This happened last night when we sat down to watch Ironman. Now... I am always behind the times. Probably most of you have seen this movie and aren't wasting a lot of time thinking about the message it's sending over the airwaves. I mean look at who is in this movie. I love Robert Downing Jr. and Ms. Paltrow, well I think her PBS series about food and Spain is great. So... lots of credentials for a Marvels comics movie. But why the Superhero format?
So... the plot. Rich playboy genius doesn't care who his weapons company kills. He gets captured by the enemy, is tortured and realizes the error of his ways. He then invents a super robot suit to survive and escape. A selfless Jesus like character assists him by giving his life. At home he becomes a good guy by having his company cease to make weapons and he makes a super duper
robot suit (hence Ironman). He can now fly and kill bad guys.
So he goes and kills the bad guys in Afghanistan.
So I start thinking about the bad guys. Are they really bad? Maybe they got forced into the army.
At this point Ginger says "it's only a movie and a comic book"

Then, skip to the 19th wife and all the time I have been spending reading about celestial marriage (polygamy). All of a sudden this practice seemed a bit like the Ironman movie, simplistic, no room for questioning.
Anyway, this was a great read. It's the story of Brigham Young's 19th wife and then jumps back and forth between the early Mormons and a present day "ranch" where a murder has been committed.
This post may make NO sense at all, but maybe it explains why I paint what I paint. Something has to make sense.
And the Ironman costume is worth watching the movie for...

More thoughts

Ginger named this little tree (a Leland Spruce) Gloria. You'll have to ask her why.

It's not spring anymore, it's overcast and going to rain. But... I have been bitten by the garden bug and don't seem to mind. This little tree replaces the one we planted last year that didn't make it. I love the day to day nurturing of plants. I like to weed and groom and rake and even mow. It's calming and beautiful.

Thanks D, for such a thoughtful comment from yesterday's post. I think for so many years I have been trying to make it ok that work takes from art. I have some thinking to do about all this. I'm tired after tussling with my computer all day, so I'm going to hang out with the pooches and watch TV for a while. How decadent.

What I am thinking...

It's back to work tomorrow. I sound like it's the end of the world. I only work 3, count them, 3 days a week. I love who I work with, I care about our patients and our mission. I have a great office mate, and sometimes what I do is creative. So what is the problem?

1. Most of my doubts about "talent" or my lack of it have dissolved. It no longer matters. At all. For better or worse this art making, image making is what I was meant to do. I'm not saying I don't like kudos or kind words, but it's not why I'm doing this...
2. I'm doing this because it's so INTERESTING, compelling, and satisfying.
3. At some point my need will collide with my job and I will have have to choose.
4. Until then, I have to live as closely to my art life self as possible. It means daily choosing priorities that keep me close to what I am creating.

This all sounds rather serious, but it's really good.
ok, back to my job...

What a Weekend!

It has been 70 degrees today, really the first sunny spring day! Yard work feels like swimming in cool yet sunny air. Heaven! This little tree is a Leland Spruce planted to replace the fir tree that didn't make it last year. Grow little spruce to your estimated height of 50 feet!

Monty is taking in the sun. His ears are like radar, perking up at interesting noises.

Life feels pretty good, well off to paint a bit.
Hope everyone's weather was as amazing as ours...

Interesting Dilemmas

Hooray, it's Friday! I spent 3 hours at the dentist, so it feels like my weekend time is now starting. I have 6 of these xerox paintings started now, and I get to the same spot with them each time. The above photo is 2 paintings.

I'm trying to preserve the sense of transparency and the sense that the black line sits on top. It all seems to work until I paint too much. Then they lose their spontaneous quality, but to leave them here, at this stage... they feel not complete.

I hope this has a lot to do with the difference between opaque and transparent layers and which belongs where. Regardless, I think I'm on to something, some piece of painting learning that I've been needing and missing.

Any feedback welcome and appreciated. You won't hurt my feelings!