art & play

watching work patterns

like nature's seasons, I find my life too, has certain seasons or patterns that my work falls into. After a period of intense focus on a few projects it is nice to take a break from them and reconnect with those areas that have been put aside.

it's easy to let ideas of not doing enough to creep in when some of those projects are on the slow track. I have learned by watching my work style that I do always get around to everything. I am able to to keep track of all the projects by keeping a running little list, nothing too complicated, but very helpful for my virgo nature. This becomes not only my reminder of what I would like to do, but also some very good proof to all that I have finished.

with the websites all published and things moving smoothly forward with new paintings and work, I wanted to focus a bit back into the garden — cleaning out dried up bean plants, harvesting tons of cherry tomatoes, moving gravel, and of course weeding!! korbs had his trucks and shovels, I had my shovels and a desire to get my hands full of dirt, we were set to go... 

working in the garden changes my perspective, it gives me a chance to see how the garden is a wonderful metaphor for the work I am doing in life. It allows me to ground my feet into the dirt and watch the birds fly by. 

round 'em up

it's fall again... time to get a move on!! 

my summer break is about over and I am turning slowing back to the school frame of mind. I have a few more pages in one textbook to wrap up before next week, but all in all, it's pretty well all together. I am sure there will be those last minute details that pop up though, what would be the fun without those?

In the art studio I have been getting in a few last painting ideas, combing through the sketchbooks for new creatures and trying to get all of the wood work done before the rain hits. It's just not ideal to use power tools in an oregon down pour.

The seasons help me switch gears too. I love being in a place where the cool kicks in and signals to my body to slow down a bit, cook up some cozy food and get under some warm blankets. Ahhh, it's almost time to get some pumpkins at the farm... yay!

don't forget to celebrate

a friend and I were chatting about our current projects, how fun they were, how challenging and how huge at times they seem. I mentioned I was realizing that I needed to spend some time to celebrate all that I have accomplished so far. We laughed at our different styles, he said that taking time to celebrate felt as if he would be wasting precious work time. I totally understood, especially when trying to juggle projects, work, family and the rest of life. 

Our conversation hung with me though as I wondered how I could celebrate and why it was so important.

Part of it is all about taking some time off to reflect on all that I have just accomplished — taking a giant breath and letting it go. The other piece I realized though is taking time to say thank you. I can never accomplish all of these things on my own, it is never all about me. Quiet meditative minutes allow me to be in that thankful spirit and direct that energy out, flowing to all. It is here in this moment of thankfulness that I can be still, listen to my heart and feel the joy of life.

play with your food

our veggies came last night and today we split our large share with our good friend. Thank goodness she likes vegetables as much as our family because each week our delivery is HUGE — a wonderful treat!

I couldn't pass up playing a bit with all the crazy shapes in our bin. I have always loved the natural design that happens in plants be it flowers, veggies or trees. It is easy to get carried away with the business of getting things done, but my playful spirit grows stronger when I let my imagination take over here and there and just have fun.

 

plain and simple

today as we walked home from the grocery store, korbin was munching on a small italian plum and I was mindlessly taking in some sunshine and deep breaths — walking, walking the way home. We walked in silence for a few blocks and then Korbs said with a mouth full of plum "happy!" It hit me right then how perfect the moment had been and was, the sunshine full and bright and the two of us walking, soaking it all in together with a few fresh groceries in our cart. Nothing fancy and nothing manufactured — just perfectly simple. 

walks around the block

walking around the neighborhood these past years has given me a chance to become acquainted with the flowers and trees around me. In the past I have never lived in a place long enough to watch so many seasons pass. And as I have become more familiar with the plant's changing cycles, I have learned to mark time by the blooms or lack there of. Just as I am saying good-bye to one, another amazing transformation is happening right in the next garden.

Today a giant rain shower opened up and pored fourth from the sky. I haven't seen the rain come down so hard in a long time, well, at least since March or so... And so it goes, a subtle, wet reminder that the rain is coming and the blooms of summer are about to come to a close. Autumn is right around the corner, time to get cozy with lots of knitting. 

These are one of my favorite blooms, a late summer arrival. Just as about everything is withered from a long dry bout of heat these beautiful lovelies raise their long necks and dance in the sun, with a fragrance that can knock you off your feet!

working together

today we woke up early and before even having breakfast or any snack, we got to work spreading a little paint around. Our compact studio space bursts with sunshine in the early mornings — beautiful to create by.

I have about 15 new paintings on the easel, and Korbs, of course, can make art with anything as long as it is at my feet. Today, he was playing with lycra watercolor crayons, a pretty new experience for him. 

Working with him, I find, is a bit of multi tasking for me. I don't usually have a chance to "get into" my work with him there, no deep flow so to speak. I choose to do the more production type tasks so I can focus on his needs as well. His mind is always thinking of new mediums to add to his creation: colored tape, rocks, acrylic paint, fancy pens and lots of texture.

I have always been able to find a way to make art with him at my side (or on me in those young months). And now, I realize I want to pass on the fun of creating, the joy and magic of making something come to life from the imagination — that is the lesson of a lifetime.

 

ready, set, break!

these past few days have marked the finishing of a few things I have been working on lately — summer quarter of school, reading a book, publishing my websites, and a batch of paintings... As these things finished, I began to look right away for the next big projects to write up on my to-do list. I still have a few weeks before school starts back up, so I must make the most of it and get things done.

And then today it hit me — I was pooped! What I really need is to take a few days rest, recharge, soak up the lingering summer in the air and enjoy the silence in my studio. I cleaned up a bit in there today, chose another book to begin reading and took a long nap while our son took his. 

By taking a little break between projects I can soak up what has been done,and be thankful for all the inspiration. I can see how pieces fit together and meditate on parts I am unsure of. Listening to the silence and breathing in the fullness of life can only be done with a still mind and heart. 

work can travel

sometimes I find the best way to get creative juices flowing is to change my desk completely. So, we went out for breakfast snacks, sipped on our drinks slowly, giggled with our buddies, and sketched.

being patient enough to see what develops naturally can be hard, and it can also be incredible to see what develops. Like the lines in my coffee mug, made from savoring each sip  

s l o w l y . Inspiration is always there, it is up to me to pay attention...

swooping through the evening sky

on this evening we went to watch an amazing event that happens here every fall, the return of the swifts.

There is a chimney in a local school that has become a stopping point on the migration trail of these birds around september to early october. People come out with a few blankets and snacks to watch them play in the sky right around sunset. For moments it looks like there are no birds around at all, and then in an instant they swirl in and ride the currents high and low. 

As I watched them I wondered how they would all fit into this little space—there are thousands of them. And my virgo mind wondered how they figured out the organization of getting in there one by one, and who decides it is time to enter in for the evening.