Morning walk, fresh air
Cleansed by steady rain showers
Water droplets bead.
Art Prescription: What a refreshing change to have cool rainy weather after a week of 100 degrees. An early morning walk out into my garden reveals silvery rain drops on petals and leaves. This is a good drawing practice. It’s all about shadow and light. Next time you see a drop really look closely…do a study of one leaf or one flower petal.
Grey skies, cool weather
Break from quilt-like atmosphere
Rain watered garden.
Art Prescription: Have you read “Tao De Ching.?” Many translations exist…here is a quote from my favorite.
Cool blue forest shade
A hide-out from torrid sun
Shelter from the heat.
Art Prescription: We are breaking records here in NC for consecutive days above 100 degrees. Mid-day is quiet, as no one is out walking or jogging. My backyard bird bath is a popular hang-out. Parents fly in with their fledgelings, take a quick dip, then land on branches above for preening – teaching the young how it’s done. In the morning the path through our neighborhood is pretty shady. I’m working on a hummingbird painting! What are you working on?
Sunlight beams through clouds
Hot humid air smells like rain
Swallows swoop and sing.
Art Prescription: I spent most of the weekend in my studio and outside in the garden, despite the heat. Finished my two newest works: Fireworks I and II. These paintings have 10 plus layers of paint and modeling paste on them. I sanded the final painting down to get back to the under-painting. This work was weeks in the making and took a lot of patience…drying time. Try a new medium…it might open an exciting window for creativity!
Splendor in the grass
Round the corner, view roses
Hot summer big blooms.
Art Prescription: Despite the heat I mowed this morning. I love to mow. It’s like waltzing across the yard getting a close up view of all my flowers. Yes, some weeding is involved. Fresh water in the bird-bath invites blue birds. They flash their cobalt blue wings as they take a dip in the cool water. Hope this pair will build again in the box. I sanded my new painting to pick up on the many layers. Excited to show soon…
Big ripe juicy peach
Drips run down my hands and fall
On bare shoeless feet.
Art Prescription: Summer peaches…yum. I’ve been buying them by the bunch at our local farmer’s market. Eating a ripe peach is a sensual experience! First you smell it…ripe. Then take a big juicy bite into the sweet flesh. Juice explodes into your mouth and if you don’t have a paper towel, runs down your hands. Peaches like this are meant to be eaten sitting on a porch in bare feet soaking up summer sun. Bite after juicy bite drips through your hands and onto your toes. Now you have properly eaten a golden ripe peach!!
Reality, goals
Self-actualization now
Contentment with life.
Art Prescription: Life is a challenge. We all go through the ups and downs of daily life, family crisis, the air condition quit and it’s a 100 degrees outside. But never fear, lest we get caught up in the things that don’t define our lives, just a few days. According to Maslow, and this is my translation, if our perception of reality matches our expectations in life, then we are happy. We accept simplicity and accept ourselves and others. It really is about the day in and day out moments that make up a whole…how did you spend your day?
Maslow lists the following characteristics of self-actualizers
1 more efficient perception of reality and more comfortable relations with it
2 acceptance (self, others, nature)
3 spontaneity; simplicity; naturalness
4 problem centering
Independence Day
Cookouts, fireworks, mosquitoes!
Red, white, and blue time.
Art Prescription: Mid-summer celebration!
Sweltering, fiery
Sultry July comes in hot
Hazy thick moist air.
Art Prescription: It is July, but dog-gone it’s HOT! 99 and above is the forecast. Flowers need water almost twice a day, especially in pots. I’ve had two uninterrupted days in my studio and playing with some new mixed media, modeling paste and collage. Very experimental and I’ve painted about 5, really, paintings on two matching canvases, not satisfied yet with the results. I’m always amazed at how much time it really takes to create! It takes time to day dream, sketch out ideas, think about composition and color, and at times it’s really hard to manifest what you have in your mind onto the paper or canvas. Always remember to work, step away, look at your painting from a distance, go for a walk, and come back with fresh eyes!
We reap what we sow
Plant briars, no roses grow
No care, life will wilt.
Art Prescription: All the health care debate news has got me thinking about reaping what we sow. I’m not sure what the answer is for America, it’s so complicated, but I do know we each have some personal responsibility for our own health and well-being. We only have one pass at this precious life, and our day-to-day choices make a difference in our future.
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