The Art of Babysitting

Although I missed the deadline for the Naked Show this year I know there is always a shortage of babysitters for the show and I signed up for the day on Friday having nothing else to do…. I am so thankful for the peaceful quiet the day provided. Not only did I have time to finish hemming eight pairs of pants, I wrote my blog!!! “Exposed” is a wonderful display (even without me!). The parameters of this exposition include a limitation: only work produced during the past year at Harcourt House live-model sessions is accepted. Another limit is each artist is allowed to submit five drawings/paintings with the guarantee of one to show with a maximum of three. There are several excellent pieces this year and several artists have three works showing. Well worth the time to drop in. Hurry though, the show ends June 30^th. Tomorrow. Getting back to the pants… Three of them were for my wonderful husband. We celebrated Father’s Day yesterday. I know, we missed the deadline on that one too! Still, we like being different and not following the crowd… Today begins the preparations for the wedding on Saturday. Nothing like a full schedule. Nothing like a down day. Babysitting art shows is a joy when one needs a rest…. Life is good.

The Last Minute

I am so thankful for the last minute! Last week I was anticipating the joy of drawing for the first time in what seemed like ages. Indeed there is something about the feel of a pencil on paper, there is something about the clarity of clean felt pen lines after the cleanup has been completed, there is something that opens the heart, disconnects the mind and engages the soul. Immersing myself in the delight of mark making I came up for air sometime in the evening having finalized the preliminary sketches for my submission to the Calder Library Public Art Project. I looked with satisfaction at what I had accomplished and began the more tedious task of filling out forms and completing requirements according to those in charge. One of the requests was a measurement of the entire project. Yes! That would be 16 feet by….. no! I finally found the page stating the size of the wall. As I feared: 13 feet. I put everything away and went to bed. Tomorrow morning would be a better time to tackle this… after I had calmed down with a good rest. Yes, indeed. Panic was beginning to set in as the clock approached noon. My appointment at one was twenty minutes away. Finally putting the finishing brushstrokes to paper I dashed to my computer to modify what I had already entered… I hope I picked up on all that needed changing… In any case the last minute was done and I left for an afternoon filled with connection!! All is well and all will be well. Life is so good!   

Submissions

O.K. My life is a little hectic at the moment. I finished teaching at one school on Friday, the evaluations are complete and we are meeting on Thursday morning to close my assignment. One down. The other school  had a “flip day” so I did not receive the work due. Not sure when I will but the evaluations will be completed before the 24^th when the report card entries must be done or they will not be entered at all. On hold. The marriage reception arrangements are coming along and the committee (me, my daughter-in-law and my two daughters) is meeting tomorrow night to further the advancement. A new item has been added to the list: BBQ baked beans. Having never made these before I am so grateful for friends in the know! Breathe. Don’t forget to breathe! Yes. The major commitment in the present moment (besides my blog!) is an upcoming deadline for Wednesday: a submission for a mural at a local library. Submissions are precise documents. No two are exactly alike. This one requires references so I have emailed and phoned a number of people today to determine whether or not they wish to be cited. The bio and the statements were no problem, copy/paste. The curriculum vitae was the same. The budget is another matter. Materials are expensive. The enquiry about insurance and permits has not been answered. The number of screws has been estimated. My online searching for prices has yielded few results. There is still tomorrow. Oh, yes. The little matter of writing up a proposal with visual references and putting a few images of what I have done in the past in the mix is in the offing. I am looking forward to tomorrow. Mostly it will be drawing…. Heaven! Life is good.

Last Delivery

I have lost control again, yet there is a light at the end of the tunnel…. We have finally brought in the last load from our former place of residence. I shall unwrap the paintings… I have no idea what they are anymore; they have been in storage for soooooo long. Someone asked me where I was going to put them; I suggested a bonfire. It is a long-standing tradition among some artists in which the images of lesser value are eliminated with a warming glow followed by some marshmallows. Unfortunately there is a fire ban on at the moment, there is also the consideration of environmental damage and I am not at all sure that is what I wish to do with them. Nor do I have time to fuss. The rather large cabinet in my gallery is an heirloom. A few years ago the front panel of glass was broken. This, however, is a bonus as security is not a concern and the small items will be more readily available once it is together and they are on display. In the meantime I would like to organize the hanging system in the gallery and put up a show before the impending wedding. There is also the little item of a submission for a mural to be done. Life is never dull around here. So good!   

Life Happens

Blog day got lost last week. Never did find it. The disappearance had something to do with traveling to Revelstoke for a funeral though I think my daughter’s announcement about setting a wedding date during that trip had more to do with the fog setting in… Yes, we are hosting a reception in our back yard in one month. I am still recovering from the shock. Amazing things happen when we get a few friends and family involved. The timing is really excellent: we have open spaces we had planned to develop this summer. They are completely flexible and ready for creative arrangement. Like a new, white canvas anything is possible and who knows what the final touches will bring? Life is so good.