Preparations

It is a little over one week to Christmas and the lights are sparkling everywhere. Our tree is up and there are even a few presents beneath it. My creativity will be focused on Christmas cards and composing a letter to accompany it, baking and making curtains. It would be so easy to get frazzled. Frazzled steals our awareness and our time. Yesterday while driving to one of the myriad of events we are attending at this time of year my husband noticed how green the lights were, and red too on the other side. I mentioned something about it being Christmas at any time of the year. Red and green. Bright and flashing. Yes. Being present to the moment allows us to appreciate the delightful colours, the quiet moments and the peace in our hearts. That is my present to everyone this year, a peaceful heart. There is joy in a peaceful heart, patience, forgiveness and love. My gift to you. Life is gloriously good.

Moving

Moving is the prime test of virtue. I am not going into my shortcomings or how many times I failed the test; suffice to say, judgment apart, moving provides many opportunities to smile and rise above…. My daughter caught me in one of my favorite places these days, atop a step stool. In this case ‘favorite’ is measured by the amount of time I spend there. I enjoy the challenge of fixing things. Lately I have had to remember that. ‘All things in moderation’, there is wisdom here. Excess leads to a tipping point where one chooses to growl or smile and rise above. My husband does not like to hear me growl and I have been doing too much of late so he has sent me into exile today: I am going to my studio for the first time in a month. I can hardly wait. Tomorrow I will continue to fix and arrange. It will be easier to smile with a dose of painting under my belt. I think I will indulge in some printmaking… By the way, I am very remiss in getting out my invitations for the VASA member show which is on now until the end of January. My computer problems will be fixed and arranged shortly, not today. The opening was last Saturday and a very pleasant time was had by all. I intend to send out the invitation I have created some time before Christmas as a reminder that the exhibition is still on. My mailing list is still under construction. VASA is closed Sundays and Mondays, open 10am to 5pm the rest of the week. 25 Sir Winston Churchill Ave. St. Albert AB, just in case you are interested. Also, I would like to apologize for last week. My blog got lost among the screws and hammers. Life is still good.

Playing with Light

I am just beginning to understand the system of notan. One of the most interesting aspects of being artist is the constant possibility of learning new things. The subject came up in the previous two issues of International Artist Magazine. Notan is all about light and the patterns made in the simplest version. I am beginning to practice the skill of seeing everything in black and white patterns. Reducing the detail our eyes see to simple shapes is one of the most important steps in en plein air painting. I knew that. So the first step after setting up all the equipment is to spend the time gazing and simplifying. With notan the next step is to see the patterns in black and white, only black and white. This is not as easy as it sounds. There are thousands of shades and variations in tone and value, our eyes can see at least ten thousand at once. Reducing this to two takes practice. Once I have managed at least a partial reduction the composition of elements is much easier to see and to assess. Either the dark or the light must have a dominant role, fifty-fifty is boring. The shapes of the dark and the light must vary in size and in placement so that an interesting balance is created. There is usually a moment when a choice must be made whether to put this particular shape in black or white to improve the flow within the format. My brain is usually screaming at me, “But it is black!” It needs to be white… “But is it black!” It seems this argument comes up in other areas of my life too…. Life is good.

Moonbeams of Entreaty

I am back in my studio today for the first time in what feels like forever! Suffering from studio withdrawal has lead to some instances of disintegration; however, all is well. Moonbeams is a group of three in my new collection of paintings calling for an awareness of personal responsibility for our world. Everything is connected. Everything. My personal contribution to world peace is developing a peaceful heart. There is no chance of war with anyone who has a peaceful heart. Those who have peaceful hearts can be recognized by the calm joy that pervades their being. They listen. They forgive. They take on the responsibility of the circumstances that surround them and they say, “I’m sorry. I love you. Please forgive me.” This opens the door to reconciliation. Most people are searching for someone to listen. They need to be heard and validated before they can begin to heal. Once they understand that they have been heard they become aware of some of their problems and may even recognize the roots that perpetrate them. All because someone took the time to listen, to care. I have been blessed with many listeners in my life. I have been doubly blessed with listeners who ask pertinent questions about why I am stuck and how I might move past my circumstances…. Like I said, I am still working on a peaceful heart. I hear it is a lifetime process. I am thankful for the awareness and the opportunity. Life is good.

Decisions Amid Disruption

Moving is somewhat disruptive. I did take some pictures. I did try to load them onto my new computer. Somehow the memory card does not fit into the slot allotted for such activity and I chose not to call the company for assistance as I decided I did not have time. That could be an illusion. Time is very much like money. Once the decision is made there seems to be a sufficiency if not an abundance. Choosing not to go swimming this morning because of a lack of time is also a questionable decision. I suspect the lack of routine is more to the point. I am avoiding the kitchen for the same reason. I had a lot of help unloading the boxes and everything is out into the cupboards and, in one case, flowing out onto the floor as space is also at little on the short side. It needs some order. I have not taken the time… So, today, I choose to put my time and energy into cleaning the place we left behind in preparation for the new tenants. I choose to repair cupboards, replace baseboards, move fridge and stove, lay linoleum on shelves and everything that can be shut off or isolated from the coming drywall dust…. I choose to buy some milk, fresh fruits and vegetables for our home so my intention to organize is stronger. I have not found the pepper yet… Life is good.

Renovations

We are going to have a blast all day. I have forgotten to take any pictures of the before scene. I will take my camera today. Studio time is at a minimum; we just drop in to pick up some tools and materials for the small renovations we are completing in our new home before we move this Saturday. I am so thankful for the time to do this. We met with the contractor a couple of days ago and he will begin work in the spring. It will not take long once he has begun. In the meantime we will settle in and downsize. The space is small yet comfortable. Space is always at a premium it seems, like time. What we do with that which is available is the key to our happiness. My daughter and I had a glorious Saturday ripping out ceilings in cupboards to open up more storage room. Today we sand the fill and change the bright salmon tones to something more subdued to match the rest of the walls. We will cut and install the baseboards too. Our attention will be focused in the kitchen after that. Things need a little rearranging. Perhaps I will have time to reconfigure another wasted space beside the newly installed dishwasher. And my studio? Well, it will just have to wait. The new studio is like a big barn at the moment. Before the contractor gets to it we will have two other professionals visit it: an electrician and a gasfitter. There is also a small matter of door replacement. Packing? Sometime before Saturday I will complete the packing. I have never been so laid back about moving. I think it is the gratitude that fills my heart as we ready ourselves for the day. Things will get done, on time. Tomorrow I take the day off to learn new things about this computer and visit my massageuse. Life is so good.