MAYBE…JUST MAYBE

The muses may be coming home. It has been several weeks since I’ve had any interest in painting, and have been spending my days on busy work, not an unfamiliar plight. There are 2 options available to me when this happens, wait patiently because the muses always return, or force the issue by picking up a pen or brush and entice them back. Yesterday I decided to try the enticing route by creating some clay prints, and was encouraged with the results. As always, creating abstract landscape with this medium requires the right combination of color and texture, often reached by trial and error. I took a different approach with the finished prints and mounted them on a cradled hardboard panel and applied several coats of cold was medium. It is still early in the process but I’m thinking of working on a series of these landscapes, keeping them in the 8x10 to 11x14 range.


11x14

9x12

10x8

6x6

Just maybe, there are muses in my future.

WHERE IN THE HELL ARE THEY?!

Ok, my patience is running out (no pun intended...I’ll explain later). The studio is reorganized with new open working space, I have a painting sitting on the easel awaiting my attention, and I find myself sitting here looking out the windows or reading some mindless mystery, anything but painting. I can’t get excited over any of the many ideas flowing through my head. I tried forcing things with a couple of small watercolor sketches, but that didn’t lead to anything but 2 small wc sketches. The muses are staying away longer than usual, and I can’t help thinking, they are trying to send me a message. So I’ve given up efforts to do anything but sit and listen to what they have to say in the quiet stillness of my studio. We can hear more in the silence of our soul than in the noise of others or the noise we make ourselves.

Regarding my patience, and my Patience...she is Sweden! For the next week it will be just me and the nine whippets. Now if it were only me, there would not be nine dogs in my home. But when you love someone, you love who and what they are, and the woman I love is about animals, specifically dogs, and more specifically, Whippets. Therefore I am about whippets, nine of them to be exact, and they do test my patience.

I do 3 walks every morning, one short one with the old dogs and 2 long ones with the rest. Thanks to our friend Karen who accompanies me on the 2 longer walks, what could be a chore has become a chance to spend time with a friend.

After the walks comes the poop scooping in our fenced in yard, but that is another story.


I believe I've posted this photo before, but It such a great shot...by the amazing photographer and friend, Laurie Erickson...I just had to show it again.

L to R, back row...Swede William, Giacomimo, Delia, Lucianno, and Sam I Am.
front row...Fat Charlie and Mamma Pajama. Not shown, Lindy Loo.

NOT LOST FOREVER

The turmoil and demands of the past few weeks have taken their toll on both my art and my blog, leaving me with little enthusiasm for both. Our children and grandchildren’s visit was worth all the effort. We enjoyed a wonderful visit in spite of all the food and wine!

On a sadder note, we shared our last meal with the Tilkers last night, and despite everyone’s best efforts, an air of sadness and fatigue prevailed as the reality of their move hit us all. There were no dry eyes when we said our final goodbyes at the front gate.

The muse’s leave of absence (which actually started several weeks ago) doesn’t concern me; experience tells me they will return. In the meantime I intend to embrace this bit of sadness and find some comfort in knowing that it will soon shepherd in a new day.


Early Light Oil Pastel 10x10