Seeing through eyes of change.

Wow I just love having high speed internet... lol two years without and it's so great to finally get it back! I can get back to seeing what's happening in the world! I am watching all sorts of amazing videos, they are very inspiring. I love LOVE the vids by Sigur Rós. Glósóli is one of my favorite videos they created as it deals with something very interesting to me, growing up. The changes that happen, how the magic changes things are not quite as fairy tale with time. We learn there is ugliness in the world as well as beauty. I think that is such an interesting part of humanity, sitting on the verge and just learning about life. The music is quite beautiful as well, they really are experimental in that the lyrics themselves are in a non-existent language. They just create what sounds good and seems to have meaning even though there is no way to really know what they are trying to convey. Beautiful Neverland style children run through fields slowly growing in numbers and learning about firsts of life. They end at the edge of a huge cliff and .... jump off... it's so beautiful. Something to say about the courage needed to grow up. I find it so inspiring. I MUST paint more children.

I have always found that delicate age to be facinating. Before society pushes it's views onto us. Before the newness goes. I have many ideas for works dealing with that. An artist who did some facinating paintings of young girls on the verge of womanhood was Balthus( Balthasar Klossowski de Rola). I just discovered his work a few months ago but find it quite interesting. He has a very twisted sense of Alice in Wonderland that he painted into his work. Loaded with mirrors, and cats who observe the young women. The subjects he chose seem to have an innocence and yet a power that has yet to be revealed. He was also a master of light, the contrast and the delicate observation of tone he used set the atmosphere to something magical and yet harsh.

Well I must be off as I am to dine with the parent's in law this evening. We are going to the restaurant which we ate at after Ian and my wedding. It's such a cute place in the old port. Amazing Italian food and great place to take a walk after! I will tote my camera along incase I come across something eye catching. There always are things to be seen and captured :-P

Water Lillies and rainey days

:-D What a beautiful quiet day it is! A little too humid but hey, there is good energy in the air today. I was informed that today is my 4 year anniversary! 8 years together already.. times flies! Good thing family remembers these things for us! Neither of us seemed to keep good track LOL! Oh well, the main thing is we are still together and now have an excuse to celebrate with our favorite foods tonight! Pretty good in todays age to still be very much in love after 8 years! Things just get better with time, like good wine ;-)

I am sitting here with my favorite Billy Holiday songs playing, the rain is coming down in buckets, my parrot is sitting on my lap, a Caffe aux Lait at my side and an amazing water lily that I found this morning looking stunning. Things feel pretty good. Quiet and beautiful. I love rainy days! Just something about them... they have a comforting feeling.

What a beautiful gift I found this morning in a white water lily that washed up on shore along the bank of the river. It was just waiting there for me, to inspire me. I had quite a good time taking photos of it in an old basin. It's so inspiring when something like that happens really it seems like a gift from nature. I made good use and I might just have to get my sketch pad out now and see what comes out. Oh ideas ideas! gone gone and gone. Here is the lyrics to one of my favorite songs that Billy Holiday sang. Seems appropriate for today with the rain and my anniversary.

I'll Be Seeing You

I'll be seeing you
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day and through

In that small cafe
The park across the way
The children carousel
The chestnut trees
The wishing well

I'll be seeing you
In every lovely summer's day
In everything that's light and gay
I'll always think of you that way

I'll find in the morning sun
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you

I'll be seeing you
In every lovely summer's day
In everything that's light and gay
I'll always think of you that way

I'll find in the morning sun
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you

Billowing Skirts are fun to draw!

Well I guess you can imagine I am drawing out a watercolor of a friend when we were hanging out along the Lachine canal in Montreal. Her skirt is flying around with the breeze in the photo that I am working from. Terribly good fun to paint fabric blowing.... for that matter her in general hair flipping around, certainly has the early summer atmosphere with the soft breeze and amazing sun. I am just contemplating if I should have some writing in this painting... might go then again might NOT! LOL It's difficult to say, especially it being in watercolor... the other thing I am thinking is if I want to add some pastel... eeekkk decisions decisions.. :-P Either way I am having a good drawing day FINALLY! I had been feeling a little stuck. I think there was too much to think about aside from my work.

So I am making a plan of action for my return from Gaspe. Things that need to be ironed out to make life easier. Mainly backing up some of my supplies so when I hit inspiration I can grab a panel or paper and start right away. Also supports, need more. Ah the fun stuff, not like I need a to do list online here in my supposed journal. All I mean is that things need to be corrected to make my life easier! Still have to work out my framing issues as well. Gah! So much to get done! Oh well life would be boring without.

I have been thinking about some new subjects to work on and a few different techniques. For new subjects I am thinking of doing some interesting still lives of old stuff I find. Old toys, old ceramics and glass, mirrors, bottles, mmm and yes more glass birds!! I'm also thinking of doing some works on Mylar paper to create layers. That type of paper can be really interesting, if properly used it can give you some very deep and creepy atmospheres. Anyways there are ideas in the works. MMmmm and some new models as well. Anyone interested?? ;-) I can always use a model in amidst my crazy old artifacts... nude... LOL no no that isn't a spider crawling out of my old suitcase... :-P But honestly there is so many amazing ideas I have with interesting lighting and playing textures against each other.

Well enough blabbing for now I should go and start the washes for my painting it's sitting waiting....

Weeewwhhh, Jazz Fest, retirement party done done and done!

Wow soo much going on this month! Now I am just looking forward to kicking back and relaxing a bit before our trip to Gaspe. Some time to get some art done and things tied up.

So, my mom and aunt's retirement party was a success, everyone said that they had a great time. There was quite the abundance of food :-P ok maybe a little overkill but hey! I had many yummies left to snack on for a few days. Everyone was such a help, arranging food and just extra hands to keep things running smoothly. Anyways all in all I think it was a decent send off.

Oh and we had a chance to go and walk the Jazz Fest in Montreal, though sadly it's never enough time for me. I have always loved the atmosphere at the festival, so next year I have to do double time to make up for my lack this year. I was still able to take some interesting photos and find a new musical group to discover.

The group is called DJ Dolores and Aparelhagem. Really amazing mix of sounds. They are a Brazilian group, very jazzy tone with yummy, lusty trumpets, I do have a big love affair with dirty trumpets. The website for them is : http://www.djdolores.com/ there are some clips of their music on the site. mmmmm one more for my growing collection :-)

It really is quite amazing the faces that reveal themselves in that crowd. So much that would be paintable! Amazing men with long dreads, children smiling and playing, old faces and young faces, people of every color and background. It's just so amazing and beautiful. The music is just amazing and so varied. I have discovered several groups who I have continued to listen to and follow over the past few years. Really the feeling of the fest is something so energized with creativity I am like a bee to a flower, it nurtures me and my creative spirit.

Inspiration, new curry concoction and a beautiful day!

Hello All! Another good and inspired day! I really am enjoying reading this new book of mine, this woman has a really great way of looking at things. Very blunt LOL but really encouraging. It feels sort of familiar the stress and self doubt that the young artist who is corresponding with her is feeling. I have started to find my own way, to know what to do to become inspired on just any day and this guy is asking many interesting questions of her. He is concerned about Originality, boredom, being stuck with the same subject all the time. She really gives insight to how to just be yourself and just work through times you are not feeling inspired. She talk about creating "bad" art just to keep creating, even if you are unsure if you feel it is "good" work. The idea is to push through and eventually by playing with "non-serious" work one will rekindle the fire and find something inspiring and things will roll once again. I think I can see that in my own work. I often get so concerned with the perfect subject I will block up and stop working. The other thing she talks about is working when you are not in the mood to create. She feels that often if we should just keep working even if we are not in the mood, like any other job, one can still create art even if we are not in the mood. Food for thought! I really like the idea of playing and not always expecting to create good art... more of that in my future and more exploration of what I want to show to the world.. my views. She seems to feel one should just be themselves and that is original enough. I like that. I often worry i am creating too much work centered around my own life and my family, but that's what I am interesting in now. Why should I change that? I am not planning to do that all my days, just part of myself I want to explore. Anyways I am fine tuning my abilities while working in this way. I am learning to be bold with my work. Just Do it! ha ha ha Well it is good advice really! I guess it is a good thing that I have so many different subjects and styles I want to try in the future, as she writes it's just to keep the many ideas in order and not let the over stimulation block you up LOL I feel that way for sure! Well I am off to eat some new curried concoction I have created! Couscous, Chick peas, raisins, cranberries, onion, curry and honey!! mmmmmm :-D Supper with my mom who has retired as of today!!! :-D YAY go mom go mom go!! Now she can kick back, read as much as she wants, stay up drinking, garden right into the fall and socialize like crazy! :-D xoxox *good energies today!*

Furry soul mate, new book and lots of inspiration.. what better things can life hold?!

Wow what a nice day so far! Lazing in bed with Danzig my furry soul mate... ok he's just a cat really but what a furry little soul he is! He certainly knows the good things in life! We just lay about snuggling for about an hour in bed. Such a luxury!

I went out to check my garden after the crazy storm last night, it seems very refreshed in it's best green! It's so amazing to watch all this grow, and to know I am cultivating something that will nourish me and my family. I then came back and did my porch gardening with Danzig by my side rolling around enjoying the cool breeze *finally*.

Then I decided to read a bit of my new book "Letters To A Young Artist" by Julia Cameron, the same person who did the "Artist's Way" book with the exercises to get ones creative juices flowing again. Unfortunately that book didn't do much for me, the exercises were good but a little too much structure for my liking. I must say though reading this new book with a more personal side of her work is much more inspiring to me. I really enjoy her views on art and artistic lifestyle. She talks about work ethic, trying rather than giving in when things get blocked or you lack inspiration, about keeping art in everything one does and just overcoming self doubt. It's really quite excellent! I think more people who are feeling an artistic block should read this! I have only tried the first few letters and already I got off my ass earlier in the day and finished my graphite landscape. Who knew! It even turned out fairly well considering my penchant for figurative work(ha ha yes the boobies i miss the boobies) and lack of experience in landscape.

I always get myself hooked up in my subject... is it artistic enough... what does it say to me... what will it say to the viewer... is it mature enough..... is it complex enough... should I try something different, a different style or approach... LOL yes I guess art really is all about doing it and not thinking so much as Julia Cameron says. I guess that is one lesson that takes a while to sink in, I often worry so much about what I am doing that I don't do anything at all. This is one thing I really have to keep working on and just work through times of inspirational block or self doubt.

So :-S I didn't get chosen for one of the thirty finalists in the portrait competition in Kingston. Am I upset?? LOL funny enough not at all!! I think it's a sign I am toughening up. I will just try again next year with a different subject maybe more contemporary and less traditional. That's ok! I will take a good look and see if a painting more like my Little Bird one would work better for that type of competition. I will also look and see if there are other contests going on that might fit my work better. Ok ok ok and some galleries to hang in... so tough to put yourself out there with the fear of lack of interest. Well I guess like Julia says I should just get on with it then worry later :-P it's a slow process, the main thing is I am enjoying what I am doing and learning a lot about myself and others for that matter while discovering the right path.

Off to finish the pastel of my friend in the Cafe. MMM I have amazing Jazz on Django Reinhardt is inspiring and there is a refreshing breeze drifting through my apartment :-D I am on the right track today and no negativity can pull me down.... hopefully tomorrow will be the same!

Tuesday and still Surviving! :-)

So!!! The wedding went very well... Was a perfect day, the couple couldn't have asked for better weather. A light breeze but amazing sun and warmth! The ceremony went well and the reception was awesome, good music, food and company! I was rather surprised with the quality of the vegetarian food we had, most places either serve spaghetti with plain tomato sauce OR 5 sprigs of asparagus, a lemon wedge and a potato... LOL Not so exciting! This time we had a fabulous eggplant entre with soft goat cheese and zucchini then a puff pastry with lentils, onions, cashews and prunes!! Not to mention the carrots, mushrooms and parsnips! Wow I am getting hungry just thinking of it! Anyways lots of good dancing and socializing despite all the stress beforehand it was well worth it!

Now I am just ironing out details for my mothers retirement party and getting ready for my well deserved trip to Gaspe! I'm looking at a stop near Rimouski to see the Metis Gardens! I am so excited to go there! Will bring my camera and steal some inspiration from them for my own garden in progress here at home :-) It will be amazing to get away and just visit with Ian for a while. I also plan to get a sketch book entirely for landscape while I travel around there.... mmmm something entirely new for me, give me people or objects and I'm fine trees and water... I guess we will see! It's not so much in my nature even though I adore nature and wildlife to paint it.. I guess I feel my domain is a little more experimental but then again one really can't know until they try! So!! I guess this will be an experiment! Maybe it will be a compromise and I will sketch people in the landscapes LOL!!! I also know for a fact that there are amazing old photos of Ian's family at the house we will stay at in Gaspe. The house was inherited by his mother a few years back, it's around 100 years old so very full of character!! It also is right on the border of Forillon Park so there will be many hiking trails and we will deffiantly make use of the beaches and of course Whale watching :-D :-O

Well I am off for now! I am going to sketch for a bit then kick back with a glass of wine and enjoy this beautiful summer weather! Hopefully tonight's walk will be as magical as last night's with so many fireflies not to mention the little deer who popped out to check us out! Summer out here in the country is just so amazing it does feel like a fairy land sometimes with the land so full of life and little spirits all around us. Not meaning to sound strange but it really does make one see that there is so much amazing energy in our lives and we just have to slow down to observe it. xoxoxo