Our Creator

Sometimes with the holidays, I often think of the landscape outside.  We had a some snow for Christmas, but it was so very cold.   The rush of all of it makes me have to take a moment and close my eyes and think of a picture that is calming, to ease my mind.
       I had to work the last two days after Christmas so anytime I catch a moment, I think of this image.
I remember what Apostle Paul wrote how man pauses to contemplate  the marvels of the universe and often times in doing so, has come face to face with his creator.
       I can see snow falling against a cobalt blue sky, sparkling as it floats down to the surface of the earth. Falling as it were from God's hands.
       It relaxes me to think of the beauty of it all instead of the other unpleasant things that come along with snow.
       The holiday is almost over and often times the let-down sets in.  Most people celebrate the New Years by going out.  This year like many, it will be a quiet time with my kids, my dog and I , watching the ball drop to usher in the new year.  Seeing that I have to work on New Years Eve, I am hoping I can keep awake to watch it come down.
        New Years Day, my little family and I will visit my folks and then the following morning its off to work again.   The time will come when I need to reflect on "The Master Artist" creation and take in all the beauty that He has made.  Not only in nature but in those who we love and those who love us.
My love to all

Happy New Year!

Feeling Blue

We had another snow fall "Winter Storm" today.  Yesterday I spend most of the day decorating outside while the weather was tolerable.  I had to work early but found myself calling off because they had cancelled school because of the storm.  Needless to say I couldn't leave them by themselves.
    I have learned from working retail that for some reason or another, when you are a single parent or just a parent left without any alternatives, you just don't get understanding.  The head of the department wasn't happy with me and coldly asked me "If this was going to happen every time the school called off or there was a delay?"   I just took it and remarked "That it wouldn't be that way all the time."
             What happened to "Family" in the work place?  I really enjoy helping people at work and try very hard in doing so..what about my family or what is left of it.
              Needless to say I have been blue today trying to understand why I have to place my family down on priority when it comes to my job.  My children come first, and being that I am their only surviving parent, why should I have to explain my reason.  I answered a question of "How Old Are They?"  Which really upset me.  
              Anyway, I watched the storm roll in and leave the snow behind, it basically had  been a grey day, kinda sad in a way.  Its nearing the anniversary of my husband's passing and I will be looking for a lovely memorial brightly colored with red and green for Christmas.  Some days are harder than others and I go throughout the season with a smile on my face.  For those of us who have a difficult time of it, especially around the Holidays.  I want to say my thoughts and prayers are with you.  My love especially to a family up on the East Coast who are going through their first Christmas season without their dear parents.
I pray God will keep you strong and bring the warmest and the most loving memories of them close to your heart that they are always with you.

I Like The Color Green But Not That Much!

One of the basic rules of art is knowing your colors. Primary, Red, Yellow and Blue and from these colors the Secondary Colors are made, Violet, Orange and Green.
    I have been working in produce Cut Fruit now for over a month, and naturally the Primary Colors, Red strawberries, watermelon ,raspberries, Yellow pineapple and Blue blueberries.  Secondary Colors close to Violet blackberries, Orange cantaloupe and...Green avocados, come across my way, thus...guacamole!
    I like the color of green but not that much, recently I had to learn how to make this guacamole dip with fresh avocados.
    Seasoning, garlic,lime juice, onions, tomatoes,green and red peppers go into mashed avocados.  After this creation, I look down at my apron and notice what almost looks like small green paint balls had hit me but its avocados smeared on me. It is very messy at times.  I also have to beat the air pockets out of the containers after I fill them to make sure that the guacamole will not turn brown inside of them.
    It takes me back to the days when I was in High school art when we worked with clay.  The clay couldn't have air pockets otherwise it would explode in the oven.  So we would wedge the clay against the table to ensure that there wouldn't be air-bubbles.

    The dip tastes good, but I can do without the mess.  The main thing though is it sure was nice to be able to learn something new and if I have it get a little "Green" in the process, well that will be ok.  Its all good and its a good art medium as well.

Black Friday Birthday Blues!

When working in retail, a person's chances working on "Black Friday" is 50/50.  Being that a person's birthday would fall on Black Friday, I haven't done the math but know that mine did.
   I guess its fitting because getting older goes with black and one tends to get blue too.
   Now that everyone has gotten older in my family and since its just the kids and I, birthdays come and go without notice to me.  Of course Thanksgiving is the day before, everyone at work asks me if I am cooking a turkey?    Still I am not sure because my family is having the celebration on that following Saturday.  Maybe I will just sit home with the kids and watch The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on TV and relax or just visit my folks.

   Friday will come and go, I will be another year older and working while I do it but whatever I will be wearing Black!

Lifting Boxes Of Stilllife

Typically when  an artist begins the journey into the creative realm, it begins with basic shapes of still life.  This involves a nice piece of cloth and fruit.  Years ago when I worked for Big Bear, I got used to lifting boxes everyday to put on a cart and stock the shelves.
Back in the prep-room, I find myself lifting a box of four watermelon to cut up in various different appetizing ways.
Probably not much can be said for that feat; I am sure many have lifted heavier but for me it was difficult at first but I am getting used to it.  Boxes of cantaloupe and honeydew melon, pineapple, strawberries, basically, berries in general have been my version of weight training.  Oh yes the salad bar adds just a little more.  They were right, fruit can make you healthier both inside and out.

In my mind I can set up my own little "Still Life" example to paint, as much as I do during a day.  I always go over my day's work in my head the night before to help speed up my process.

I am sure it would make a wonderful work of art!

Halloween Out-Christmas In and Where's Thanksgiving?

There for a while I was doing artwork on a day to day basis but since I started my job, I have put it aside.  Most of my "Off-Time" I spend home with my kids , my cats and my dog.  I have to admit I dose off in the chair watching the news.  So again my artwork has taken a "Back-Seat".  I haven't felt much in a creative mood since my daughter's eating disorder.  The last painting I was working on was a fall scene.  There it sits on the easel.
Where I work is only about five minutes away, like most people I listen to the radio whenever I am driving, and like most people I have my favorite stations.  I was surprised to find them already playing Christmas music.
In the seasonal isle at Krogers, there are Halloween items marked down, tucked in a corner.  The rest is all Christmas.  Its no secret that Thanksgiving gets forgotten about except for words in an occasional greeting. More money made the better, I guess. Thanksgiving really is the warmest Holiday, I mean, its a time for kindness.  Spending time with everybody, is better than just eating turkey.
I remember growing up my favorite part of Thanksgiving morning was the smell of the kitchen.  My mother would get up early to put the turkey in the oven so by the time we were up the tantalizing smell would be making its way around the house.
My dad would have The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on in the living room. Anymore, its "Black Friday" that gets all the media attention.
It makes me sad sometimes how things change, seems like some people worry more about what is hanging in school that have "Christ" in the painting.  Honestly, never mind that it is a form of expression from an artist.  Every other of artistic work or entertainment is protected by the law "Freedom Of Speech."
I guess in short, Thanksgiving just doesn't fit in.   It quietly comes and goes but  I still  believe in Thanksgiving as a day of love and remembrance for family, friends and others who have blessed our lives, Thank You!

Pass On A Smile

A famous painting '"Mona Lisa's Smile" has brought wonderment to all that has viewed the masterpiece. Can a smile be contagious?   I believe it can.  Whenever I am out doing my errands or working, I always smile. I have notice that most of the time if you smile at people they smile back and why not.  It feels good and makes others feel good as well.

Many folks I know don't smile too much in the morning and I remember when I worked at Big Bear I used to come in at seven in the morning to work in bulk foods.  The bakery was right next to my department and to make it more friendly in the morning, I used to smile at my co-workers who would later ask "How can you be so cheerful in the morning?"

I would shrug my shoulders and say "I don't Know" and truly I didn't know why I smiled other than it made me feel better.  Since I have gotten older, I usually have to have a cup of tea or coffee before I feel good enough to smile.  Back when I worked for Big Bear, I was in my twenties, so maybe my energy level was much better.   Anyway, I still find myself at seven in the morning with a big smile for my co-workers.

I always get told I have a nice smile, but never nice teeth, I wish I got told that, its such a nice thing to say about how well a person takes care of their smile.  Its nice too that a smile can bring more joy than spoken word sometimes.  I have found that some days I don't feel like talking but don't want to ignore those around me, so I smile.  Its funny, I am a quiet person who gets accused of "Smiling Too Much."

I like the movie "Patch Adams" a true story of a man who became a doctor longing to break down the barrier of patient-doctor relationship.  He was accused of "Excessive Happiness."

If expressions are conveyed be a simple gesture of a smile, a wink or maybe just a touch of a hand to show an act of kindness to a fellow human soul then that's ok.  It in of itself is a masterpiece as well.

Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over

Please Come To Boston

The Most Painted Place

All artists I think have a certain love for tranquil beauty, Although I am a portrait artist, there are certain landscapes that inspire me to just pick up the paint brush or pastel nub and dive right into a canvas.  Years back when my husband was still alive and kids were just toddlers, I visited a little art museum, a renovated home  in New Washington, Ohio.  I had gone there to talk to a fellow artist about  marketing my works. She and her husband lived in this historical place.

As I marveled at her paintings, I noticed how many landscapes she had done of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. She spied me gazing at the prints and said "I have one customer who comes in all the time and buys these."

Over the years, I have collected photographs from various calender prints, you know the ones that churches, banks and even co-ops give out around the end of the year.  Almost all of them feature a photograph of Cape Ann's fishing port.  I have an instructional book that my father gave me when I was young containing the same port. "an artist's dream place".   I too can't help but fall in love with its quaint charm; feeling like "Norman Rockwell."

I always wanted to go there for myself and witness its beauty but have never gone.  Something always came up that was more important in my life or like many things it had always been just something "Hoped For" but never reached.  Perhaps there may be a day when I will make it, at this point in my life with so many disappointments, more than likely not a possibility.  It will always be the one star in the sky that burns bright but just out of reach for me.  I pray that when I get to heaven that my "Artist Dream'' of Cape Ann will come true.