toes in the sand

Greetings friends!

Can you believe it's almost JULY?!?

For several weeks now, I've been wanting to post something here,

to at least let you know that I'm still alive!

But alas...

it's SUMMER here

so I'm taking every chance I get

to spend some time outside. 

ok, so I have some art to share,

photos and musings of the past few weeks,

and i basically just wanted you all to know

how very excited I am to be done working soon.

I finish on July 21, so less than a month to go.

Yes, that works for me.

We got a lot of rain for a few weeks
but then when the sun came out,
it was absolutely gorgeous.
Our summer season is quite short here
(3 months if we're lucky)
so i take advantage of every day i can.

 ...sunset at the local Parlee Beach.

...and is there anything prettier

than designs by nature?

Sand ripples caused by the tides.

a very quick sketch I did the other night

as a warm up with acrylics on paper.

Quick sketches are always fun to do

because in 5 minutes,

you don't expect a masterpiece

so there's no pressure.

So what that the eyes are crooked?

It took 5 minutes.

So what that the nose is only on one side?

it's a 5 minute sketch!

No pressure. 

Gotta love it.

I am finding myself more tired
after a day at work,
even when I am sitting all day.
I'm tired mentally
from all the bullshit -
plus I feel like a robot for 8 hours.
Oh, and i miss making art.

I'm finding little bits of time
here and there (mostly on weekends)
to do something creative
and i've even joined another
Sketchbook Skool class! :)

For $99 (US), you get 6 different artists
for 6 fabulous weeks
and you learn all sorts of fun things.
And the best part?
You go at your own pace!
And you don't need expensive art materials
to follow along.

I'm doing the class called EXPRESSING

and I love it (even if i'm behind in "homework").

I'll catch up eventually.

There's always so much to learn

in a class like that,

as much from the participants

as from the teachers.

Those who want to share, do,

so we get to be inspired by ALL sorts of 

wonderful amateur and professional artists.

Plus - you make wonderful connections

that often become lifelong friendships.

So this (above) is an acrylic on paper,
in honour of my dear friend, Tara Leaver -
who inspired me once again
to use painting tape around my paper,
so that I can get that crisp line
and that beautiful white border around my painting.
It's kind of a surprise when you remove the tape,
because you're not sure where the painting ends
and the white border begins.
I know - cheap thrills for me. :)
That's what happens when you get older.
Takes VERY little to get me excited now.

So weekends usually consist of

walking on the beach,

kayaking (my son has the red kayak, his friend has the green one)

sitting out on the porch with iced tea...

or water

or wine. :)

Anything that doesn't require

too much thinking

heavy lifting,

or being inside for any length of time.

I actually feel like i'm decompressing...
just knowing i'll be done work
in a few weeks
already has me breathing lighter.
That, and this beautiful weather helps.

I have so many creative ideas

i want to get off the ground

when i get done with this contract.

I wanna do more illustrations for children's books.

I wanna do my own book.

I wanna help others do their books.

I wanna paint on canvas. Big canvas.

I wanna work on developing an e-course

that will inspire others to

live their own creative lives

and shout it out over the rooftops,

for the whole world to hear and see.

There are still too many

artists in hiding out there.

It was my birthday a few weeks ago (June 24)

and my good friend Lucille (who knows me well)

got me these 2 gems.

A big fat journal with blank pages

that i cannot wait to fill,

and a profound book of poetry

called Milk and Honey.

I also got to share a lovely meal

with friends last weekend,

at a place called Captain Dan's

here in Shediac,

sitting out on the patio

on a beautiful sunny evening.

You don't need a million bucks 

to do things that matter,

or that you enjoy.

Making memories is usually

pretty cheap.

(photo credit: Alvin Richard)

And speaking of Shediac...

(Sherrie, aka HAPPY TILER, this one's for you!)

we actually have a "Scrabble" festival happening

this summer here!!

oh the excitement!

i can't contain myself.

(giggle...)

Shediac is known as the lobster capitol of the world

(yeah, it's a thing) and this summer,

Shediac will host the

1st Atlantic International Scrabble Tournament!!

The thrill of it all.

How DO we do it?!? :)

Here's how i feel about the weekend approaching.

Friday (July 1st) is Canada Day, so

HAPPY CANADA DAY

to all fellow Canucks out there!

Here's to health,

maple sirup,

canoes & kayaks,

clean rivers,

good beer,

bonfires on the beach,

star gazing in a black velvet sky,

and love.

xx