Wednesday, June 29, 2016

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
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

7 comments:

  1. Happy Canada Day! Beautiful ART and photos!

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  2. LOVE your thought provoking photo of your shadow on the beach and your many bits of art. At 74, I am winding down at the office and really identify with the mental fatigue you are experiencing. Thank goodness for art journals (and more time to enjoy them). Happy PPF

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  3. I love everything about this post from the art projects to the beautiful beach. Congrats on ending work soon! You'll have much more time for art AND the outdoors. Enjoy!

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  4. You live in a beautiful place. Fun faces! They all made me smile. Will you participate in the scrabble contest? You have the words!😊

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  5. Oh reading your blog is always a little bit of heaven for me! Ditto on how little it takes to thrill me these days... Your blog posts I always savour!! As for scrabble...you know I am the Happy Tiler.... which is a scrabbler... Have loved the games for 45 years now!! So I love the shediac sigh sooo much!! These are all great bits of art...but the last is by far my favourite... I hope you accomplish all that you wish in the next while!! Happy Belated Birthday so sorry I missed it!

    Hugs Giggles

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  6. The tape thing! Total rush every time. :) You'll be well out of work by now, so yay for that! So happy to hear you're making the most of the summer and just chilling and doing things you love. It's so beautiful there with that still water! xxx

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