Thursday, October 6, 2016

Darwin and Parkinson's disease

But in every walk with nature,
one receives far more than he seeks.
- John Muir
So this is what I've been busy with lately.
Or who I've been bus with. :)
Since dad's diagnosis with Parkinson's
only a few months ago,
he's had a few falls.
A few weeks ago, he had a bad fall
on his bathroom floor
and broke 5 ribs, cut his arm and 
bruised his face like a prize fighter. 
So he has to use a walker for a while,
at least until his ribs heal.
(I wish he would come to terms with using it
all the time for balance, but i know he won't.)
It's hard to pull back and not tell him what to do.
I read somewhere that the cause for
much of the unhappiness we feel
is because we don't accept reality as it is.
We want to change things
or control things.
I wish my dad would use a walker all the time,
so that he wouldn't fall again,
but I know he won't.
And I can't force him.
He wouldn't listen to me anyway.
Dad's always been fiercely independent (like moi)
so I know he'll end up doing what he wants to do
and I have to accept that whatever happens - happens.
There are times in life that are joyful
and other times that are not so joyful.
This is a somewhat "not so joyful" time.
So when dad went back home
and I knew he was on the mend
and I could breathe again,
I went into my blue room
and "binge painted" for like 6 hours. :)
The painting above is the 1st one I did
called "banana & grape". :)
A little sketch I did while I waited for my car to be fixed...
And a few days ago,
when I had more time on my hands
and I knew dad was ok,
I did another "sheet music" portrait.
Charles Darwin.
King of Evolution. :)
I love old black & white photos
(even if i decided to add color here)
I began wanting to use only sepia tones,
but I ended up adding some dark blue
and then some white.
 It's acrylic on paper...
 I love his serious look.

My aunt gave me a bunch of canvases
she had started painting on,
but no longer wanted. (Merci Angèle!!)
This (top) was a painting she had begun...
I just wanted to do something fun
while keeping some of her background...
 I played with the whites, and dots
and then filled in a few blocks of color...
I'm trying to let go of the whole "I like it"
or "I don't like it" judgement of my own paintings - 
but I like this.
(giggle)...
On another note,
I bought artwork from Yocopio a few weeks ago.
I've been following him on Instagram for a while now
and i love his stuff.
Makes me smile whenever I see them.
I get original artwork.
He gets my support ($)
The illustrations make me smile.
It's win-win for everyone. :)
And the Frieda you see there on the left,
and the beautiful print/painting on the right...
That's from my lovely friend, Stéphanie Guimond
a card with a hand written note in it.
Is there anything more precious than receiving snail mail?
In today's "automated everything" world,
i love anything handwritten.
Gifts that came in the mail
when I needed them most.
Currently reading this...
(Felix Scheinberger was one of the teachers on the
Sketchbook Skool course I took this past summer) 
I LOVE HIM and his artwork.
Amazing what you can learn in 6 short weeks.
And reading this...
I've always loved the words of Julia Cameron.

I am writing this post rather quickly,
so i fear I may have shared some of this artwork before,
or said some of these things before...
but hey. Not a big deal if I did.
Just pretend you're hearing it for the first time. :)
Thank you all for being here.
xx

5 comments:

  1. Hey Pauline...I've said all this before but "Just pretend you're hearing it for the first time. :) I love visiting you here. Your words and your art are like specks of colourful rainbows peeping through the windows of my thoughts.They always make me smile and I nod and say, 'I know what you mean.'
    I read the last post and was waiting for a longish free moment to comment 'properly' and never got round to doing it.
    Wishing you and your Dad more joyful days.
    And I love the vibrancy of 'banana and grapes.' Thank you dear friend. xx

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  2. Hello Pauline, so sorry to get this sad news about your dad, I send you and your dear dad warm wishes for these hard times. Your paintings are always a pleasure to see, I love the freedom in that first piece with that shot of warmth in it and your free curves and dots you painted in those canvases given by your aunt. The portrait of Darwin is stunning, such a rich post, good to catch up here again! Best wishes,
    Kat xx

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  3. You are always inspirational even in times of trouble there is so much to learn from your writing and art! Such fabulous variety. So sorry about your dad, I understand his inability to let go of his independence.. Have you thought of just getting him a fancy cane...he may like that better and feel he blends in better with one. I can tell you, dad is dealing with things you can never imagine until you get there!! Love that you amalgamated your aunts artwork with your own...gorgeous work...all of it!! Oh and I was thinking of only you when I watched the movie" Nothing left unsaid" Anderson Cooper, Gloria Vanderbilt story...You WILL love it as much as I did...sad but soooo good. So much art filtered throughout that becomes so understandable!!
    Ignore the last bit if you've already seen it!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  4. I love what you did with your aunt's canvas. Beautiful portrait-painting too. I know what you mean with wanting to help your dad and not being able to, it's hard when our parents get old and start having problems with their health, and they still want to keep going and not being a bother to anyone. It's heartbreaking and frustrating at the same time and still so understandable. I will probably be the same when I'm that age. I just hope he will in time get used to the walker and realize it gives him more possibilities to move around than without it. Wishing both of you courage ....

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  5. Leonard Cohen found a portrait I would like to ask for your permission to use it in my work quilting at the original notation I can not pay or simply who loves quilting Cohert thank you kindly for your answer greetings from beautiful works of Marika Hungary

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