Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was spent at my Dad's house. This is his barn. This painting was done in the summer, I do not remember if I posted it when I made it.  At one point I did some research to see if there are resources available to help them fix the roof.  If they lived in Iowa they would have some options, but in Minnesota, not really.  

We have had a wonderful time here with my siblings and their families and friends.  I think we had 18 for the big meal.  My stepmother really went all out.  Soon it will be time for the long drive home.

Amnity Creek 2013

This is not done, but it is all I have at the moment. I was glad this bridge survived the flood last year.  I did this painting almost a week ago.  This past week has been a bit crazy. Not sure how or if I will get caught up, but I am thankful that my challenges are only related to time, not anything more serious.

Water and Time

On my way home from the Conference in Duluth, I stopped at Jay Cooke State Park.  The swinging bridge that was washed out a year ago is repaired. I felt like a kid walking across it again. I was excited to be able to get across the river again to places that were forbidden this past summer.  This spot that I painted using only gray is one of my favorites.  The water falling into a bowl shaped rock and splashing out again forms an unusual shape.  It seems to defy gravity.  It has been almost 5 years since I painted this spot, I think.  It struck me as profound how over the past 5 years I have had many anxieties, joys, struggles, projects... but this spot...has remained.  It is different water but it looks the same.  As I remembered memory after memory, it occurred to me that this spot during that time looked just like this.  The exception would be during the flood.  Here it is back to the way it was.

Forgetfulness

Anxious to get outside while the daylight lasted.  Found a great spot by the big lake.  Rocks, water, a very cool twisty tree.  Pulled out my paper, brushes, paint....water? No water container. Luckily I had a pen.

Earlier this week I was having a hard time motivating myself to do the basic daily stuff of life.  Balance is lacking.  I have had some art time, now my attention needs to shift to all the things that have been neglected or more forgetfulness will probably follow.

I have lots of great talks with friends lately.  In between those great talks I have had alone time.  That back and forth between alone and not alone has been just what I needed.

Frontenac leaves in blue

I started this about a year ago when I went on a painting trip by myself to southeastern Minnesota.  Frontenac State Park was beautiful. I walked and walked and walked. The River was far below.

Today I saw the artist Cheng Khee Chee talk and demonstrate what he called "monkey painting".  Let the colors go where they will and then pull out part that looks like something and add details.  I thought it looked like so much fun.  Actually it was just the right mix of fun and challenge.  Now I am about to bring some of my work to the DECC in Duluth to sell.  I am feeling inadequate.  Especially after seeing a master at work.  I am where I am.  I have to remember that.  I did not publicize this sale because I did not know what to expect.  It is at the Art Educators of Minnesota convention.  Here I go.

Lunchtime

I was able to take a walk at lunchtime today.  The morning meeting was a good, productive meeting although the conversation included a wide variety of topics going in many different directions, sort of like the branches of this tree.

On Sunday,

I was at church for both services because my kids are in bell choir.  I saw them ring at the first service, so during second service I sat in the comfy green chair in the library and drew my purse.  This is how far I got in the time I was sitting there.

I enjoyed doing that.  I was in the zone, just watching the picture appear on the paper.  Hopefully I can practice this more to build up my attention span.  At this point I was ready to stop.