Hmmmmmmmm.......

......what to title this post. In my second day off this week, and I'm "rebelling". I went for a walk around the river this morning with my camera, lovely, and decided to come home and pack up and go back out with the french easel. Maybe tomorrow too. It's too nice to stay inside and paint pretty little flower paintings for Artful Giving- though I sorta promised I'd knock some out. IT'S MY DAYS OFF and I want to spend them on ME sometimes, not more work for the RRCA. Actually, I just think it's nature and the weather and paint calling. I'm still adjusting to working, and this week I started teaching again too.

Last week I had a visit from an old high school friend I hadn't seen in 25 years- the week before I was busy getting my home ready for the visit. She came by, my daughter and mother came by, and no one noticed ANYTHING about my place- new rug, new pictures. What a revelation- that I certainly don't have to keep up with the Jones's, as I felt I should. That was miserable. Cleaning to impress. In a short few I'll put on my scruffy painting clothes and be quite happy.

I've had an about face and have been studying books by Andrew Weil, healthy aging, eating for optimum health, holistic medicines, etc., to improve my well being. I exercise religiously but my diet could improve. I want to fully understand what goes on in my body with what I put into it. On my walk I was thinking- Oh, I'm getting old- but maybe it is just more aware. There was a time when I wouldn't care to think about such things, as if I was invincible. I've also started practicing Core Fusion- very complete and holistic exercise regimen. Feeling quite good and energetic.

Well, I'll post some pics of my early morning cappuccino walk, plus a pic from the Silver Run class.......

Overdue Ramble

I had forgotten I had a blog and was posting regularly. Somehow I got caught up in my job, and trying to get things done (in a hurry) on my days off. No pics today, though I might have some later this afternoon- going to kick out some little paintings for the prospectus for the RRCA Artful Giving. I haven't painted in sooooo long.

Sometimes it feels as if I have no time off from work, and writing in my journal last night I decided to make a conscious effort to decompress and leave my job behind me on my three days to myself. My mind whirls- gotta do this, gotta do that, by Friday and next I know I'm losing my time and living in the my next days at work. Went to Wawa this morning for my favored vanilla cappuccino and a walk/sit by the river to make it all ok.

I've been working on my home- when you bring 14 works home from shows it's a little disruptive and I had to rearrange my walls, too much of my own stuff hanging. I like my rooms clear and uncluttered save for the studio, so I can think uncluttered. So I worked on that until yesterday. Found a coat rack/shelf- long- at the local thrift shop for ten bucks and hung that yesterday. My coat closet is filled with paintings.
A little more relaxed. Got to keep my yoga studies in the back of my mind and remember to breathe. Work is sometimes very easy going. Third Mondays- when we take down the previous exhibition and receive the new work is absolutely crazy. We also had an Arts and Antiques Festival- one day affair with a lot of preparation, and a Wine Tasting event- a completely enormous production.

I start teaching again October 19th, but due to budget cuts there may only be four classes this year, as opposed to the usual ten. Sad. Then, got an e-mail this morning, I may be assisting in teaching ArtWorks run by the Weed and Seed program, beginning in January for 12 weeks. That excited me, I really do enjoy teaching.

Well, long overdue in picking up a paintbrush too........

Glad It's Over

Sometimes I'm a real home body, having a few of those days now. Couple days off work and I just want to dwell on, deal with- me, myself, I, and my dwelling. Framing, a show, an interview, resulting article and all the Facebook e-mails and congratulations, Third Friday (and Third Friday week at work)- I was exhausted this past weekend. I'm not particularly fond of PR. At this point- it just seems part of the "job"- Oh Yea, gotta push yourself. Ha. Rather not. Rather paint. Sorry. But it's all for a good cause I suppose, the RRCA and the river got press. The district was excited.

The interview was lots of fun, and I made good friends with the photographer from the shoot. It was inspiring discussing the series ON the riverfront and explaining my love for the subject. The article was postponed a few days, which was fortunate because I was immune to it by the time it published. I found something out through this. People were more excited because they KNEW me, rather than being excited FOR me. That was odd. Even autographed a copy. Well.

Third Friday arrived with a power outage- my former advisor from Rowan got to view my exhibition in the dark. That's a shame. Good constructive criticism I much appreciate. So far the series is getting a nice reception- AND, I get to play mystery shopper. The work is hung right next to my desk at work- so I get to listen to the comments, mostly good (I liked- "Oh! Someone really likes green!) without revealing who I am. I just smile and ask- "You like?"....

Sigh. I want to get my hands back into the paint now.

Discovered something else too over the past few days. Old friend/enemy/nemesis/thorn in my side/joy of my life/darkest hours of my life- ETC- the painting Mast I no longer exists. And I so fretted just a short while ago. Over thin air apparently. It was lost in a fire about eight years ago. So I was informed. That is a lesson.

I don't think I'll ever let a painting hold me hostage ever again...........you lose time that way........

Friday

Ahhhh, got word- the article will be out Friday, the reporter's editor wanted it to come out on Third Friday......

No Article Yet

Well, there's no Atlantic City Press hoopla yet. I wrote the reporter and got no reply, the photographer said "I have know Idea, but it's sad the paper was so thin"- so who knows. And who knows what that may mean. Frankly I was glad Tuesday, as I was exhausted and didn't want to deal with attention. And today I was glad too- for the same reason- and spent the day volunteering at the RRCA. Maybe that seems funny with working there, going in on a day off, but it was peaceful work without the computer, the noise, local people. A rest the mind day. I'm not disappointed in the least. My paintings were hung today for the show Friday, and they look quite handsome, and I received quite a few compliments already. ....And once again I find I can't use paragraphs in here..........I did find you can delete posts, so I did, the ones complaining about money. I heard from the court this week- it was decided in my favor. I'm not mentioning money again, that's my business, just going to go about paying my bills and taking care of myself. How my money ever become a community's business, in the first place.......hmmmmmmph. New pics of the current show soon.........

AC Press Tuesday!

Heads up. Just got off the phone with a reporter from the Atlantic City Press. They're going to do an article on the Riverwalk Series, she said it should run Tuesday- before the opening of the exhibition the 21st. I'm thrilled and excited- also humbled. We've talked about this in the beginning of the summer. Over the weekend they'll photograph me out by the river painting. The reporter, Juliet Fletcher (beautiful English accent) is attracted, to my "philosophy" I guess- painting the undeveloped river. The wild side if you will. She asked why I chose this as a subject, and I thought of the Boardwalks, man made and destroyed by nature's whim, and I said hesitantly- it seems to be in my nature to be attracted to what man hasn't touched. Hmmmm. I have thought of re-reading Walden's Pond lately. I worried a bit about what people may think, she asked what I thought about the city's development (commercial) of the river- I said it's pretty and have nothing against it- she said she feels there are people like me who appreciate the natural beauty too. Funny. She asked if I noticed the wildlife, if I thought the river might be healthier. Never occurred to me, I think I saw a snake once. Haven't been looking at anything but the trees......

I am more excited though about returning to painting yesterday. In the manner I have lately- freely and easily. Now the Seasons are finished and no longer looking over my shoulder as unfinished guilty canvases on my wall- AH! It's possible to fit in some painting time, and I can return to the series!

Today I framed what I could, only one left, that's fine. What a sense of satisfaction in finishing- before the call came. A worthwhile project. The feedback will be interesting with an article to accompany.

Well, it's decided then, by this. To show the Riverwalk.......

Winter

I finished Winter today, in one sitting. It was fun. I suppose since it is a self portrait I felt more freedom in painting the way I wanted to, which was quickly (honestly?), letting the paint move itself. I did reference a Degas interior for color. This painting/series was long in coming- I started it three years ago. But I felt stilted as a neighbor found out I was painting the seasons and the next I knew it was "summer" this, "fall" that, "spring" this, etc. Until I got disgusted and quit. I had eyes peering over my shoulder during working. I still felt a bit of that when I decided to finish these paintings, so I am very pleased to say they are done! A certain satisfaction, and much exhalation. I like this painting very much. I don't know if others will- it's very loose and only suggests myself- but maybe that is why I like it. It is an impression. Will see if it dries by the 18th, some of the paint application is thick.