Living in the Present

Having a heckuva time uploading photos here this morning.  This is my third attempt.  I usually post photos in the order in which the art was created during the week, but this week the images are out of order...might be a metaphor for the state of the world these days.

But, it's finally summer on the North Coast, after what seems like no spring.  Major heatwave happening in SoCal and the Southwest, but we're not getting the heat up here.

I have another staycation in the works, three weeks of time with very few have-tos on my calendar.  Just the way I like it.

Besides making art and reading during these extended periods of time to myself, I've also been tackling little house projects that have been on a list in the back of my mind for eons...mostly cleaning projects, the kind you only have to do every so often, or once every few years in some cases.

Among the many great things I've read recently are Elena Ferrante's Neopolitan novels, of which I'm on book 3 of 4.  The story of a lifelong friendship between two girls from Naples, IT.

I had an interesting opportunity this past week, an invitation of sorts, to go back and muck about in revisiting capers from my teenage groupie phase, 53 years ago.  It took me almost no time at all to handily say no, to leave all that in the past where it belongs.  I won't spend my present reliving or seeking retroactively a renewed sense of glory from things that happened half a century ago.  Who cares at this point?

Have a good week.  Enjoy summertime!  xx

Les Fleurs

I've always loved flowers ~ who doesn't? ~ but I've taken a particular shine to them this year...using them virtually non-stop in my collages, and now attempting to paint them.

My very first experiments in watercolor were with loose flowers.  And though I persist in trying different ways or styles of painting flowers loosely, I've rarely done something that I really like.  I might be overthinking it.

But I'm also finding that I like more precise watercolor work.  Maybe there's a true botanical illustrator inside me trying to emerge.  Time will tell.  I also know that I don't have a tremendous amount of patience, and am hesitant to spend a great deal of time drawing something before I paint it.  Mostly I want to paint, and not draw.

Whatever happens, wherever this goes, I'm enjoying the process immensely.

This piece to the left is a "knock off" of one of my acrylic collages from a couple years ago.  Just for fun.

I just reopened my Etsy Shop.  I have acrylic paintings and collages listed there now, works on canvas, panels, and paper.  I don't intend to have any sales again though ~ instead, I've lowered the price on everything by 20 percent, and I'll keep the pricing where it is now.  It'll be a better deal that way for all of us.

Click this link to go to the shop, or click the image at the very top of the right side bar on the blog.

I began volunteering recently at the Humboldt Botanical Garden in Eureka.  I'm there twice a month, as Gate Host, and I've really been enjoying being there.  It's a gorgeous site, and the flowers, plants and trees are inspiring.

Happy Solstice!  Much as I'm glad it'll finally be summer officially, for me the summer solstice also marks that time of year that the days begin to get shorter again...being the autumn person that I am, I always look forward to the year moving toward the downside of the middle.

Wordless, Today

The best art from this week.  I'm virtually wordless today, for no reason than that I have nothing to report.  Except...life is good.

Have a great week.  xx

From L.A. with Love

I was rather quietly productive this past week.  Really enjoyed having most of the week completely to myself, with few interruptions.  I so need that quality time these days.  I'm busy doing my own things, which is busy enough for me.

My 50th high school reunion was in Los Angeles last weekend.  I'd decided a few months back not to go.  But my bestie from those days sent me photos from the reunion itself, as well as a pre-reunion picnic the day before.  So I kind of feel as though I was there.

One good friend from then, who has lived in Denmark for over 40 years, was there for the reunion with her Danish husband.  They stopped in Fortuna on Friday night, on their way up to Seattle, so we spent that evening and yesterday morning together.  And what a great visit it was.  It just really felt so good to reconnect.

One of my two BFFs from then will be coming here in August, for several days of new adventures together.  And hopefully my other high school BFF will come up later in the year for a bit.  Humboldt County is a way better place to come to visit than going down to Los Angeles would be.  Although I still do and always will love Los Angeles as having been where I came from.