Day 146 - Shore

Watercolor
My sister is having the time of her life in Cape May and taking some great photographs that are sparking my creativity. Here come a bunch of shore paintings!

Day 145 - Sunday

Watercolor
I love Sundays. Today is relaxing except for a party later on. I got to wake up early, walk my dog (missed church sadly), had a great breakfast with a friend, read the paper and painted. Now for a nap - yes a nap! Oh, resting today because I took a 20 mile bike ride and went to a Woodstock-like festival yesterday. I think I need today.

Day 144 - Les_Miserables

Watercolor
I watched Glee for the first time because Joss Whedon (Buffy creator) directed it. The final song was from Les Miserables - just beautiful.

I Dreamed a Dream

There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

Day 143 - Memorial

Watercolor
It's Memorial Day weekend and there are some bittersweet memories about this weekend. I have lots of great plans and will rally through. Thinking of our soldiers who gave their lives to make this such a wonderful country brings forth tremendous pride. Memorial Day is a time of remembrance and that is a good thing.

Day 142 - Dreams

Watercolor
I dreamed at least 4 different times last night. I am not sure what they mean but all were "unpleasant" except for one. The good one I'll talk about. I was walking with my friend along the ski trails of Hidden Valley Ski area in the summer. It was very warm, very green and very beautiful. I woke up for an instant feeling peaceful and relaxed, fell back to sleep and dreamed the rest of the story. I think I watched too many X-Files this week.

Day 141 - Creative_Healing

Watercolor
Creativity brings inspiration and healing into our lives and the lives of others. It isn't hard to donate time and creativity to help improve the lives of other people, especially those moving through some type of grief and there are all kinds of grieving. A small touch of creativity like a drawing, a thoughtful gift, flowers, a meal, a small food or beverage, a task performed, a phone call, a note or an email are all creative ways to say I Miss You, I am Thinking of You, I'm Sorry, Get Well or any other type of encouragement. I love creative healing.

Day 140 - Moving_On

Watercolor

From griefshare.com:

A journey through grief completely consumes your time, energy, and thoughts. You walk through life oblivious to what is happening around you. This overwhelming consumption will gradually cease as you move forward through grief.

"There was a time after my husband passed away that people would ask me how I was doing," says Marie. "I would say that I'm getting through this second by second. Then, it was minute by minute. Then one day I realized that I was coming along quite well. One day, I went outside and looked up and there was the sky. I hadn't seen the sky in years or heard the birds because I was just so consumed with everything."

Your hope lies in God. Cast your cares on Him; lay your burdens at His feet. In His great compassion and love, He will sustain you.

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:21-23).

Holy Lord, I want to hear the birds and see Your sky again. Amen.

Day 139 - Art

Watercolor
Three Ideas to Make Art an Everyday Experience

1. Sketch daily in a small notebook you carry everywhere with you. Take notes about things you want to make, do or seek as a goal. Keep your other art supplies with you (watercolors, colored pencils etc.).

2. Make some sort of art everyday whether it be on paper, in clay, decorating your house, creating a beautiful meal or crafting a special event. All of life is art.

3. Go to movies, read books and magazines, look at other people's gardens, check out any type of art you stumble upon. You never know what will inspire you!

Day 138 - Goodbye

Photoshop
From griefshare.com:

Saying good-bye is not a one-time action. It is a process with many different steps, difficult steps. It's okay if you don't feel ready for this now. Understand that saying good-bye occurs gradually over time.

One step is to visit the places you used to go, and create new memories there.

The Lord God will go before you and will enable you to say good-bye.

"Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps" (Psalm 85:13).

Righteous God, strengthen me, one step at a time, to face the old precious memories and to create wonderful new ones. Amen.

Day 137 - Onions

Watercolor
I don't like to eat onions, but I love to look at them and paint them. The colors are natural, beautiful and earthy. Onions are also a great metaphor for difficulties in life. Hmmmm.

Day 136 - Plans

Ok, now that summer is here (not officially, but academically), I have "umpteenmillion" plans. This week, I'll finish my paintings I've been working on and get my summer class students settled into a routine. I have more parties to attend than I can reasonably figure into my social calendar and will get some good hikes in including Stairway to Heaven again! (No ticks this time please!). Next week are sketches for my dinosaur book and complete more paintings for "Goodbye Summer" book. Future plans include one big website (a lot of illustration) and one big flash presentation. Oh yeah. Life is good.

Day 135 - Back

Watercolor

So where have I been? On sabbatical? Hiatus? Living life! Still creating but enjoying this gift of the everyday. It's summer break and I'm working, playing, loving. Will try to catch up today as best I can, but in the meantime - back to living!

Day 134 - Reach

Photoshop drawing
Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?” Robert Browning - Andrea del Sarto.

Someones words can mean a moment of ecstasy, sorrow or change in your life. They can inspire or denigrate. I found some written words by my husband yesterday. It was an unexpected moment of surprise to see his handwriting. I felt elated, sad and then grateful for the moment. It was like he was connecting to me from another time and place. His favorite quote was the Robert Browning line from Andrea del Sarto. I have adopted it as my own, as his and mine.

Day 133 - Resistance

6. Embrace your resistance to change while remaining open to new possibilities.

Day 132 - Affirmation

Unfinished Watercolor
5. "Every thought you think and every word you say is an affirmation for your future."

Day 131 - Sisters

Watercolor

Painting and Gardening make the best sisters....

4. "Puttering" is a valid act of extreme self-care.

Day 130 - Rest

Watercolor

3. Resting may be the most productive thing you do.

Day 129 - Ask

Watercolor

2. Don't beat around the bush. Be brave enough to ask for what you want directly.

Day 128 - Behinder

Watercolor

I am behind in posting again! Working on so many projects so I decided to post a small piece of a big painting I'm working on. Thought for the day...

1. The healthy habit that feels most like a luxury needs to become a daily necessity.

For me this would be exercising. Making sure I have the time. Secondly it's reading - ANYTHING! That is a must to make time for!

More tomorrow!

Day 127 - Mom

Photoshop
Happy Mother's Day Mom. I miss you more than I can ever express in words. We all do. You were the mother anyone would have wanted. So caring, loving, firm, fair, funny, beautiful. I still want to pick up the phone and call you eleven years later. I am grateful for the faith you taught me about and still hold in my heart. I love you Mom. Because of you, I am a good mother.

Day 126 - Fundraiser

Watercolor and Photoshop
Climb Mount Everest May 8, 7:30 am! Spin Fundraiser at Minerals Resort in Vernon to benefit Team in Training. Find a cure for Leukemia and Lymphoma.

Day 126 - Me

Photoshop
Working on some Photoshop techniques - fun, crazy day with a long hike, great breakfast on Lake Hopatcong, painting, and sci-fi, all with a great friend.

Day 125 - Aesthetic

Watercolor
I once read in O magazine that lifting our aesthetic is less about the money we spend than about the statement we make regarding what we believe we deserve. If you make your environment the best you can with the means you have you can make a bleak environment more livable and honor your own presence there. Oprah has said some beautiful things about living like you are worth it.