Monday, July 28, 2014

Vacation: I'm Still Away!

It's been almost 3 weeks since I returned from my vacation in Florida and even though I am going through the motions of being home, I can't seem to settle in. I believe my heart is still there.

Just before I left for vacation, we had a string of bad luck. Seems everything in the house decided to stop working. One right after the other. I won't go into specifics, but I am sure you have all had a similar experience. You just seem dazed, wondering when its going to stop already!

Some  things, however, are a blessing in disguise. I moved into this house about 12 years ago and was excited to have this wonderful HUGE side by side refrigerator.

End of excitement.... as every day passed I came to dislike it more and more. THERE WAS NO ROOM for anything wider than a dinner plate in either the refrigerator side or the freezer side.

The day we left for vacation, our new refrigerator was delivered, so I never saw it until I got home. I knew it would take some getting used to, but I never imagined that I would come to love it more and more as each day passed. It's not even an expensive one and it doesn't even have 'water in the door'. What it does have, however, is ROOM.... SPACE...for everything and anything.

 

Did I happen to mention that I LOVE IT? 

So, that said, even though I haven't quite settled back into real life from vacation, I HAVE been able to paint a little.

I pulled out a painting of a girl that I created a while ago and was never able to finish. 


and.... I finished her.




This little string of bad luck and disarray in my life spawned a real pity party. And, like most artists, you either wallow or you paint through it. 

I chose to paint.

What started out as a release, soon became a heart light direction. As I painted, I was thinking about how awful it was for me to feel so terrible about such small things (broken appliances) in comparison to those facing life and death.  

This painting put my feelings about a broken microwave into perspective.
I even used bright colors which are not in my comfort zone. 



I actually read the post of a dear friend on facebook (and a cancer survivor, herself) and I realized that I had always paid special attention to her posts because she continually seemed to know how to make a wonder out of every moment in her life. Some good and some not, but appreciative, none the less. Thank you, Bonnie, for keeping me grounded.

I was on a roll and the inspiration was returning with each piece I completed. 

A while back, I was involved in a card swap and I painted girls' heads that were to go on the front of the cards. I loved drawing them and coloring them with my Copic markers. I made quite a few as I enjoyed it so much. So... I dug out one of my favorites and created a painting I love.

It began with a watercolor background and the tracing of a stencil with a white signo uniball pen. I stenciled with red ink and distressed the edges with the same ink.


I thought these colors matched this girl so well, but still wasn't sure where to take this. I pulled some matching papers out of my very small stash and started playing with them.


Then I knew.... she was my muse... my inspiration.



I hope you all can follow my lead and put your bad days into perspective. When you do, you will come to appreciate every breath God intended you to have.

foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.
                                                                                          ~ Buddha


Hugs,
      T






5 comments:

  1. love this girl and glad you enjoy that new refrigerator.

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    1. Thank you Sharon. I really don't know what people were thinking with the invention of the side by side, but I love having a bottom freezer which means the whole fridge is eye level.
      I am also working on finishing up alot of unfinished pieces and that feels really good.

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  2. Everything very well said. Thanks for sharing. Glad everything turned out ok

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    1. Thank you, Linda. I was just out watching your paper beading tutorial and I really think I want to try that. You make it look easy.

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  3. I know what you mean, it seems everything breaks down at the same time, glad you are enjoying the new refrigerator though! And your paintings and paper arts always are great therapy! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina ♥

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