Monthly Archives: August 2014

Everybody’s got something.

Something they’re hurting, struggling, or dealing with….with or without the answers.

What is cool… is that sometimes we can all come together and take a really painful situation… and play…together…for a minute.

I know there are a lot of things out there we wish as human beings we didn’t have to deal with.  Like disease, poverty, famine, global warming, war….just to name a few.

At home, maybe its a special needs child, or a broken marriage, or an estrangement between mother and daughter and/or siblings or the death of someone you love.

Just a little or a lot of hurt…going on, in and around us; all the time.

But sometimes again…there’s a moment of unity… community… playfulness that reminds us that we’re not helpless, that we can do something, even if its silly like pouring a bucket full of ice water on top of us….just to let someone else know who is out there going through it for real…that we’re here for you…we’re thinking of you…and we want to do something, anything that will help ease your pain…if only for a minute or second.

Because we care….I care.  And I see you.  I may not know first hand what it is that you are going through; but I’m here to witness and love you the best way that I know how…in this moment, this space…and hopefully give you a smile.   IMG_2997.MOV

This past Friday night was Gallery East’s reception and I was one of the featured artists.  Besides my paintings; I also had the hand-woven baskets that I make and my books.  The turn out was great and I even sold some of my books and one of my paintings.  I enjoyed the reception and later after the show was over; I had dinner at Riccardo’s restaurant with my husband, son & his girlfriend, her friends, and my husband’s friend along with his family.  A big group.  We ate, laughed and even performed a little impromptu karaoke with clapping and almost dancing; enlivening and entertaining the whole restaurant.  A life affirming happening.

Earlier that day, I found out that my dad had called hospice.  His pain has become such that he is at that point.  Not the point where he’s ready to give up or admit he’s at that point…but rather wanting and needing relief from the constant pain that won’t let up and the previous meds no longer work.  The word Hospice feels like a death sentence….and even though the people who are involved I see as God’s angels; the whole idea of what they represent brings tears to my eyes even as I write this now.  They are here to help my father transition from here to there.

Last year my dad shared the ‘limelight’ with me at the Gallery Reception.  His paintings sat right alongside of mine.  I felt so proud to have him there with me.  Both of us, primarily self taught artists being given a chance to share our work amongst those who have so much more experience and teaching than we do.  But we were accepted and our work valued, especially my dad’s which made my heart sing.  He usually doesn’t seek outside of the family’s approval of his work…so it was great for me to see him get all those accolades.

This year he was too sick to join me.  But he was with me in spirit.  So while I was meeting and greeting people at the Gallery; my father was meeting and greeting the people who will be his steadfast in the days to come in this part of his journey.

I know what Hospice means…but I’m not sure that they’re ready for the life force of my dad….Mom told me that everyone that comes in, gets a tour of their home to see each of his pictures and lots of animated stories of his life.

Go Dad………..I love you

This Friday is the Gallery East’s art reception.  They hold it every month on the second Friday of the month.

This month, I am one of the featured artists……  I have been busy getting my latest paintings ready.  I love color inspired by beach.  And with my recent weekend trips to south Florida; one weekend to the east coast and the next to the gulf coast- I’ve had lots of opportunities to soak in that ‘beachy’, artsy, bright, and sun inspired color.

And I’m infused with the colors too.  Besides the canvas a lot of the paint ends up on me, the furniture, dishes, dog, cats, and possibly my guys if they happen to be in the vicinity of …say the house….

I’m having fun; especially when I turn a deaf ear to those inner critics (my inner perfectionist)  that like to stick their nose in and have their say….Sometimes they whisper things like…”seriously are you going to leave that like THAT?”  or.. “you call that art?”  or …”I’m pretty sure that’s NOT how that’s supposed to look”….. or …..

I’m thinking about naming each of them and giving them jobs …like cleaning my house.  That would be a great job since my poor house has kind of taken a back seat to paint, brushes, canvases, and time spent creating.  They could also cook for me too since I do prepare meals- its just sometimes it’s pretty late, like three for lunch and 10 for dinner.

Here’s the thing… when I allow my self to create imperfectly or here’s a scary word but I’m going to say it anyway… paint, write, or whatever “badly”  – I have so much more fun…breaking the rules, doing what just comes naturally to me or not…and falling in love with the end product (or trashing it :).

So its a given that I’m not a Picasso or Hemingway….or the female versions…but you know what…its still fun discovering the person inside of me that wants to play…enjoying what I do, challenging myself to grow and do my craft better.   I do perfecwt imperfectly well…….

I hope to see you on Friday.  Come, surprise me.  I will also have my books, Sunny’s Story and It’s All About Attitude there for book signing.

Come ‘art’ with me………….:)