Cats versus Alex

Spent most of the afternoon working on this study of hydrangeas from my garden. Working with miskit to preserve the whites. Been continuously hot and humid for about 3 weeks now, with no break in sight. Makes it harder to get things done.

We've been having fun with the cats lately. Alex saw a mouse in our family room late at night a few weeks ago and decided that the Max and Oscar have to earn their keep. Up until now, we have locked them up in the laundry room area at night so they won't startle mom during the night. So after running around trying to find a folding door that fits the opening to the dinning room (smaller than standard door size) we are able to  expand their space at night to include the kitchen and family room. This means that they can't get upstairs to startle mom at night. I still put them to bed as normal, and then Alex lets them out into the expanded space when he goes to bed. Always later than me, since he is a night owl. Bit of confusion for the cats the first night. Fine for about a week. Saturday morning I came down stairs and see they cats sitting in the living room They had jiggled the latch until they got it open. Alex now decides that he will put a wedge in as well to keep them confined. Sunday morning they are sitting outside our bedroom door proud as punch!! So now the games begin. New strategy to secure the door. No cats this morning, but my money is on them figuring this one out as well.

Week 6 update

Six weeks are finished already! So many techniques to try, so little time it seems. Quite a frustrating week in some ways in that I am feeling that I am being pushed and pulled constantly and that I have to fight to find snatches of time for me. Between what I have to do to "take care of" mom, cats house, plants, cooking, weeding, repair people etc etc etc., and what I want to be doing some days its a struggle to keep my temper from blowing over. I know there is a delicate balance that I have to try to maintain, but sometimes its a bit overwhelming, and being my hot-tempered self, I just blow. Had one of those this week. Not pretty and not comfortable. Thank heaven for time and cooler heads prevailing eventually.

As I reported in my last post, I got the greenhouse put together and attached this week. Here it is!

This week I experimented with watercolour  to see if I could create the atmosphere of a grainy black & white photo that I got out of the paper several weeks ago. It showed a Buddhist monk on a mountain top at Summer Solstice. I feel I got the atmosphere I was looking for, but the execution is not quite right. I may try this idea again. At any rate, here it is.

Hot Summer Days!

Mid week 6 of this journey. Its been hot!!! hot and humid. Makes getting on with things somewhat more challenging. Finally got my new greenhouse assembled and attached to the side of the house. Quite an undertaking, but this birthday present to me is finally done. Getting back to my Mother Earth persona I think! At any rate, I did complete a nature study today sitting out in the shade with Mom. She seems to be sleeping more during the day, but she loves the heat. I have become quite fascinated with the diversity of leaves. Every one seems to be unique. If only we humans could be as creative as the Great Spirit. When I stop to look (this is quite an important step for me since I always seem to be in a rush to get things done or on my way to get something) I feel my self becoming quite peaceful. I think that is why my garden is so important to me.Things that grow from tiny seeds just blow me away. Creativity takes on new meaning.

Just in case I forget, sweet potato vine, coleus, Rieger begonia and one unknown species.

It's official! I'm 65

So as the tag line indicates, I'm now officially a senior citizen! I don't feel "senior". There must be some more politically correct way of identifying this period in one's life. I do like Moses Znaimer's term "Zoomer", in that it connotes a boomer with zip. I want to feel 'refired" not retired! So there!

Since this Blog is part of my journey into "refirement", I'm focusing on all that is possible, motivating and creative.

This week has seen a lot of moving and organizing as a result of the wall unit for my stereo system. Fours rooms ended up being affected, all for the better. Lots of pruning of stuff, so now its sorting to give away, throw out or sell. Upshot is that I did not have too much time to paint this week, but I do feel that I worked effectively to recreate my space and our space. Cats are quite confused with all these changes of course. But that cats!!

Here is a picture of my new (used) wall unit in the living room. Plus the recovered sofa and chair was delivered today as well. Just waiting on the coffee table which is being refinished. You can see the new upholstery on the chair in the left bottom corner.

This is what I did finish this week, a  nature study of leaves from my garden; geranium, two different types of Japanese maple, and a dusty miller.

And last, a picture of me on my 65th.  Not sure if its how I think I see myself in my mind's eye, but not too bad.

Week 4 update

Bought a wall unit through Kijiji on Thursday to house my stereo system in the living room. Was on cobbled together units that I was not too happy with. Working on house decor is part of this 65th year mission. On Tuesday they came to pick up the couch and chair to be recovered. (Only a 6 week wait for pick up!!!). That meant it was time to shift into gear. I has been looking for several weeks at new and some not new units. Checked Kijiji on Wednesday. Atrocious picture quality but I decided to contact and made arrangements to see it the next day. So now that meant dismantling the existing units, as well as my glassware cabinet since it too will move. Then the old unit will move to the office and a storage unit there is freed up to go into my studio space upstairs. Boxes everywhere, but my studio is set up!!!! I'm just trilled. Here are the pics.

So the upshot is that I did not get too much finished this week. Working on a mono-print which is on the drafting table/art desk and experimenting with a new string gel and acrylics that's on the easel.. Interesting stuff. Need to play more to get the hang or how to apply it consistently.

This week I hope to get the rest of the house organized!!! But I can work and play.

Mid Week 4

Its been hectic. Yesterday Andrea stayed with Mom and we were able to do running around. Thirteen stops ( I counted) in 6 hours. Got a lot done though.

Been doing some nature studies when I'm outside sitting with Mom this week. I have to be close or she is looking for me or asking Alex where I am. Does not need or want anything, just needs to know where I am. Makes working in my studio a bit of a challenge sometimes. So early morning and snatches of time in between.

Here is my study of two different coleus leaves from my garden and tree branch detail from pictures in a book.These were done in water soluble ink and water soluble coloured graphite pencils.

Week 3 update

I am pleased that I have been able to snatch small blocks of time during each day to do something: prep a canvas; draw: prepare the glass for mono-printing and pull a print; work a section of a painting. Something no matter what. This to me is a great accomplishment!

At any rate, as to this past weeks results. I worked on a large canvas to try to capture a scene I saw for a brief moment on a nature program on the Arctic. It showed greenish-yellow lights filtering through grey misty skies. Here is my take on this. Not quite what I wanted, so I will try something similar, not in acrylic but in watercolour

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The other work I finished this week are two abstracts in watercolour. I saw a technique using  cheesecloth and decided to try it.

Week 2 of this Journey

I found myself this week. So many choices and so many ideas. Hard to sleep and anxious when I got called away from working on a piece. In the end I went back to using an idea from "Celebrating your Creative Self" to work with tissue paper and acrylic. So here are the results. I call this one "Dragon Bones".

I also carried on with my mono-printing. Love the accidental nature that I am actually learning to control. Up to doing 3 to 4 overprints with each one.

The first one is called " Inference. The next one " Dragon Flies" And last is " Seahorses" The names just come!

I also started a large painting this week. Results in the next post.

Frustrations

Its been a frustrating couple of days with mom. I started to focus this blog on what's going on with her, rather than what I am accomplishing no matter what.

Here is one I did sitting outside with her yesterday. I've always loved herons. According to some of my books on Symbols in Egyptian mythology it is a sign of wisdom and in Christian  is was used as a symbol for Christ during the Middle Ages.

Getting Started

I got started on my creative journey two weeks ago by experimenting with mono-printing with acrylics. I am using a number of resources to inspire my and I will credit them when appropriate.
I have tried this technique quite a few years ago and I like the serendipity of the results. I am also quite pleased to discover that I can find snatches of time in the day to work on learning new processes, figure out to do a blog, and "play". That is the key for me; feeling the freedom to jump in and play first and deal with other stuff second.

This is one of a series of mono-prints I did the first week. While playing with them, for some reason I felt the need to add a bit of text from Psalms. It seemed right at the time.

In any event, I am now writing my second post for my blog, with a cat purring on my lap! Seems appropriate.

My Rationale

In a couple of weeks I turn 65!!!! For a variety of reasons, I am approaching this birthday will trepidation and anticipation. The only other "adult" birthday that had much impact on me before was turning 30...... or as it was explained to me...... hitting my fourth decade. Turning 65 is definitely a key one for me. It is an ending and a beginning. But of what?

One of my resolutions has been to give myself licence to create!!! Anything, anytime, everyday; to play with all sorts of media, to experiment with techniques, to risk without fear, to enjoy all aspects of the process without judging the results. This is a biggie for me. In all of my years of expressing myself creatively, it has never been without reserve, and I has never allowed myself the luxury of "playing". So I figured, turning 65, maybe its about time.

I plan to figure out all I need to to record my process and publish my results. This I recognize I will need to carry out this year of play. Without an external focus it will be too easy to fall into my perennial trap of other people, animals, expectations to take priority. That has been my pattern in the past that has seen me put aside my creative projects to take care of other needs.