Painting Again

After days of rain, all one can do is paint....It has been a great excuse to stay inside and be productive with the paints.  When you live in an active town like Jackson it is sometimes hard to remember that down time is good time, healthy for the body and the mind. And during that down time I am going to try to do more art and keep this blog more alive and colorful. 

I just got back from seeing The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and feel so happy, even though most of the movie was incredibly sad. Eliah and I sat transfixed in the theater. Even the sounds of ice in a cup and the crunching of popcorn did not distract as the beautifully filmed movie evolved on the screen.

Based on a true story and created from the book by the same title, this movie chronicles the trials of a once fashionable and handsome man, Jean-Dominique Bauby, who has been stricken by a stroke and completely paralyzed save for one eye. Through this eye we experience Jean-Do's environment and see his new world from his perspective. He can hear but cannot speak and over the course of time establishes communication through blinking. Many shots are like paintings, colorful and compositionally comforting. The movie concludes with Jean-Do having written a book about his experience, all with the help of a translator, who dutifully repeated letters until he blinked a "yes".

This movie was a powerful portrayal of the strength of life; how even what seems impossible can be overcome and become a thing of beauty.

A recommendation for sure.

Getting back to This

I go and look at Claires blog ( http://dibblephoto.blogspot.com/) and feel inspired by her dedication to her writing, her photos and her postings. This could be me too. The excuse that it is easier to upload photos than photos of paintings can not suffice anymore.

Above and below is one of the latest pieces I am working on. There are still many unanswered questions in the painting and although I am liking it more and more I am struggling with how to find the answers. I like doing landscapes and am finding that I like the vistas that come from my head even more than the ones from real life.




Today I took Olive for a walk in the eerily warm temperature, soft snow crunching and gentle wind blowing. We walked the trail less traveled. It is one of my favorites when there is wind because the tall firs rub against each other, the only sound, creating a soundtrack for our romp. It is such a mysterious sound, the meeting of two trees, and Olive often mistakes the noise for squirrels. The snow that was falling from high above in clumps due to the thaw reminded me of this painting. Maybe these white shapes are snow drifts....maybe they are figures....



What the week holds: Pilates, a return to running, swimming, hopefully a Galactic concert although all tickets are claimed, the start of my new job, laughter, Valentines Day, art openings....and many more surprises I am sure.

An Appropriate Horoscope for 2008

Comfort is vital to Capricorns born on January 15. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually, they do what they can to make the world better. They gravitate toward good feelings, good works, and good intentions. They enjoy living in the lap of luxury but never lose sight of the intangibles that make life worth living.

Friends and Lovers: People born on this day are loners yet possess a magnetism that draws people to them. They are loyal and supportive to friends. They have trouble making sense of all but the most intense relationships and usually give their heart only once. They have little problem keeping relationships separate from personal expectations.

Children and Family: Family matters have an important place for those born on January 15. They have leadership potential and are often regarded as the scion of the family. As parents, they encourage their youngsters to develop independence and self-sufficiency yet are anxious to protect them from failures and disappointments.

Health: Although blessed with general good health, January 15 individuals possess an extremely sensitive nature that can negatively affect their physical well-being. In order to retain emotional and physical equilibrium, it's important for them to practice meditation, especially before bedtime.

Career and Finances: January 15 natives know how to take care of business. Career goals play a vital role in their lives, though it may take a long time for them to discover where their deepest interests lie. When they do settle on a career, they give their all. They enjoy making money, although that isn't an especially important factor in their career choice.

Dreams and Goals: Although they wear the mask of practicality with conviction, people born on January 15 have a complicated nature. They want to create a legacy. Their dreams may be far more fanciful and creative than those who know them might expect. For this reason, they often turn to the creative arts for personal expression. Painting, writing, or music help them achieve their inner potential.

Last day as a 28 year old.

It isn't only because so many people have told me that 29 was a huge year for them, an age when change was rampant and clarity common, but I have a feeling that it is going to be an amazing one for me. Already, in the past week, I feel like everything makes sense in life, that taking this unemployed time has brought me more gifts then originally imagined.

These are some of my hopes for my 29th year of life:

-To remain open-minded and positive with people, situations, and choices
-To continue to see my art as intensely important to the person that I am
-To give
-To be gentle with myself when I get frustrated, confused or scared
-To immerse myself in study that brings meaning, education and purpose
-To travel, this country and others
-To see my family and friends more regularly

I am sure there are many more small hopes but these are the larger ones that stand out in my mind. I also hope to be a more regular and consistent blogger, getting over the laborious task of photographing my paintings so that they look good on the computer.

That satisfied yet slightly sad feeling you get when finishing a great book

Lounging snugly in bed on Monday morning, the last day of 2007, having just finished reading Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell and feeling blissfully hopeful and happy. This book is hysterical. It follows Julie as she tackles all of the recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a years time. I often felt like I was standing next to Julie, sympathizing with her difficulties and triumphing with her successes in the kitchen. The way that she uses words honestly and concocts sentences as if she was relaying stories to her good friends gives the book a personal feel for sure. Google the Julie/Julia Project to see her culinary journey....

I can't help noticing how the last two books I have read have been about women my age writing about projects they took on because they didn't really know what they wanted to do with their lives (before Julie and Julia I read Hack by Melissa Plaut, a chronicle about the adventures of being a female taxi driver in NYC). This book trend is not lost on me and after reading both I have felt great surges of hope that this 28-soon-to-be-29 year old will figure something magnificent out for the new year.

Celebrated my friend Becky's 30th birthday last night amongst great people and delicious pizza. It was one of those evenings where engaging conversations just continually flowed, whether or not you had a glass of wine in your hand. There are good people in Jackson, Wyoming...

I am going to write down some resolutions for the coming year on tomorrows post. I prefer to call resolutions " Things-to-Work-On" because this allows for a little more slippage. Call it a lack of willpower maybe but I like to think of it as just being gentle with myself if I happen to fall a little short of my purposed goal(s) :)

I do have some art to post too. I keep giving creations away before taking photos, a habit that I have to fall out of....My first Thing-to-Work-On.

Obsessed with Olive....

I can only imagine how I would be as a mother to a human baby. My relationship with my dog of two and a 1/2 years gives some indication of the type of mother I would be. A photo-crazy one for sure but also a loving one, eager to learn how to best communicate with my little one. As friends and boyfriend can attest I am a sucker for books on dogs and how to be a better dog owner. My parents gave me Merle's Door by local Wyoming author Ted Kerasote for Christmas. I have already read the book and adored it, crying myself through the last three chapters while looking at Olive and giving thanks for her existence. I must read for sure. Thanks for having good taste Mom and Dad!

We ( Jamie, Olive and myself) all had, as Olive's photo shows, a really nice, bright Christmas. Much to be thankful for....

Last night turned into a date night, one of those evenings when I felt like I was with someone for the first time as well as with my boyfriend of four years. Which equals a great night. All the art galleries were open late, indulging visitors with wine, holiday treats and good art. My scientifically-inclined boyfriend has amazed me numerous times with the way that he can talk about artwork, often finding meanings that I haven't even thought of. His awareness seems to support the idea that anyone can talk and appreciate art and in fact, some of the best are those that appear to be furthest away from the " creative" world. After delicious buffalo burgers, catchy tunes by the Boondocks, serious conversation and some good laughs ( Jamie was cougar bait. Residents of ski towns will know what I mean.) I came home full, not just of burger but true happiness.

Unlike a few days ago when I hiked Glory on a bluebird morning, the valley stretching out below Jill and I, today was a day when being blown over on the boot pack was a good possibility. At times it was pure white-out with the winds gusting around 50 knots. And I was on skis! Relying on bad visibility and slightly out of control I made my way down Shovel Slide, making a few good turns in the process. Skiing is much more work than snowboarding. Olive became a polar bear cub, her face a mask of white with only black eyes shining through. It was too cold to pull out the camera then but this photo shows her after we reached the safety of the truck. A mix of tired-dog and slight annoyance at having her photo taken by her doting "mom" yet again.