Tag Archives: painting

A Chilly Spring Day!

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Wow, a bouncing baby girl!  Of course, I really wasn’t bouncing at the time, that came later, but a baby girl, I definitely was!  I think my mother told me that we were in the hospital for two weeks. Can you believe that, two weeks! Now days if you get to stay over night, you’re lucky. Being a nurse myself, I’ve seen new mothers kicked out of the hospital when they were too young to even have a child, didn’t know how to care for it, and needed some extra time with the nurses to help them get comfortable with the care and feeding of an infant. But not us, we got an entire two weeks.

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My parents built a home in Royal Oaks, in the burbs of Detroit.  I recall my mother telling me it was just off of Woodward Rd, or maybe it was Two Mile Road. Either way I’m sure it doesn’t look, feel, or smell the same today. That was more than a half century ago….. things have changed!

 

IMG_2868We had a sweet little home, I remember it well.   Ok, I remember the outside really well because I still have a picture. Lately, I’ve been going through all the old pictures with noting on the back to tell me who they were.   I wish my mother would have written who they were, or where they were taken, it would have been oh so much easier…on me! I have all these pictures of ancient relatives who don’t have any names on the back, and wouldn’t it have been nice to know who they were, and where they were taken?

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For a while I actuarially belonged to a Genealogy Club, trying to learn how to research, and find my heritage. That’s a lot more difficult than one might think. My heritage is English, Irish, and Scotch, two-thirds of them came to Canada on a boat,it could have even been a rowboat, or a blow up boat for all I know. The records are difficult to find, even with help! Eventually, it took up so much time researching dead relatives, that I had to decide if I wanted to sit in front of a computer getting a bubble butt, or did I want to paint. I decided to paint instead, and leave the research to a time when I couldn’t paint, or see to paint. The irony is, if I can’t see to paint, I can’t see to research! I’ll tell you though, it certainly is fun when you can find a lost, and forgotten relative that you knew was there, but had never been ably to locate before!

Ok, Ok enough of the genealogy stuff!  That stuff will come much later…..

 

 

 

 

Holding it Together……

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"Holding it Together"

“Holding it Together”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I look through the Daily Post for Writing 201….

I have come across the following quote..   Somehow it hit home with me, maybe because  growing up in our household,  art was not an option, or maybe because I’m such a rebel.  I don’t even remember bringing art up, it was so not an option!  I never had the nerve or inclination to be gay, but as a child,  I was a pretty good artist, and quite creative.  Somehow that creativity was  watered down, and pretty soon I found myself  involved with a family,  kids, and didn’t even have the time, or energy to look back.

Sadly it took me years to find myself, only to get lost in the teenage revolution.  Amazingly, I survived three kids going through their teenage years without  many headaches, or meltdowns!

Eventually,  freeing myself after the kids left home to find my heart was in my art once again.  I’m still finding art, and still looking for myself in the way I paint, and express myself. I think that’s  called growing? They say it’s the  journey,  not the destination, and it’s an  interesting journey at that!

“If you want to really hurt your parents, and you don’t have the nerve to be gay, the least you can do is go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”

            A Man Without a Country

This  quote was taken from the Daily Post, and written by Kurt Vonnegut

 

In taking this two-week class I have discovered new ideas, some I have implemented, some  were already in place.  I’m still learning, and making an effort to create a blog that is interesting, and full of great content.    I love to write, but I love painting and creating as well.  I’m getting my mojo back, and starting to create more often. It is on my mind constantly now, and each thing I do during the day, or experience I have, my mind goes to how can I relate that to a painting!   This is what creating is about, weather we are a writer, a musician, a painter, or wherever our creating process is……

Have a beautiful day full of ideas, and lots of creating!

Sante Fe, New Mexico

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After a long train ride from Oceanside train station, to Sante Fe, New Mexico we are now here!  I can’t tell you how much fun it was talking to new people, and getting to know some very interesting characters!    This time the people were all over the map in terms of background,  looks, etc.  From a railroad man to drifter, Sante Fe great-grandmother artist, to strange hippy couple.    I was in seventh heaven, I love new people! I hope and pray I can remember the faces so I can sketch them.

Sante Fe weather is fabulous! While everyone at home in California is sizzling from heat, it is mild – warm with a little breeze, and jam-packed with creative energy. The clouds are unbelievable….they actually look like they are out of one of Cathy Carey’s  paintings!  OMGosh, I’m so excited to be here, & today starts the first day of our week-long workshop.

Last night all of the artists, and a couple of husbands, had a little cocktail party so we could get to know each other.  I must say there only four of us taking this class, and that makes for a really great week.  Everyone was so nice, and from such diverse art backgrounds.   I wish all of you could be here to experience this incredible place with us!

It’s 8am and we are heading out for a little breakfast before the 9am workshop starts.  Have a fabulous day, I know I will!

I love that you have stopped to read my blog, thank you.  I hope you enjoy….

Day 15: Will My Voice Find Me?

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Day 15:  Will My Voice Find Me?

For years now I have been my happiest when I hold a paint brush in my hand.  It really doesn’t matter if it’s a teeny-weeny paint brush, or a big honker house brush, I love to paint!  Watercolor paper can be laying right in front of me, and I can manage to find something creative to do with it. Or it could be a canvas, a board, or even a wall, I can find a way.

My voice is found in paint, and my artwork!

So when I hit a wall, and my inspiration dries up, I panic.  Pure and simple, it terrifies me that I will no longer be able to create with paint.  This is one of those times. If I have a project going, as I do now, I seem to fight it!  My deadline for this current project is the first of July.  It’s a doozy too!  I have three pieces that need to be finished.  I could eek out a week more, but vacation looming, I really don’t have much more time to spend.  There is another two projects that have to be completed by the first of next week, and I’m really lagging on those.  They haven’t even been started, and that’s a real problem!!!

So What Now?

I think my writing is taking over my love of painting in a way.  I’ve always wanted to write, and now I have the opportunity to learn and grow.  These little month long classes are wonderful to help do just that, but at the same time, my growing has almost come to a complete halt in the creating area.  Weekends have got to be creative especially since I’m so far behind in these projects.  I even sleep better when I’m busy rushing around painting, and pulling ideas together!

Where is your voice anyway?

Do I have two voices…my art, and my writing?  I certainly love them both, but are they my true voice, maybe.  By the way, and this might be the key,  I am a Gemini!  The twins, two sides, two loves, two voices…..  I’m saddened to think one of them might not come back, but it also excites me to think there may be something new, and interesting on it’s way!

Will my voice find me?

It’s been my experience that if you don’t agonized over things, they have a way of working themselves out.  I’m betting that…….

My Voice will find me!

Time To Create Again!

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Anyone who knows me, knows I haven’t been very productive in quite a while.  I’ve tried, but somehow I just haven’t been able to find inspiration…until now!

A couple of months ago, I signed up to be part of the Sketchbook Project!

For the last few summers I have watched each year as this project unfolds, and in the back of my mind, thinking one year I would join in.  This was that year!  Of course, I needed another project, but what better time to start an art project than when you’re  busy, right?  My thinking was that it is only 32 pages, and certainly a little project like that would be a snap for me!  The other thing is, we are all busy all the time anyway, so why wait?

After getting back into our home since having bamboo floors laid in the entire house (studio included), I think I’m ready to start thinking about putting pen to paper, and leaving my mark on whatever community it will be going to.  That’s not to say that everything is perfect in our home.  After all, some of the paintings still remain stacked in the corner waiting to find their rightful place on the wall.  The livingroom looks new, and fresh.   I’ve changed things around, replaced some things, and gotten rid of others.  It feels like a new home to me, and now I’m ready to get back to sketching, and painting!

It’s interesting how something like this can give us an entire new outlook on just about everything, and I find myself energized, and inspired!

Who knows how long it will take me to complete this sketchbook.  The project needs to be mailed back by January 15, 2014, so I really do have plenty of time.  Anything goes this time, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do, anything, whatever feels right!  Poetry, sketches, collage, ink, pen, you name it.

In the next few weeks, or maybe I should say, next couple of months, I’ll be posting the pages I work on, and you can tell me what you think.  Make suggestions,  I’m always open for comments, in fact I love getting comments, it keeps me motivated!

Sketchbook Project

Sketchbook Project

This little Sketchbook will be going to the Central Part of the Mid-West!

This little Sketchbook will be going to the Central Part of the Mid-West!

So for now,…..  Start a project, and share it with me!   I’ll be back!

The Week After The Week After…

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I’m not going to lie, I’m just now getting back on my feet after having my granddaughter, Sage stay with my for a few days the week after Easter!  Now I really know why we have kids when we are young, stupid, and full of energy!  I’m sure if we weren’t young, and stupid we’d never have them!

I always thought life should be in reverse.  You know, presently we are born helpless, and we have to grow up and learn to take care of ourselves, and get an education.  By the time we are educated and have experienced enough life to have real knowledge, we are too tired, and old to do anything about it!   If only we were born with that knowledge, and energy so we could really raise our children with patience, understanding, and energy.

Sage came with her dad on Wednesday of last week, and spent two nights with me.  Since Papa was out-of-town on a band trip, it was perfect timing!  We had three days of girl fun to share, and it was fun.  But somewhere around Friday, I started hitting the proverbial wall, and by Friday night after Sage was picked up, I was burnt toast!

Don’t get me wrong, I loved it!  Do any of you know or remember what it’s like to have a seven-year old girl to entertain, and occupy for three days?  How did I raise three kids, work a full-time job, run a trucking business, schlep the kids back and forth to school, activities, shop, and clean house?  Oh yeah, I had a housekeeper every other week!  and,…..

I was younger then!

Sage and I managed to go into the spa every evening to relax, and have quiet time.  We did have a relaxing time in the spa, all the while listening to her chatter about her important ideas, her friends, and showing me her swim moves.  We played school, she gave me swim lessons, and pretended she was a physical therapist  giving me aqua therapy!  She rode her scooter off, and on during those days, painted a little painting, and looked for lizards.

We celebrated her seventh birthday by going to Target and picking out a favorite doll, and going for sushi at the Terri Cafe Thursday night.  After dinner we came home, and watched animated movies all evening.  It was fun, and I’d do it again, but it’s also exhausting.

On Friday before Sage left, she told me she wanted to go back to Target to see if she could get a Tea Set too!   Of course, I told her we couldn’t go back!

What I had a difficult time not telling her was this…….

For weeks now I have been searching all over the place for a real china tea set for her, and I have found, ordered and received it.  We are celebrating her seventh birthday next Saturday, because her real birthday fell in the middle of spring vacation.  I have taken much time finding just the right china demitasse cups, and saucers with matching dessert plates.  I even found gold-plated spoons with a heart-shaped at the top of the handle.  I’m still looking for  placemats, and napkins.  Don’t you think she’ll be surprised?  I do!

All I need to do now is wrap everything and put big bows on the presents, let the fun begin! Read the rest of this entry