It's all in the eyes

Lately, I've been back in the studio... thanks to a special teacher of mine. I swear she can read my thoughts. I'm so lucky to have her around these days. She's inspired me to start working again and to work with a little more seriousness and concentration. Painting the self seemed like a great way to get back in touch with myself but also something more than just myself... everything underneath. The feelings of connection and disconnection almost always arise and thankfully small tokens of fullfillment as well. It's been a breath of fresh air... really whichever way it goes, I know working is the best thing for me right now and can't imagine a time that isn't. The settling of my ideas, thoughts and feeling all live to be stretched over a surface - brushed, marked and blended together. I live for the knowing I can be back the next day, week, month or year. Time doesn't change that little space. It lives... and lives and lives. Sitting back and looking at my face, my eyes, my nose, my ears, my lips, the color shifts - the way the light hits my skin while my mood slightly shifting makes it work. It's not strenuous work or boring but tedious and technical. It has questions and answer to everything and nothing. Yeah, I just said that. hahah I'm sure most people have walked by a piece of art and felt nothing for it but then years later have had it have profound effects on them. At least it's happen to me. That's what I mean by "everything and nothing" existing at the same time. The work lives through people, the artist. This idea has come up recently, How long can paintings live? Some people say forever but that's not true for all paintings. I've seen paintings live for like two days and then it's done. I think that's why artist keep working and working for the painting that lives forever for everyone to feel and experience at any time. It really is challenging, thoughtful and necessary. I work in about 3 hour sessions. I paint as much as I can - sometimes I get it all in and sometimes I'm working on one section which feels like forever. The eyes are an area I find most enjoyable and challenging. The gaze is really exciting and important to me in a portrait and so much information can be received by the eyes. Information is not always something I'm searching for but when it's given - it's delightful even if it's sad and depressing. I'm working on that magic.

Buzzing Around

Weekend update:

On Friday, I set up a mini art show during Art Walk at the Citizens Co-op right on Main Street. It was a lot of fun. It didn't rain, people were very nice and social plus $2 imported beers! Some friends showed up which was awwweesome! Zach and Olivia were there hanging out which I loooooved! I sold some prints and an original, Thank you! It was a great start to a long fun weekend. I think I'll do it again!

On Saturday:

We hung out with friends at a BBQ, ate grilled corn (which I loooove), Olivia played in the pool and we sat around conversing about funny things like // how extraordinarily dumb one feels when they meet someone famous. I had an encounter... well we never met... so okay, I was in Nashville, TN visiting my old friends who are in this band // The Ettes // and they are friends with Jack White, hmmm okay. They really wanted to introduce me (or maybe they just wanted hang out with him, either way, I was going for the ride) so we went to his studio down the street from where they live. I'm totally not a musician and I'm really bad at acting like I know anything technical about music. I hardly know lyrics to songs or who plays what instrument in the band - I just love the music. So we walk in and there's all of the White Stripe records and all sorts of albums I haven't even seen from him // cool store area btw. I then started to get really nervous like what am i going to talk to him about... the same old cliches "I love your stuff, I I I love your music, I I I love you!" creepy stuff. So I hear Jack White in the other room talking to someone and my girlfriend looks back there and tells me he looks pretty busy. So I'm like perfect! Let's go, I can't take us just hanging out here for me to go up to the guy and say amazingly stupid stuff. So we leave and laugh and now I just tell people I heard his voice and I saw his studio and that's totally fine with me. So that was my little Jack White story - maybe I'll have something clever to say one day to a celeb that I meet // I think it's just getting them to smile at you or laugh at a joke you say. That would be the ultimate encounter for me but until then I'll stick with being behind the curtains.

Here's more pictures:

Sunday Morning ride:

Then a little swinging action:

Beautiful Florida sunset before all the rain came on Monday - no filter on this photo. 

Buzzing Around

we had a branch from an old tree fall on our porch at 11:00 at night. we were startled but fell right back asleep. (happy we are renters) 

 

took a nice early sunday walk

 houses we like to look at

she loves to stroll

with her tongue out

 stairs and columns

cool old buildings

 Party Mouth!

what I've been working on

 my muse

finishing up

she's very calming to look at

We've been on a great schedule lately. Zach's loving his internship and Olivia is in a new group at school which she loves. I was watching her the other day and she has her first friend! It was so cute to watch. They were playing together on this little mini slide. She kept glancing at the little girl like what should we do next. My heart melted. I love to see her sharing her toys or smiling at other kids. It was worrying me that she kept clinging to us and was a bit fearful to interact. I'm happy to say that it's not the case anymore. She's got friends now and her teachers tell us she's enjoying the interaction with her peers much more and loves to DANCE! Olivia is a tiny little dancer! 

My schedule is wonderful too. I get to paint more and also have time to clean the house as well as take a yoga class. Wow! Six months ago, I would have never thought I'd ever have the time to do anything but care for Olivia. With each milestone, we get better and better with change in general and reaching some of our personal goals in between. Optimism Bias - watch it!