trying to remember

to be mindful

my two frequent companions remind me of that and allow it to happen.
Missy Hope has been asking, nearly begging, for more attention in recent weeks. She bats at me and at times practically climbs up my leg when I am standing still. Thankfully her claws are kept in. She is only trying to tell me she needs loving. When I sit at my computer in the den she is often sitting down beside me and sticks up  a paw as well. After I bring her to my lap she often does not stay long but prefers to go back to her spot beneath my chair.

Sometimes the outdoors beckon. I sit on the deck chair, newly cleaned of snow, and try to do art. Creating can be somewhat cumbersome wrapped in a blanket and having to wear a warm jacket to prevent shivering. I took my breakfast out one morning. Even though we had some lovely warm afternoons the nights and mornings are still chilly. I did not keep my food tray outside for very long. Those days will return, soon enough. 
Mindful ~ warmth within, birds singing, a chill touch, but not freezing on my skin. Some days sunlight. Some days darkest clouds ~ ready to spill ~ bringing a tickle to my spirit ~ the excitement. Some days thunder ~ crackling closely. My heart tries to calm ~ for the pooch. I am near. You are safe ~ as safe as I can have you be, regretful for the remedy forgotten.

 

kitty

purring in my ear

please stay close

your loving brings me calm

kitty

batting at my leg

thank you for the interruption

my shoulders need a break

kitty

curled up on the chair

thank you for the reminder

to pause and let me "be"

 

Inspiration still seems to elude me. Journal pages occur, but seem almost a struggle to create. I believe I have finally felt some creative stirrings within. I have begun applying gesso to pages of an old ledger book I purchased a couple of years ago. Hoping to share more art soon.

*** please remember to click on any of the pictures to enlarge ***


Angels be with you dear friends.

practice, practice, practice

portrait practice ~
pre-portrait, modified in photoshop
 

 graphite pencil, preliminary drawing

 

expressive drawing, modified in photoshop. This young lady needs work yet, especially her hair and chin. Because she is one of my first portraits for practice, I decided to share at this earlier stage.

 

 Another expressive drawing below, reference image from our teacher Misty Mawn, with closed eyes. I decided to do eyes for her.

"sadness envelopes me"

After some changes to lighten. Initial image looked so much a "zombie", especially in unnatural light. We are to do many portraits and I am trying not to get too caught up initially, so will come back later, possibly to try more blending.

The actual art practice has been difficult to get excited about because of so many ongoing family challenges. I am very grateful that Misty has promised to keep the workshop available for an entire year. The lessons are truly packed with knowledge, expertise and magic.

the practice of mindfulness ~
With those challenges, the need to practice mindfulness becomes even more pronounced. 

Playing in photoshop is something I find relaxing.

 

The folding of paper for developing a flock of paper cranes is also becoming a common activity for me. I believe I have about fifteen cranes made to this time. I have been very excited to view the final product after the folding. A patterned page I printed myself brought special satisfaction.

Music, for a long time, has frequently been comforting and mindful for me. This artist is one of my favourites.

And I frequently find myself coming back to Misty's videos to inspire, to relax, to get me moving, mindful and motivated. Imagine what it will be like through the next year to come back again and again to watch Misty producing magical pieces of art in her relaxed and comfortable style.

Angels be with you dear friends as you practice your own art, as you practice your own mindfulness.

reaching towards

mindfulness ~
 “In this moment, there is plenty of time. In this moment, you are precisely as you should be. In this moment, there is infinite possibility.”  Victoria Moran

There exists a practice of numerous of my art friends to choose a word for the new year. While I have very mixed feelings about this, I decided I would choose a word for the year 2012. This word pretty much jumped into my lap when, after I had signed up for Misty Mawn's "open studio" workshop, I saw Misty's intro. Mindfulness - so clearly and beautifully stated. Over the years I have been attempting mindfulness and have been taught numerous methods to reach towards it. This year, perhaps more than ever, I feel the need to grasp it even closer.

 

The act of creating without putting a specific planned action with it, is extremely mindful for me, particularly if I allow it to happen. These papers I created for origami, once again inspired by Misty, are a recent venture in mindfulness. The actual origami process can be so very mindful in itself.

The papers were fun to create with old scrapbook pages, ink spray, ink and hand carved, or hand made stamps.

Now lets add some music and make some paper cranes.