a tiny bit of art

from my retreat at Manitou Beach.

I was totally inspired here and here before leaving on my art retreat and thought how much fun it would be to start a similiar project while retreating from the world. in preparation, I chose to sort through most of  my paper stash. a wonderful start to organizing that a little bit. I did not have washi tape in bright colours, but did find some pink polka dot duck tape in Saskatoon. it also made a good excuse to order more of a supply. though I knew it would not arrive in time for my get away, I truly thought it would be good to get some mail love after my return. 

one of my fave songs which made me pause, and nearly always brought tears to my eyes as it played on my ipod.
this favourite usually seemed to make me feel comforted.
and this kept me entertained additionally, as I preferred to stay away from the television as much as possible.

"If you can attain repose and calm, believe that you have seized happiness."
    Julie-Jeanne-Eleonore de Lespinasse

today's recipe

for contentment

begin with one huge dollop of creativity for the day

and another

of creative portrait practice

 remember some blue,

flowers too

 must choose some animals

sprinkle with laughter 

add some music

with meaningful words

mix together well
and always remember
to believe in miracles

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.

Singing; gladness; joyful:

I started this background while I was staying in a hotel room last Thursday night. I had my book, a few watercolour crayons, a cheap paintbrush and my caran d'ache crayons with me. It was getting late and I wasn't sure what to put on the background. Then I remembered that all hotel rooms have bibles placed by the Gideons. I'd been thinking of these Psalms for a time and decided this would be a good time to put them to paper. I ran out of time.

I got back to it later the next evening when we were staying at my parents house in the City. The Good News Bible my Dad had there did not include the Psalms. He brought out an old Bible which he had received about sixty years ago for his 24th birthday. There I found these Psalms.

I love to sing. I started to sing when I was young. Within the next two weeks I will be singing in four different performances. The first two are concerts with St. Peter's Chorus, a group which has been in the community for forty years. There are 50 people with the Chorus this term. We have a wonderful talented director. Next Thursday I am singing with a friend in a local coffee shop that has weekly entertainment. Our writer's group will also be doing some readings. If I have a chance to write something before then I may also do a reading. the fourth singing will be at a local Church with their Choir and I may do a song or two on my own. Our own Church is at a distance so will not be singing there. I think these four opportunities will be exciting.

How Can I Keep From Singing?
My life goes on in endless song

Above earth's lamentations,

I hear the real, though far-off hymn

That hails a new creation
Through all the tumult and the strife

I hear its music ringing

It sounds an echo in my soul

How can I keep from singing?

While though the tempest loudly roars

I hear the truth, it liveth

And though the darkness 'round me close

Songs in the night it giveth
No storm can shake my inmost calm

While to that rock I'm clinging

Since love is lord of heaven and earth

How can I keep from singing?

Text: Robert Lowry, 1826 - 1899

Music: Robert Lowry, 1826 - 1899, alt.