Do you ever see a drawing, painting, (some peice of art) that you just FELL INTO?
Let’s go fly a kite, Up to the highest hights!
Mary Poppins
Maja Lindberg is a Swedish artist with a whimsical flair. I just want to fall into a beautiful picture. Her amazing illustrations make me want to BE in the picture. I think She’s my new favorite artist, though she’s not “New” per se. She’s been around a long time.
Her pictures make me dream. I feel inspired. I want to be wisked away on a sea swept cliff. Be lost in a field of poppies. Run through a field with the wind in my hair.
Not sure where everyone is with the holidays this year, but I’ve been struggling.
Two Fun Day were: December 3, The Annual Lamplight Stroll in Milford, CT with a great friend. This same friend brought the Holiday Spirit to my house today (December19).
God Bless good friends. They invite you to fun things and their excitement is so infectious, it rubs off and you get out of your way despite yourself!
I was so not in the mood to socialize… but I made myself go. The Lamplight Stroll night was so fun!
Shops were open late, the Town Green was lit up like a magical wonderland, with vendors hocking homemade wares. There were Carolers and sleigh rides (we did not partake). We were FREEZING! And we were LAUGHING!
We stopped in at a local restaurant for appetizers and dessert. We talked for hours. I stayed out WAAAY past my usual bedtime 😉. It was the most fun I’ve had with a friend in over a year.
Today’s fun: Gingerbread cookies, tea, a fire, painting rocks (painting!), Christmas music and hot cocoa.
My friend has been painting rocks for several years. Her rocks (pictures below) are spectacular! She is so talented with the tiny details!
My Friend’s Rock Painting Masterpieces
So this is probably only the second time I’ve tried painting rocks. I decided to let go of expectations and just have fun with it.. no comparing myself to my friend and her superior skills. Just FUN!
My results are below. I’m pretty proud of my efforts.
My painted Materpeices
Most important, we were RELAXED. We had FUN, we LAUGHED. We SANG along to Christmas songs. We sipped Hot Cocoa by the fire and gushed compliments on 16 for her cocoa-making skills.
Christmas time at home
I feel happy and relaxed. That’s not something I’ve felt often of late. I want to wallow in it. Roll around and cover myself with this happy, content feeling and ride it straight through the New Year!
Flipping through favorite pictures on my phone and came across this.
Zentangle by Angelic Westfall (Me) circa 8-2019
I drew this. This beautiful zentangle piece came from ME. The same me who’s been feeling like I’m failing at everything this week.
Just one of many reminders that just because I’m struggling right now, doesn’t mean it’s forever.
I will be this version of me, actually, a BETTER version of ME again. AFTER I walk through this uncomfortable, sometimes painful, challenging time I’m in right now.
I will create beautiful things.
I will be happy.
I will be in a better place. Once I have learned the lessons needed to get through NOW.
It’s been a year since I’ve been able to take art classes at Briah Lucky Studio inNew Haven, CT.
I’ve really missed it and struggled to make time for art at home in the midst of working from home. SO… this was my therapist’s solution:
Make Art Every Day by Katie Vernon
I have recently found that I need strong structure to make time for myself and things that are important to me. Otherwise, WORK and Exhaustion take over my life 😖.
I know this year has been a challenge and a trial for all of us. COVID-19, Politics, Protests, communities (friends and family) being torn apart by differences in opinion and beliefs… 2020 has been a rough road all the way.
Wherever you are, in the USA or abroad, I pray for you. I send healing and love to sooth our tired souls and weary hearts. I send thoughts of healing and peace, gratitude and love. May these “vibes,” “thought,” and “prayers” find you in your struggle and give you strength to keep up the good fight: loving yourself and others, supporting your community in healing, sharing the grief of loss and hope for better times ahead.
That said, I turn my thoughts to Thankfulness, for it is in gratitude that I find my strengths keep going ❤️.
Things I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving 2020:
My family ❤️
A warm home
My little family of 3
All the Thanksgiving Greetings received from friends and family
Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner with my daughter & enjoying being part of some of her “Firsts” First Pie (pumpkin) made by herself. First Apple Crisp (made w/no help from me). First time making her Great-Grandmother’s Mac & Cheese. First time prepping and seasoning a Turkey.
Quiet homemade Thanksgiving dinner at home, just us ❤️
Our health
A fun day staying home and enjoying each other’s company
Zoom call with my family: brothers, sisters, mom, nieces & nephews… all living far away from us, and still joining together to share the holiday.
Watching Christmas Chronicles: Part 2 (we loved #1)
Feeling creative again and relaxed enough on doodle.
Feeling some peace for the first time since March.
My doodles
Wow! The world may be CRAZY in 2020, but there are still pockets of JOY to be found!
“Steal Like an Artist” by At Home in Love, is a great read… All about how what we know, build on, and create come from information inspired by the past.
The article gives a great list, accompanied by amazing quotes, that show how we can grow in our art and experience by acknowledging where our inspiration comes from.
from the article: Steal Like An Artist
How many of us truly realize what the greats before us have taught us? Where these seemingly “random” thoughts or ideas (inspiration) originated from what we: have heard, seen, read, experienced in our past?
My favorite: from the BIBLE… “There is nothing new under the sun” Ecclesiastes 1:9
If you take the time to read… I would love your thoughts!
I’m perusing through our local paper and hit the “Arts & Events” page. I stop! Arts & Events??? What??? I thought we were”Shut Down!”
Then I read and realize… everything is “Virtual”: Facebook Meeting… Zoom Event… Virtual Tour.
I’m thinking we will look back at 2020 and realize it was the TRUE COMPUTER AGE! The age of looking at everyone and everything through a screen: TV screen, Computer screen, Phone screen, Window screen and… the screen door.
How many “virtual” events have you attended?
My daughter has “virtual” school every day.
All of my work is done via computer or phone… and occasional snail mail.
I’ve been attending a weekly art group through Zoom, and our family has celebrated 3 birthdays via Zoom “Parties”
What do you see as the most interesting or memorable part of Quarantine 2020: The Year of Living Virtually… or “Social Distancing”?
What events in your life were experienced differently?
Empowerment.Vitality.Evolution. 