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| I will make a new world with your rubbish |
It's my Birthday weekend here at the Studio Blog.
I think I started celebrating last Friday with my "Good Morning" painting as it was a wonderful gift to myself in action and result. I have enjoyed being greeted by my painting each morning since.
On Tuesday I spent all day in my garden tackling an ancient vine because I was inspired by a piece of discarded fencing that had been catching my eye for months. I had a vision and knew what I needed to do. There is nothing I like more than finding something discarded and creating a new world and home for it. It is the ultimate thrill and mix of creativity and gumption. I ended up reworking my whole garden due to someone's rubbish. Both the day in the studio painting something full of joy for myself out of an "old bastard" of a painting and creating a pot stand out of someone's rubbish are examples of decisive action and world building. Two things that I thrive on and want more of. A great way to celebrate my life and understanding of how I best operate within it.
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| Paul Gauguin, Vision of the Sermon (Jacob Wrestling with the Angel), 1888 |
Continuing on the themes of celebration and world building, I took myself out to the National Gallery of Scotland on a quiet Wednesday morning. I decided to take my time and scan several of the audio descriptions of the works around the gallery. I enjoyed being still and listening to various scholars tell me the hidden insights of the paintings in the collection over my earbuds. It was a luxurious treat to really look at the paintings with new purpose and fresh eyes.
I especially enjoyed the audio descriptions of the following pieces:
Attributed to Grifo di Tancredi, The Death of St Ephraim and Scenes from the Lives of the Hermits, About 1280 - 1290
Vincent van Gogh, Orchard with Apricot Trees in Blossom, Arles, 1888
I highly recommend the self-guided audio tours.
Later that day I was surprised with a lovely art opportunity (more on that later, but it felt like a birthday gift in itself.)
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| Dad in the 1970s, Charcoal on cardboard |
On Thursday, it was the one year anniversary of my father's death. I listened to Dave Bruebeck. I thought of my father and meditated on our relationship and it felt very meaningful and cathartic. I spent some time looking at photographs and studying his face and decided that I wanted to draw him. It was such a good and meaningful way to spend time together again. The tears and memories flowed. I love and miss you, Dad.
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Thank you for spending time with me as I continue to celebrate. I hope wherever you are that the flowers are blooming and there is music in the air.
Until next week, keep fighting - the world needs you.
