Another scene, a flowing path

Last night I painted this mini mountain stream on paper. There is something I love about it. It was one of those pieces that seemed to paint itself. I think it looks exactly like the streams we see in the mountains here. I’ve memorized that nature. I love the woods, and I’m crazy about woods with water running through them—living, moving water. I find it spiritual and peaceful. I love a path, but I also love the path made by a mountain stream. They are always different because of the amount and flow of the water.

"Is it too soon to ask?"

“Is it too soon to ask if you would say that what happened to you was good?” That is the question I got last night at dinner out with friends. My answer was “no it isn’t too early. I would say what happened to me has its good, absolutely.” I appreciate things in a new way. I don’t take things for granted like walking and seeing and balance and Jack. I appreciate friends checking in on me. I was often lonely in a new place before surgery. I make time every day to do what I want to do like reading and painting. I don’t wait until everything else is done before I have fun. I sit in the middle of it and have fun. My painting station at the moment is on the kitchen table. If I had to go upstairs every time I wouldn’t do as much. I know that about Mandy 2.0. The time in the hospital and in rehab was tough, but for some reason it was “good'“. I lived moment to moment, saw the joy of little blessings like rose lotion and Raisin Bran, and didn’t waste time worrying because I never received peace or mercy until the moment it was needed, and I trusted in that. The further I get from that time, the harder it is to remember what I really did go through. It has only been four months, but a lot has gone on during that time. So, time does sometimes change perspective, but in this case it hasn’t really. I had a positive experience, and I still view it so. I will say that a positive outlook sure does go a long way. I didn’t try hard for that it just came along with the territory. It helped that I was surrounded with great family, doctors and nurses.

Finally painted something that wasn't a mini

This is a photo Jack took while I was painting today. I have been doing so many minis lately, so I made my way upstairs to get a new canvas while Jack was out playing golf. I sat at the kitchen table and painted this 12x24. It didn’t take me long because I have been doing so many shore studies. This one is of no place in particular. I named it “Some beach,Some where”. I know people must find it strange that I paint so many beach and abstract pieces. I must admit it is an interesting combo. I love color and paint and how they interact though and I can experience all of those things in abstracts and beach scenes. They are both relaxing and exciting to paint. I never know how either will turn out. The start is just as fun as the finish. I like surprises. I’m getting really familiar with painting water, but it is always different. I like it that way. It keeps me on my toes.

The latest shore studies

Time to Spray

These are all of my minis that needed spraying minus 6 I took inside so they wouldn’t blow away. I paint on canvas boards and paper. I find the paper to work well with acrylics. The boards are great with oils. I use Daymar spray varnish that has to be sprayed at temps 55 or higher. Today, I watched the temp and headed outside as soon as it hit 55. I will bring them in after they dry and after the spray smell wears off. I have interest from a local gallery and I love giving the minis as gifts. There is nothing like sharing the beach with those that love it.

Some beach, somewhere.

Here are a few beaches on paper I painted last night. They are quick water studies that are meant to be viewed from a distance which is hard to show on here. That means that they appear more realistic the further one gets back from them. It is going to be 54 today, so I am preparing to spray all my recent pieces that need spraying, especially the beach pieces. I’ll share the process here later.

Today's art

Some updates with Mandy 2.0

I have discovered that Mandy 2.0 is a bit different from Mandy 1.0, at least 50ish year old Mandy 1.0. Mandy 2.0 loves cereal, mainly Honey Nut Cheerios. I love to paint my nails and not always only pink tones. And, believe it or not, as the paint wears off, I repaint on top. Mandy 1.0 could never have done that. I love to sleep late and I love sparkling grape juice and Sprite, not together, but by themselves. I love painting (see below) and sketching daily (see also below). I love getting dressed up every day in comfort and colors and coziness. I love to listen to Oscar Peterson on Pandora. I love a good snack mix and a good molasses cookie. And, I don’t love salmon and crab cakes or working puzzles as much as 1.0. Oh, and I love tres leches cake. That’s a new one too. I’m not a new person, but certain things have certainly changed. I’m really still the same old me with a few new updates and particulars.

Photo Bombed

I took a selfie in the car yesterday because my sweater covered my face again and I thought it was funny. Little did I know that one of the dogs was photo bombing me at the time. I just saw it while looking back through pictures today, so enjoy!

That's me in Action

Me at work on “Fret Not, Lean Not”

A few more

This whole sketching thing.

This whole sketching thing has really caught on with me. I’m liking it and I’m learning. Practice makes better. Something came alive in the foam finally in this little guy. I practice sketching the same scene over and over rather than continuing with a different subject each time. This way I can notice my own progress.

The Space Between

That is what I called this piece. This one is different from my recent 5x5s in that it has larger sections of white space. These areas are important. They change the look of a piece. The white spaces are just as important as the choices and placement of each color. It is important to know where to leave the spaces. In abstract pieces it can make or break a piece. This concept is important in other creative scenarios and in life in general tool. Like, in conversations, it is important to have pauses and silence and to be ok with that silence. Pauses in a musical piece are extremely important too. The notes that are not played can be just as significant as the ones that are played. When to rest and when to play.? That is the question. When to place paragraphs and when to divide chapters in novels are worth deep consideration. Spaces or a pause in poems can change a poem completely in rhythm and meaning. For me, even the time that waits between each new doctor appointment is important. It matters what I do in the space between. Do I worry and fret and go over possibilities , or do I live life to the fullest in each moment? Do I fill up the space and time just to fill it up or do I make thoughtful choices in the now that matter? Deciding what matters is a key factor just like deciding what I want any abstract piece to look like when it is finished . The space between is where the rubber meets the road. The space in between may seem insignificant, but there are important choices to be made there.

More 5x5 Fun

I’m having such fun painting these 5x5 acrylics. They are simple and they are so me. Maybe too simple and not for everyone though. There is a theme here for sure.

This is one of my favorites in the same style, but 48x48.

Keep Going with it!

I kept going with it, and I think it paid off. It may seem simple to paint an abstract. Well, it is simple to paint an abstract. It isn’t always easy to paint an abstract that works. And by “work” I mean makingo a piece pleaing to the eye, something that stirs emotion, something someone would want to sit on a bookshelf or hang over a fireplace. Not just any piece with paint on it fulfills these qualifications. And we haven’t even begun to talk about the viewer. Each viewer sees something different. Each person has favorite colors and pleasing compositional requirements. So, making abstracts that please any audience can be a challenge. This piece was going in a direction that wasn’t working, but I kept going and added colors that I felt would help it turn around. I think the colors are fun, the composition is my style and upbeat. I’m calling it “The Turn Around” because I think it did.

Went to the Mountains, But I painted the Sea

This is a little 5x5 I painted last night. It is similar to the minis that I have been doing. But, it is very similar to a 36x36 that I paInted and have hanging in the house. I love the dark blues and fresh white foam that remind me of the West Coast surf. It is also sitting on a special new brass easel that is perfect for this and all other minis. Can’t wait to share these with others. There is nothing like gifting art

I got off the couch and

And I got into the Orange Jeep so I could have an adventure worth writing about. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the day.

Nothing to write about

Today is Saturday. Jack is off of work. It snowed yesterday, but not today. My healing is going well from the surgery, Covid and the fall. I’m grateful and thankful. I’m getting back into real life. I can write about that because it’s an adjustment for sure. Sometimes when things are good I get anxious, but after what I’ve been through anxiousness is a bit different these days. I’ve got time to paint and write, which is nice. I’m not feeling the urge to paint today however. I had a great painting day yesterday. We’ve thought about heading to see more snow up on the mountain. That always gives me life. It is beautiful up there. The beauty is easy to see because it is everywhere. There is sometimes even some wildlife to be seen. We have come across deer and a bear there before. It is about a 45 minute drive to Roan Mountain park, but longer to the top. The pizza at the local pizza/bakery is also worth the drive. Brick oven pizza and homemade bread is always a winner for this gal. May your Saturday be filled with joy! Go make it something to write about! I know I’m going to try.

"Lessons Learned"

This is a nice 5x5 acrylic mini called “Lessons Learned”. I cannot explain the joy I had painting this piece, I like the colors and the size. I just got a new easel for these minis pictured in the photo below.

Two little lunchtime minis