The Long View

Oil on Canvas 16" x 20"

The pastoral Irish-like landscape in this painting is based on several photos I found browsing Google Images. Keywords: thatch-roof cottages, lush green hills, and grazing sheep.

As I painted this scene, I wanted to instill my feelings and impressions of another coastal view from a glorious evening walk with my daughter, Anna, in Nunavut last August. The summer sunsets in the Canadian Arctic last for hours and that is no exaggeration. That evening, our magical route from Apex into Iqaluit was along a coastline path looking out across Frobisher Bay. Peace seeps into my veins as I recall those hours. This photo of Anna shows where we walked. Although it falls short of capturing the reality it gives a taste to help trigger the mind's eye. 

Oh What a Feeling

Can I tell you about my joy? It comes to me when I finish creating something: a painting, a drawing, a perfect paragraph. The feeling is so pronounced that I recognize the moment it starts and I notice when it is missing.

This joy is not only a state of mind, it also brings physical sensations. As I write this, the joy permeates my body. I have tingling in my head, up and down my spine, in my torso, hips and shoulders. My chest feels as though it is expanding. The sensations can continue for hours. I feel like dancing - think whirling dervish. When the feeling is missing for too long, I start searching for what to do next to bring it back. I'm getting good at chasing and catching it.

The wave I'm riding today comes from completing a tough writing assignment yesterday. Good forward movement was made on The Biography.  Once again, doubts have given way to optimism.

Yes, I've found my groove, I've located my sweet spot. Whatever words we use for it, that feeling is worth chasing. And the way I can get the feeling is to be creative daily. Do you experience it?  I wonder if others have the same physical sensations from joy.
 
The drawing here was done in a portrait class at Picard Studios. My main focus was to get a likeness and I'm quite sure if the model's friends stumbled on this blog, they would recognize her face.

The Bicycle

Watercolour on Paper 8 1/2"  x 11"

After FOTOSIMILE photograph*

A belated birthday present for Ed's mom. And I can tell you that Ed, my coworker, is a patient person. He waited weeks for me to get this painting done. Sometimes the creative muse chooses her projects on her own time. 

The painting is gone now from my studio and living a life of its own. I yearn to have it back to fix up things I see lacking. Ah, the curse of an artist.

* Based on a shot from FOTOSIMILE, thank you to the photographer, beeveedee, for permission to use her photo as a source for my painting. Take a look at her clean, inspiring work. I enjoy the gallery-type setup of her blog that displays all her photos at once.