When you are sad, paint.
When you are happy, paint.
When you need a calm and quiet place, paint.
When you are sick, draw.
Do these things even when you are somewhere in between. If you're not an artist, buy art and meditate on why it is so utterly healing for the moment of your gaze.
And, when the storm passes, smile that there is another day.
I'm sensing that we are all storm watchers, sky watchers, observers of the times and environment. It's just primal, isn't it? Things are still very, very tough here in Arizona (but, do you really have any idea?), and I imagine they are tough all over. Reminds me of an old poem, Dover Beach, by
Matthew Arnold. But, being a bit quirky, my mind always goes next to
Anthony Hecht's version and I laugh every time I read it.
Only one storm has passed, but there are others on the line. I'll try to paint them and you do the same because things are bad all over for someone.
This oil painting is: After the Storm (8" x 8," on artists' board).
Painting Mirrors the Hopeful Heart While the World Climbs into a Basket--Melinda 2010
I've wondered where I am, too.
Here are a couple of paintings I've been working on after crashing a few weeks ago. A virus turned into a bacterial infection and spread through the family. We've also got a very sick dog we're trying to save this week. But, I want the blog to be a positive place and am really hoping things will turn around and improve.
I hope you're all painting up a storm and having a wonderful summer. For some of you, I think summer is winding down. For us, it's been stormy, unseasonably cool for a few days and going by way too quickly. The photo above is from the monsoon storm that blew through Tucson on Saturday. Wow, eh?!
This first painting is titled:
Fields in Green, 8" x 8," oil on artists' board.
The second painting is titled:
Motorcoach Moticos, 8" x 8," oil on artists' board.
This one I painted while our college boy was riding a Greyhound Bus home from visiting a friend in northern Arizona this past weekend.
Be well everyone! I'll be back soon.
