Making Changes

I am making tiny baby step changes in my life. The first one is to get in shape. So, I am walking to and from work. Each way is a little over a mile. I've done this 3-4 times now... and I know it will sound lame, but I feel stronger. I feel like I am more able to deal with day to day things. I will continue to walk, and probably soon add a bit to my workout.

I am on a hiatus of sorts as far as art goes... still looking for venues, but more in the phase where I will still be working out a plan.

On another note... GG is in mexico. She will be gone like 10 days. I miss her terribly. I am sure she is having a great time, though, so that helps. I can't wait til she returns though... *sigh*

Why do we fall?

"Why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to get up again." That's what Bruce Wayne's father said to him in Batman the beginning. On Friday, I had submitted 3 of my works to be juried into a local gallery. Honestly, I thought everything was looking good as far as being juried in. However, it didn't happen. I will spare all the details, but let's just say that it hurt.

So now... I need to get up again. And this time I need to have a plan. Of course, I will take the time to lick my wounds a bit, and pick myself up.

What they call a "Big Deal"

Well... I have possible news, but I won't know for sure til this weekend, and I don't want to jinx myself... so, please send happy thoughts my way. I will post as soon as I get the good news... IF I get good news lol. In the meantime, just know that thanks to my perseverance and the kindness of others, I may be getting my foot in the art world door.

A sweet little collage

So... Thursday night I needed to stay home and take care of my husband. But I was absolutely dying to create, so GG came over and we dabbled in collage. Come to find out, GG is not crazy about collage--who knew?? Of course, it didn't help that when I was helping her wax the top of hers, I pretty much melted Frida Kahlo's brow off. I felt so terrible!! However, we both learned a lesson... and here's a picture of mine.

I work too much!!!

I am lucky enough to work for an employer who does not complain too very much when I get overtime. And in today's economy, that is such a great thing financially. However, I do get sucked into that trap. That trap where I get used to the paychecks showing 55+ hours a week. Then, everything less really seems like less. I am grateful for my job and my large paychecks. I do, however, wish that I had more time to commit to art. And to researching venues and promoting my work.

This week it has been especially tough. I've not been getting enough sleep due to husband's pain in his toe. And, when I'm not working I am taking care of the house, changing bandages, cooking, etc. And that's just one of those roadblocks that I must persevere.

I am compiling a list of things to do to further my art... and eventually things will settle down so I can get to all of them. In the meantime, I can do what I can do.

This week in the Artist's Way, it's all about protection... (not sure if I mentioned before that GG and I are doing the Artist's Way together). And a large part of this chapter is about being a workaholic... that really hit me. I am going to begin some real soul searching... and see what I can do to fix that situation. Money is going to be the biggest barrier. I will do what I can... I am so aware of the problem, and that is the first step.

Don't mow the lawn with sandals on...

That's right... don't mow the lawn with sandals on. My husband was doing just that this morning when he slipped and his foot went under the mower. He was very lucky. A lost toenail, a damaged nail bed and 5 stitches later he is laying in his recliner on narcotics. He is in a LOT of pain, but it could have been so much worse.

Damn Flu!

In the Pacific Northwest right now you are damn lucky if you haven't had this latest flu bug... and it's a doozy! I am not in the habit of saying doozy, just the only word that came to mind ;-). I had it for 2 weeks... two entire weeks out of my life. The first five days I slept for 18-20 hours a day. Then I returned to work, thinking it was over... my fever had broken two or three different times in that first five days. When I returned to work, I spoke to several people that told me that this bug is pretty much a two week minimum. And they were not kidding! I ended up taking another day off somewhere in the middle there, and cutting out early a couple of days, but mostly I put in all the awful work hours.

The thing that really bothered me during that two weeks was the fact that my dreams were vivid-- perhaps due to the fever?-- but I had no energy to commit anything to canvas. I wanted to paint so bad, but could not muster up the energy. I had so many visions wanting to be depicted, and I just had to hope they would wait. Well... for the most part, they stuck with me, patiently waiting to be applied to canvas. Thank goodness for the spirit's want to survive.

It occurs to me, though, after this... that there are so many creative endeavours inside of me, just waiting to be let out. There's the novel, waiting so patiently to be finished... the poetry that is just yearning to be published... not to mention the countless paintings and collages just wriggling away in my psyche. And, with the last of the flu out of my system, I am living life and enjoying every moment, feeling great. Spring is a time of renewal, and this gave me mine.... I am a whirlwind of activity and it feels amazing!!

P.S. I think GG is coming down with the flu... please send her healing thoughts.

A great big thank you!!

I have had the huge blessing of having friends who inspire and motivate me. So... thank you GG and Kev for recent motivation. And thank you John for believing in me, along with Robert and Aaron. Also, my children have been such a blessing... last time we went into Portland they were so patient when I meandered through Art/Media forever. I am a very very lucky person... thank you so much to you all.

A website with my work

Many of my works can be seen at : http://renigma.ebsqart.com feel free to drop in, have a cup of coffee and peruse my work! Let me know what you think.

A whimsical dragonfly

Ok, so sometimes, well, often lately, I get a bit whimsical. And who can't see the magic in dragonflies? I painted this in acrylics, using a technique for the background that GG taught me. The wings are tissue paper, and it makes me nostalgic about my childhood... weekends spent at the lake at my cousin's grandmother's house.

My cover art

This, rotated will be cover art for my friend's book... I am so excited to be part of this project!

What the heck does one blog about??

So... here I am, starting a blog. It was suggested to me from a photographer I know... and I will be posting my art on here. My name is Robyn, I live near Portland, Oregon, and I am an artist. I paint with acrylics and oils, I collage, I dabble in oil pastels. I am a writer, working on a novel and poetry. I've also done pottery and jewelry making. I'm still feeling my way in this world, exploring new things every day.

My greatest cheerleader is my best friend, who I will call Glamour Girl, or GG for short. She and I are doing "The Artist's Way" together, and she has been such an inspiration for me. We get together every Tuesday night for our girls night out. We usually talk for 2 hours non-stop then go home... last night it was 3-- we just couldn't shut up!

I am currently working on a painting for a writer friend of mine who is having a book published, and he wants my work on the cover. I will let you know how that goes... the writer is my first ever boyfriend from way back, so it's nice, very nice working with him at this point.

I will post some of my work this evening.