Oh, Friday...

Honeybee No. 1::Pastoral Dream

Contemplating Beauty::Taking Flight

Oh, Friday I was so ready for you.  I welcome your quiet, unscheduled, cold and rainy hours as I sit here, taking a moment to collect my thoughts from the last week.  The long weekend with my parents was lovely but it has been non-stop activity since we returned.  End of the school year things for all three kids and lots of activity in the school (and home) garden despite the un-almost-summer-like-weather this week (low 50's, windy and rainy).  I've wanted to write a bit about these four pieces I finished up last week but each day has slipped by without the time to sit quietly and think.  But that's the way it is sometimes, right? When it's time to wrap things up you have to take that final big in breathe and hold it all together before the big relaxing out breath ( i  a m  s o  r e a d y  f o r  s u m m e r t i m e).  I really like the group of four painting I finished up last week.  Honeybee No. 1  feels very clean and simple and I love the way ms. bee's rich yellow color stands out above the cherry blossom image.  Pastoral Dream, what can I say, I spend a lot of time thinking about sheep.  I have 6 hens for eggs and 5 raised beds for fresh veggies here in my little patch of land just north of Chicago and just one block from lovely Lake Michigan.  But I dream of having more land, 10-20 acres would be perfect.  I dream of keeping 3 or 4  sheep, many more chickens and maybe a few goats.  I'm not sure when this dream will manifest itself or where this land would be but C is on board and we talk about it with the kids often so I feel like it's a dream that may become a reality someday.  Contemplating Beauty started out as another piece entirely but as the woman in painting revealed herself I went in a different direction and I truly love this piece for it's muted palette and quiet beauty.  Taking Flight is similar to other butterfly pieces I have created but the butterfly as a symbol of grace, beauty and fragility fascinates and inspires me.  And now that I've taken a moment to reflect on last weeks work I'm heading into the studio for some much needed painting time. What are you up to on this 1st Friday in June?