Back to Reality

I have returned . . .

to the land of the living,

to reality,

to work,

art,

to family. . .

to life.

I just returned from a much needed retreat.

An extended weekend at the Oregon Coast for a mini-vacation.

The first vacation in a year that wasn't associated with a sale or a project of any kind.

I spent my weekend listening to music -

the music of the waves, the music of the rain and my favorite musicians on my i-pod.

I knitted - I am working on a shawl. I don't know if or how it will turn out. Knitting is not my strongest art form - but I enjoy it and find that I am drawn to it every winter. So I am knitting because I need to. The end result is not the issue (but I am secretly hoping that it is wonderful!)

I read.

I slept.

I painted.

As I headed away on this mini-retreat, I approached it with a bit of a challenge. I usually take boxes and boxes of supplies with me. . But this time, I decided I was taking paper and paints.

That's it.

I had blank watercolor paper for painting.

My box of paints.

A few key pens and pencils.

And a few sheets of tissue paper for building up texture.

That's it!

I didn't want the pressure of projects, or commissions, or "have-tos".

I just wanted to paint and see where my ocean muse took me.

It was wonderfully freeing to have less to work with.

I created several originals that will soon be  in my Etsy shop, available as matted prints.



(This is my theme for the year!)



It offered me the permission to do whatever the moment dictated.

Sometimes that was reading, or knitting or painting -

and more than once it was sitting on the couch staring out the window and doing absolutely nothing.

I call it my "coastal coma".

I gave myself permission to totally give in to my bodies natural rhythm.

I ate when I was hungry - I slept when I felt sleepy.

I took clothes to wear each day, and found I returned home with clean clothes because I stayed in my pajamas most of the time.

I returned home on Wednesday afternoon feeling like myself again.

I was happy to be home and I awoke this morning feeling like I could face life again.

After my post last week, I received a comment from a dear friend reminding me that even Mother Nature needs a season to rest. Those words spoke to my heart.

We live in a world that sets up unrealistic expectations.

Everything operates on a 24-hour clock.

We are supposed to work more and play less.

Fortunately when I am "working" with my art - it is more like play for me. I feel lucky and blessed by that fact. But every once in a while - I even need a break from art.

Now on to new projects and custom designs.
I am excited about the things on my project board and will be sharing pictures in the near future.

Until then -

Remember to play and dream while you are awake!