Peace, Serenity, and Zen All In One

           This past Monday I had the opportunity to enjoy a brand new experience! I painted outside with a friend, Amy. We do not know each other well, but I felt compelled to ask her to come paint. We made plans, I set us up outside and we started. It was my first time painting with someone else. To say that it was fun would be an understatement. I hope she felt the same way I did, but I felt contentment.

The cool breeze, sights and sounds around us, and the canvas in front of us was inspiring. We both painted the same idea, Aspen trees, but in totally different approaches. She chose more muted colors while I went to my usual bright vibrant pallet. It was her first time using a palette knife and she loved it. She made the statement that it was "life changing". I couldn't help but laugh! Who knew! Amy painted a more open concept of an Aspen grove with rocks in the background and a forest floor. I chose a more dense Aspen grove with textured trunks and vibrant canopy. It amazes me how different we were about the same subject. 

We talked, shared things about our lives, and gave each other suggestions. Several days later when I ran into Amy she was still talking about the experience and sharing it with other friends. It’s amazing how an afternoon painting in the great outdoors can have such an impact on us on a more internal level. Her exact words were "It was very zen". That made my day. That was the exact feeling I was hoping she would have. I know I so enjoyed our time together and I look forward to more days of "zen" in the woods with a canvas and a brush and friends!

Amy's painting.

My unfinished painting. 

Big Ideas in Small Spaces

Since I'm just in the beginning stages of getting my art up and going I'm learning to work in very SMALL spaces. I started out in the guest bedroom upstairs which didn't work so well. It was interesting using a hand saw, gorilla glue, paint, ink, and tiles all on a 3x4 desk. I spent more time trying to keep the mess off the floor and bed than I did working. Needless to say something had to change!

So...fast forward to June and I've moved up to the storage building outside. It is better but it still isn't ideal for creating. I've moved junk around, purged (some but not enough) and rearranged a dozen times. The best part of the new space is the fact that I can make a mess and it is perfectly OK. No worries about paint and ink on the floor anymore! 

I have so many big ideas I want to do, but with limited space I have to get creative. Fortunately, the weather in Colorado in June allows me to do a lot of my work outside. Low humidity and temperature in the 80's make it perfect to be outside. I even get to be up close and personal with nature. Just last week a deer walked right up to the door of my building and just looked inside. Then today while I was outside sanding, 4 bucks in full velvet just sauntered past me like I wasn't even there! That is inspiring for sure! 

I need an Art studio but until I win the lottery I've decided I need to work on this space and I need the following:

• a larger desk

• more shelves

• a more comfortable chair

• a place to stand and paint

• better organized storage

• more head room

• a place to store canvas paintings

• a place to store tiles

Since Art Studios aren't cheap I guess I'll have to be satisfied with what I have for now. It works!

Firsts!

Since moving to Colorado there have many "FIRSTS". First time encountering moose, elk, and bear. First time enduring 4 feet of snow in 24 hours. First time experiencing altitudes above 6000ft. First time sharing a bucket of mussels with friends in an authentic French resteraunt. And the firsts go on and on. 

This past weekend was a "first" that will forever be imprinted in my memories. it was my first time ever showing my paintings and Art. To say I was a  nervous wreck would be an understatement. I had worked so hard getting my pieces ready. I had planned out every square inch of my booth. I had prepared myself (I thought) to put myself out there. I wasn't prepared for the emotional rollercoaster I would experience. 

Set up was physically exhausting. Thanks to the hubby and neighbor for cutting a camping trip short so he would be home to help be set up. I was so busy I didn't have time to panic. A quick trip back home to clean up and change clothes and then we were back for the opening. The hall was packed with people enjoying wine and refreshments. There was a buzz in the air for sure. I had a lump in my throat all night. Every time another person came up to me and said something about my work it totally awed me. To hear words of encouragement from total strangers and fellow artist was so amazing. To have someone purchase a piece of work was incredible!

If I could only use one word to descibe this "first" it would be VALIDATION. I've always loved Art and anything that pertained to it. I've always drawn, painted, and played with Ar,t but I don't know if I've ever really considered myself an "artist". As of June 10, 2016 I do. The confirmation was so strong as I stood by my table and watched people seriously look at my work. To have them ask questions and want to know more about me and how I created a certain piece was astounding. 

The most emotional part of the weekend was having an accomplished painter stop and discuss my work. She encouraged me to "keep going, work harder, and just love what you do." Then she purchased one of my paintings.  I was so honored. To think that another artist and especially another painter wanted to buy something I created blew me away. Yes I cried! There was that feeling of validation again. 

I know there will be many more "firsts" for me. I know I cannot ever recreate this past weekend,  nor do I want to. I do know that this experience has sparked something inside me. I want to create. I want to paint. I want to share my talents. I want to be valued as an artist. I want more!

Little Red Cabin, Wind Chimes, and Train Whistles

Moving to Colorado was probably the hardest yet best decisions of our lives. It was not easy to just pack up 30 years of memories and move across the country to a brand new life. So many decisions had to be made the first being where to live. It was easy to fall in love with the majestic beauty of this place. 

 "Little Red Cabin"

We were so fortunate to be able to find a small cabin in a precious community in the mountains outside the Denver metro area. After several months of searching and the moment we drove into the yard it "just felt right". The house faces the western slope of the Rockies and the view alone was enough to make us fall in love with the house. But after spending one night we knew this was where we were supposed to be! The cabin itself has so much character. Wooden hand hewed beams, slate floors, and knotty pine were just a few of the elements that drew us to this house. 

"Wind Chimes"

The first night in the cabin was so surreal. As we drifted off to sleep in the cool darkness the night air wafted in the open window causing me to reach for the quilt in August as a sound wandered through the open windows that was almost magical.  Our neighbors had a wind chime that softly played music as the breeze gently rocked the trees. The music from the chimes seemed to be playing us a “Welcome Home” song! It just felt like we were supposed to be here!

“Train Whistles”

Train whistles may not seem like a big deal to most folks, but to us they are a welcomed song! We had no idea we were close enough to a railroad track to hear the train until the first night we spent the night in the cabin. The wind chimes were playing their melody and softly in the background we heard the train coming through the canyon. To say it was an amazing experience is putting it lightly. It brought such strange feelings: comfort, longing, mystery?

Why Colorado? Why now?

     January 2013 was a pivotal point in my life. My husband and I looked at each other and made a huge decision that would affect not only us but others as well. We were both feeling exhausted by the daily routines of life, unfilled in our jobs, and like something was missing. We made the decision to move! Not just move across town, or to another town in SC, but to move across the country. 

"Why Colorado?" " Why now?"

     Those two questions were asked more than any other question when folks first learned we were moving. It was a decision that was both hard and easy. It was something we had talked about for years and even dreamed about, but never saw coming to fruition. My answer was "Why not Colorado?" and "If not now, then when?" Our children were adults, our house was empty, and we were stagnant. It seemed that our souls needed rejuvenating! We both knew it was the perfect time to make some major changes and start brand new. We weren't sure how it was going to be possible, but saying it out loud seemed to have lifted a weight and allowed us to start putting feet to our dreams.

     We began making lists. I spoke to my personnel director about retirement, and Watson began applying to jobs in Colorado. Within three weeks he had a job in Denver, Co and was packing to move.

We didn't have time to panic because it all happened so suddenly.

We made the decision that he would move on to Colorado and I would stay in SC, work my last 18 months till retirement, and sell our house. I look back on those 18 months and really do not know how I survived it all. It was such a hard stressful time, but one that was exhilarating as well. I guess the best word to describe the process was cleansing. I learned so much about myself during that time of solitude.

     Through purging junk, boxing up memories, sorting, and lots and lots of tears, I made it to June 2014.  I'm not sure anyone will ever really understand why we needed to move over 1800 miles away from family and friends to start a brand new life. I'm not sure we really understand it ourselves.

I do know this, it was time.

We regret not being more fearless 30 years ago and making the move then. We regret our children didn't get to grow up in Colorado. Regrets get you no where so we are learning to stop looking behind us and focus on our new future here in this gorgeous place.