Motherhood To Dos:
change their diapers
anticipate their needs
hug and kiss through tears
teach them to be strong
allow them to feel pain
buy them clothes
(and school supplies and prom tickets and flowers for their first crush)
listen as they complain about school, frenemies and hormones
bite your tongue when they complain about you
And that’s why there’s an “Om” in “Mom”
This includes:
Putting more hours in;
Doing smarter research;
Visualizing it happening and then doing more work; or
Thinking about it differently and accepting it for what it is. This last possibility escapes most people. They don’t believe they can think or feel differently about something. And they don’t feel they can accept reality. But they can!
When I paint and I’m in the “zone,” I’m not disagreeing with anything or anyone.
I’m doing my thing.
I’m happy. So I may spread more happiness. It keeps my worries at bay.
Even if the art is imperfect.
We cry from hunger pains
yearning to fill the void
but after we’ve eaten – with “bellies” full –
we’re left dissatisfied – a bit annoyed
Listless and sleepy,
we roll on to our side,
hoping to rest and feel content,
but conscious of the divide
No longer desirous, for
we ate the bread you gave,
but we’re bloated and numb
It was far better to crave
*Inspired by Mudcrutch
I’m taking painting classes through Creativebug.com (Lisa Congdon!) and last night, right before bed, I painted this:
I went to bed and when I woke up, I thought of a vintage dress a friend gave me over twenty years ago. It’s stored in a closet in my office – and I never look at it. Yet something evoked a need to look at the pattern:
Voila!
It makes you realize how your brain is working while you sleep. I notice that whatever I think about right before I go to bed is clarified somehow when I wake up. This is why watching informative and inspiring programs before bed is better than watching news…this is why reading a good book is better than arguing…and this is why asking yourself “How can I solve this problem?” is a better question than “Why me?”
I looked up images of plankton for drawing and then I read about them. I learned that they are classified not by taxonomy (as so many other animals are), but by ecological niche! There are numerous types of plankton – both microscopic as well as macro.
I decided to use acrylic paint for the “luminescent” factor. I have much to learn about using this type of paint. I’m taking a Lisa Congdon class on watercolors/gauche through Creativebug.com (“The Daily Painting Challenge”). It was $10 for 30 mini lessons on pattern-making: a great deal!
Not sure where I’m going with this art, but I am enjoying the process.
I’m teaching myself how to illustrate. There are so many resources online:
I don’t have a goal, per se. But it’d be nice if I could illustrate my own books. I just know that I am loving this process. I sit down with my pencils, art pens, watercolor, paper and coffee (or other nice beverage, wink, wink, nudge, nudge) and draw!
*Alphabiography post
Kismet 