Ok, so ya see that face of mine, with arms open wide............
well, that's close to how I feel because I finished my tax preparation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not as painful as I anticipated. I think I had help from the tax gods. Yesterday, after having a hard time getting into that left brain, I called out, "I could use a little HELP here!!!"
Once I said it, I found the missing Amex statement and the rest just seemed to flow. (Thank you) It took less than half the time it took me last year. My system got a little better this year. Still needs some tweaking though.
Today is one month before I leave for Peru. Meeting my traveling buddy in Houston and then there is that wonderful "me pictured above" again.
This time we are adding Lake Titicaca and Arequipa. Going to Colca Canyon to see the condors. I have been reading so much about the prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor.
More on that later.
I'm just so happy the taxes are done :-)
I feel like dancing ... instead I'll go out for a nice walk.

My passion project

My journeys take me into the next big project - the exhibit of the young child.

Here lies a passion.

After teaching, or more like "inspiring", approximately 60 preschoolers in class, (no, not at the same time) now is the time to put it all together. I take pictures as I go along in class, because it is the process that really should be focused on here, not the end result.

I throw in some quotes about the importance and benefit of art and it's "showtime!!"

I usually underestimate how long this really takes and go into a bit of panic mode. Fortunately, the Universe has provided as I had some days off from teaching to do this. The art and photos are displayed on foam-core boards - 35 of them, plus a case for some sculptural work. A lot of work, but I'm passionate about it, so I put my heart and soul into it. Maybe work is not the right term.

The panic comes in mostly because there are other obligations... getting my taxes together being one of them. oh well.

Gratitude

The inside of the rose reminds me of the GoGratitude symbol. Here I am today very grateful to have some "catch-up" time. I really need to vacuum and put some things away. I may even start on my taxes and end the astrological year by closing the books :-)
Either way, I am stopping to smell the roses. Each time I walk by them, I stop. I keep wanting to photograph them!!!
They remind me to stop and go within. A good day to listen to that still voice within.

4 Directions

I received some beautiful roses for helping a friend and could not resist playing around with photographing them.

A rose is a rose...

or is it.

Altered photo of a rose taken this morning.

Playtime!

Yes to Life

thank You God for most this amazing day:

for the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a true blue dream of sky;

and for everything which is natural

which is infinite

which is yes

- e.e.cummings

New Moon intentions for Pisces

Courage to Play

I get these great newsletters in my mailbox and this one especially hit me as this is what I am focusing on in my art classes... Play. The older we get the harder it seems to let go and play. This is probably why I prefer to teach young children - they have no problem with this at all.
Play, experiment and discover for me seem to be a prerequisite to making art.
We get too serious when we get older and so much of our lives take on numerous responsibilities so we NEED to take time to play.
When we come to the canvas or any other surface, we need to approach it with fresh eyes,
eyes of a child perhaps... open to possibilities and allowing art to move where it wants to go.

I just started reading Echart Tolle's book, A New Earth and so I thought I would share part of Robert Genn's newsletter here. You can go here to see it in it's entirety and subscribe as well.

In his latest book, "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose," Eckhart Tolle discusses how the human mind is almost constantly engaged in private thoughts. These inner rumblings reflect our personal trials, dreams, needs and obligations. To function properly as a creative person, an artist must divorce himself from some of this clutter and begin a process of rebirth into another mode. "Even though people may travel," says Eckhart Tolle, "they tend to remain where they have always been--in their head."
Early yesterday morning, my daughter Sara and I were painting at the end of the Laniloa Peninsula, Oahu, Hawaii. From a parked car nearby, a young man in a white shirt and tie watched her out of the corner of his eye. As I passed by, he rolled down his window and said, "That girl just took out a canvas and started painting. She hardly drew things out at all."
The fellow and I struck up a conversation. He turned out to be a Teaching Assistant from the nearby Brigham Young University at La'ie. He was "having a quiet read and some meditation."I told him the girl was my daughter and that she was working "alla prima--all at once." Then he said, "It looks quite a lot like play."
Later, when Sara and I were going over our day's efforts, we agreed the young man had got to the truth of the matter. As far as plein air painting is concerned, play has its own methodology: Feel and relish the environment.
Get into a "be here now" state of mind.
Start your work anywhere.
Look cleanly and with an uncluttered mind.
Be joyous and unencumbered in your stroke.
Work everywhere at once when you can.
Try to leave your strokes alone.
Do not labour or think too much.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
Let the painting tell you what it needs.
Though it may be small, make your picture big.
Without being a wimp, serve your subject.
Don't verbalize your sight--sense the being.
Surrender to earth's beauty and wisdom.
If you make errors, fix them in good humour.
Be suspicious of what you've been told, how you ought to do things, and what you ought to think.
Best regards,Robert
PS: "Van Gogh didn't say, 'That's just an old chair.' He looked, and looked, and looked. He sensed the Beingness of the chair." (Eckhart Tolle)
Esoterica: The plein air act requires a mental transformation and a shift in consciousness. Playful looseness is a virtue. Running on old methodologies or rigid game-plans can be detrimental. Sara and I both remarked on the value of amateurism. Amateurism can induce clear sight and creative optimism. At least you are not held in check by a lot of stuff you already know.
Current clickback: If you would like to see selected, illustrated responses to the last letter, "Seeing red" about the observation of colour in our world, please go to: http://clicks.robertgenn.com/seeing-red.php

Youth Art Month

We celebrated the 28th year of Youth Art Month yesterday. This is the Harrison Council for the Arts program, and a successful one at that. I've taken on the role of chairperson for it and have been involved with it for about 24 years.

It involves putting together an art exhibit of students work in public and private schools in the town. Three high schools, two middle schools and four elementary schools. 12 teachers participated.

Although it is work pulling this all together, the teachers are amazing in their dedication and participation in this program. Each year I am more impressed with the art the students create and when the reception is in full force, the town house is energized with proud parents, students and teachers.

For me, I get to see students that I've had in preschool and elementary school. It's been a long road as some of my previous students are now in the upper grades, and some have graduated and gone on to art schools. I like to think I've given them a good start in the love of art and then passed them on to art teachers in school. It's amazing to see these kids, once upon a time playing with play dough and creating art with me at 3 or 4 years and now grown... actually, a bit of a shock when they are now taller than me!