Musing about my Summer Bucket List... an Update

I mentioned at the beginning of June how this summer I really want to paint outside, specifically to paint landscapes... I know this is a tall order- what with having a toddler around full time (not just around, but responsible for) but mostly because how freaking hot it is going to be this week... as you can see, as with all goals, it's very easy to start coming up with excuses or road blocks. (If you can't even attempt to work on a goal then no opportunity of failure!) It's all well and good to have a goal-wish list, but if one never actually puts it on the calendar, it will keep getting pushed aside.

And yet I have this intense desire to paint... I let my frustration and lack of interest with oil painting wain during grad school, which was good since it allowed me to focus on breaking into and dabbling with installations... but now here it is, returned, awakened... perhaps it's the ultimate call to self, the call and search for my former self, the one that could have on a whim scooped up easel and paints and hit up a field somewhere... not that I ever did... I look back on my -before baby years and become a cliche of wishing we had traveled more, of wondering why we were so lame and didn't live that year in New Zealand, why we didn't go on a honeymoon....? And now, why the hell didn't I just go for it and paint landscapes!?  And the answer is that for starters I didn't actually want to paint landscapes, I find them daunting and because if I had, I would like to think I would have achieved this goal... but mostly before becoming a parent you have no freaking idea what time means, and you abuse it by luxuriating in its infiniteness...

And now I sit here at night after putting the little one to bed, and curse myself for continuing to abuse my "free time"... I sit here and stare at the computer... the mountain of things in my brain, jotted on countless misplaced lists, and even on a note in my i-phone, are so immense and endless I sit struck dumb as to where to even begin... and mostly I'm tired and lack inspiration to get off my ass.

Thus I turn to this bigger more lofty goal of painting landscapes. To escape into a landscape... one that I can dictate, where it is quiet and only the essential remains.

Practical conclusions have been reached- I will practice painting landscapes indoors, working from pictures and other images... doing little sketches in both oil and watercolor... researching and gathering inspiring images, and so forth. And then one cool late afternoon, I will throw baby in the car and hit up a field somewhere. (I know just the one!)

But most importantly to drop the whole Jacob Marley act of being shackled with regret, pointing fingers and warning the childless to savor their free time... but rather to savor my own time, the present... because I'm sure years from now when the house is again quiet and personal time becomes overwhelming, I will look back at these years and say I should have relaxed more and gone with the flow, to not be so hard on myself, that it's great to strive towards a goal as well as to sit motionless after baby bedtime hours and just soak in the quiet... my own little motherhood landscape

Summer Bucket List

Do you have a summer bucket list? Or rather a Summer -to-do-list, the fun kind, the one that inspires new adventures and lessons learned? In Yesterday's Links and Such post I included a quote "When Was the last time you did something for the first time?". So maybe one's summer list could have this theme...?

With the first day of June, I'm trying to write my own list, one that doesn't include items from my "Ultimate to do list" (such as various knitting projects, our wedding album (4 yrs is embarrassing!) and so on).

Although my list is still a work in progress, one key piece, that although does not fit into doing something for the first time... is to paint outside again. During my undergrad we spent many painting classes outside painting landscapes. I have mad respect for those that can capture a landscape in simplified hues and shapes... I would get bogged down by each leaf. And so that's the number one goal on my list- to paint outside again. (And to paint in general, I also hope to offer new original oil paintings in my Etsy shop).

So as you head out on your weekend, think about writing a fun summer bucket list, one that will challenge you... but one that will ultimately set this summer apart from the rest. And report back, cus I need help with mine! ; )

have a great one!!

xo

abs

Living without Walls

Yesterday's breezy cool spring weather made me all too aware of how fleeting spring can be. We ate lunch outside, swayed in the hammock till our cheeks became too pink by the sun, slept with the windows open (as usual)... and as the breeze came through the kitchen window blowing my hair back and making the tea towels float and other objects chime I realized the importance of standing still and soaking it all in... in the hopes of finding a little bit of daily magic.. and so as you head off to your weekend, I thought a little collage of images from my Living without Walls board on pinterest would be a fun visual reminder to head outdoors, soak it up, pitch a tent in the yard and breath in spring.

We are creative because we have good taste...

"Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through." — Ira Glass

***

Have a great start to your week!

Murmuration

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

Check out this video of murmuration (that's being shared around like crazy this week!). Makes you want to live in the woods! Have a great weekend!

living without walls... inspiration for the summer

I started a Board on Pinterest called Living Without Walls. It's a celebration of nature and a collection of fun ways to live and entertain in the great outdoors.  Since June is officially in full swing, I thought I would share some of my favorites to inspire your own outdoor escapades!  Above: Outdoor movie party

Picnic

Outdoor Party

If I had a Porch like this, I would live here all summer long!

Happy Pinning!  Let's connect here's my profile ; )

Pinning on Pinterest oh so "Pinteresting"

I'm pretty much addicted to Pinterest.  

And I wanted to share with you some of my recent "Pins"!

Above: Cupcakes

What A Kiss

Bouquet 

Reading nook

DIY painted Floor

Word

Smashed white bean and avocado club

I suggest you join pinterest!!  It's a  great way to gather images and bookmarks into one place. Perfect if you are redoing a kitchen, planning a special event, musing over fashion, or gathering recipes. You can find me on Pinterest HERE.  Looking forward to meeting up and seeing what you pin.

A Trip to Terrain

While we were back in the DE/PA area this weekend, we managed to squeeze in a trip to Terrain. ahhhh, exhale.  I remember the first time I went into Terrain- I thought, THIS is what I want my home to feel like! I would love to work for Terrain, (wink) it combines my love of plants, gardening, home decor and handmade! While at the store we met some great Terrain employees, who share our love of Maine!

Here are some cell phone pics to inspire your own visit to the heavenly store.

Valentine treats

at our next place I would love to have some terrariums! 

BULBS!

What a snowy view!

If you can't make it to the store in person, shop Terrain Online!

30 day Challenge: Day 1

I am participating in this 30 Day Challenge- as described on ground rules.  The idea is to focus on one thing and do it every day for 30 days. They gave the example- practicing the piano for 15 minutes each day. Then you post a video every day talking about your "project"- about your successes and failures, etc. Originally I thought "I'll teach myself to crochet a new motif each day!", something I've been wanting to do for a few years... but then the idea hit me- I want and need to get back to painting. I put it aside during grad school and now that I am a mom, I don't want to abandon my art until my kids are off to college... and this is what I want to do with my life make art SO my 30 day challenge is to paint one painting each day!

Here are MY ground rules: These paintings can be small, or large, in oil, watercolor, ink or gouache. And having a newborn shouldn't be too much of a hindrance, since during my undergrad we were given the assignment to do a drawing every 5 minutes during a 3 hour figure class. SO I shall keep this time limitation in mind! ; )

So I might not make a video each day of my 30 day challenge, but I will check in daily on my blog and share photographs and then perhaps a video at the end of the week!  Be sure to check in every day on my blog to see a new painting. At the end I might sell them on my NEW etsy shop GrayDayStudio.

Here is my Painting from Day 1

My thoughts: today's painting was like a stretch after a long winter of sitting on my ass. And coincidentally- I must work on that resolution too ; )  This painting was of some dried dune foliage, painted on Reeves BFK gray paper with gouache and watercolor. And of course after seeing it as a photo- I see areas that I could "revisit"...(click on image to view larger, not the best detailed pic, but will have to do!)  I didn't spend long on it, since the baby began to stir the moment my brush literally dipped into the paint! Luckily she settled down, but this will be interesting!  I had fun revisiting the process of painting, of remembering how easily you can destroy a little area and how you didn't realize how special that area was until it was gone. I also dove into the white paint towards the end and used it as a tool to create both positive and negative areas around the foliage.  I got crap for my use of white during grad school, which is probably one of the reasons I focused on installations rather than painting during those two years, but fuck it, I like white paint! I understand why not to use it so much and to not mix every color with white, I get it, duh, but sometimes white is such a purifying element and helps you cover up your mistakes ; )

Anyway, I'm looking forward to tomorrow's painting. I think I will have to whip out the oil paint this week, as the watercolor and gouache are sometimes chalky and dull for what I want, but we'll see I could change my mind!  Check in tomorrow for my Day 2!

Coming to Tiptoe Through for 2011

I hope you all had a splendid New Year! I spent mine in with the husband and new baby. We had a lovely dinner, watched movies and worked on knitting projects- so yeah not too much of a change from any other night!

I have some Blog resolutions I want to achieve this year, and I thought I would share them with my readers!  First, I am going to set up more of a structure to my blog- with a theme each day of the week- excluding weekends. I think this will make me more focused with my own personal pursuits as well as hopefully make my blog more of a resource for people, and let's be honest- to turn my readers into followers.  I am also turning 30 this month and I want to continue to learn new things- thus another reason for my revamped daily themes.

SO here's what you can look for in 2011!

Monday: Weekly Inspiration- be it silly, or really inspiring (nothing corny I swear!)- a little nugget to help jump start your week- so crucial during the winter doldrums!

Tuesday: A Green living- topic. Be it a housekeeping tip or some new technology, etc...

Wednesday: Handmade- a shout out to something cool from the handmade community- like my "Etsy Favs" etc.

Thursday: my Weekly "Links and Such" will continue

Friday: Weekend Project- be it my own from a previous weekend, something I intend to tackle, or something someone else did a bang up job on!

I am also going to be participating in a 30 day challenge- where I will work on a project for 30 days and report on it EVERY day! January 2nd is the launch date of that- so check back in to see what my project is!

Any resolutions or goals you are working on?    Have a great start to the New Year!

Lovely and haunting

Francesca Woodman photography and a book of her images.

I feel a little late to the game here that I am just seeing these images and learning about Woodman, would have been a perfect fit for my gradschool work!  Lovely and haunting.

Happy September! Now for Some Inspiring Links

(image from Rowan Summer Crochet book)

September is kind of a heady yet inspiring month. No matter the temperature, it marks the change of the seasons, a transitional time of year... and according to Vogue's documentary "The September Issue" September is a time to reinvent yourself. THIS idea is all over the magazine stands- with almost every magazine cover donning the word "Makeover".

For me, this year's September is lining up with the my intense nesting phase. Of course I am always one to work on home body projects... And since I will reach my 8 month mark next week, I have begun a little list of projects I want to accomplish and so I thought it would be fun to share some inspiring links, books etc to inspire your own fall makeovers, or projects!

Poppytalk- has a link for free downloadable wallpaper! Remember if you are renting you can always wallpaper a large 6x8 ft panel!

LoveMaeStore- is a great etsy decal shop that offers reusable fabric decals for you interiors. they are so cute!

OnePearlButton- offers a one hour tutorial for making your own ipad sleeve.

Anna Maria Horner- (love her blog!) has a fun DIY tunic making project! This is exactly what I've been looking for to make my maternity dresses, I will try this with some linen for a fall tunic (stay tuned!)

Rowan Sumer crochet book- I've been wanting to revisit (ie- relearn) crocheting, and this Summer Crochet book as all Rowan books are- is incredibly inspiring! Plus I have all winter to learn and work on these patterns.

Prettylittleworldfashion- offers a fun blog post with inspiring images on pretty storage ideas!

ThisIsGlamorous- a gallery of images for decorating from summer to fall with the use of wicker.

StyleBeat- offers us fun ideas of playing with paint care of J-Crew and Anthropologie.

I hope this inspires your own fall projects!  Any specific projects you have on your list this year?

Decorating Inspiration: Artists' Houses

About 5 years ago I received the book "Artists' Houses" from my parents for Christmas.

The book explores a variety of houses belonging to painters, poets, writers, etc. It's a remarkable look into how one's art is reflected in how they live and vise versa. The colors they paint with are often the colors they decorate with, if they are a minimalist their house is also minimal and so on. Thus I wanted to share some inspirational eye candy from this book for decorating and displaying your collections, etc.

(click on images to view them larger)