December 31, 2011. Studio.
I’ve had a great year, and I hope 2012 will be even better. Happy New Year everyone.
2011 you’ve been a good one. May 2012 be a better one!
Monthly Archives: December 2011
Ready To Go.
Studio December 29, 2011.
I have a canvas sitting in my studio that I’ll begin working on, on January 1, 2012. It is 16×20 inches, and I’m planning to also start work on a 24×36 inch canvas on the same day. But the question I’m asking myself is should I use my left hand, or my right hand to make the first mark?
A Wednesday List Of Ten Things I Like.
Tree Topper.
I’ve been a bit busy the last couple of weeks and I haven’t really posted much, and I’ve missed 2 Wednesday lists. The truth is I thought I was running out of things I like. But there are many things I like, and the only real problem is they are things I can’t provide Links to. So my list will be changing a bit and there will be fewer links. I’m also not going to worry about any sense of order. They are just things I like.
1. St. Paul’s Anglican Church. I have a confession to make. I’m a church goer and have been almost every Sunday for over a year now. Why do I go? I like the music. I like the people. I like the fact that the people in the pew in front of me often bring Tim Horton’s coffee. I like the running jokes about if it would be wrong to go back for more wine at communion. I like the sounds of all the children running around the place. I like the fact that it reminds me a bit of the Roman Catholic Church I went to as a kid except that it is for me more welcoming, and the ministers have families and one of them is a woman. Does this bother you to read this about me? I hope not, and if it does well then, there it is, that’s who I am.
2. Moments of peace. This is something I’ve always struggled with. Sometimes it’s hard to clear the mind and just relax, and I think art has provided me with the best sense of peace. It’s what keeps me sane. By making or experiencing art I can just sort of release all my tension, and the great thing is art is all around us.
3. Sunlight through leaves. This might seem strange but one of my favorite things is to sit in a garden chair and look up to watch light coming through or reflecting off the leaves of a tree. It is a beautiful thing to see, and if I’m sitting in a chair and enjoying a cold beer at the time then perfection is near.
4. Stained Glass. Sometimes when I’m in church I completely lose the plot, and I wander into my own private space. It is a very nice feeling, it’s a quiet feeling, and it almost always happens when I’m looking at the stained glass windows.
5. Mystery. Some things are beyond our understanding. That’s just how it is, and that’s okay. I find it makes life and the world more interesting.
6. Wood polish. Another strange one, but sometimes when I smell wood polish, memories are triggered. Some are bad, but many are great. When I’m at St Paul’s the smell of the pews remind me of things. I remember weddings, funerals, school, and home.
7. Hot Water Bottles. I think hot water bottles are the greatest invention ever. They are even better than the wheel, and sliced bread. This probably has something to do with living in Canada. I like Canada but it’s just too cold!
8. Discounts. I like when someone gives me a discount. I especially like discount cards where the card gets punched each time I make a purchase and after ten purchases I get a percentage off the eleventh purchase. They give me something to look forward to.
9. That moment just before you unwrap a present. The expectation of the unknown present is the best thing about Christmas. When I was a kid I loved looking at all the wrapped packages and shaking the hell out of them as I tried to guess what might be inside. As great as the presents might have been they were never as great as the fun and frustration of trying to figure out what was inside.
10. A New Year. I always enjoy looking forward to the new year. So much to do. So much to see. So much to plan. May it be a good one!
January 1, 2012. How should I start?
The Tackiest Tree Topper In The World.
Christmas for me means decorations that cause laughter. There is no evidence of Martha Stewart in our home at Christmas. My daughter wanted an angel for our tree, and she is very pleased with the fact that it lights up and changes colours.
