1000 Fields of Roses

Finding The Centre For The Holidays

Another hot day, although the sort of heat that sneaks up on you by ramping up the humidity.
Got some pressies wrapped and under the tree, and it feels like I’m getting a handle on things!
I tried to take a photo of the tree lights shining on and through the ornaments…my hands aren’t as steady as they used to be.
There are a lot of colourful, but blurry photos.

Looks like a mess from that angle.
It’s still beautiful from the front, and further away.

Parts of this year have felt like a mess.
But I think they might look more beautiful from the right angle.
And maybe further away!

Christmas is coming, and I’m getting ready.
Still a good idea to stop and remember where my centre is.
🙂

Published in:

on December 17, 2024 at 9:35 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: bethel music, Christmas

Apprehension

My last post was a bit gloomy, I think…
Mostly because it was late, and I was tired, and everything looked a bit bigger than it should be – a feeling that nothing was quite right, and how could I fix it?
I knew it was likely to look better in the morning.
Some days, you just have to understand the “bleh” is temporary, and do the thing anyway.
So – that assessment is finished and submitted.
Yay! 😀

And for a dose of Christmas “cheer” –

Another “not my favourite but I like it when Home Free does it” song… 🙂

Published in:

Music

on December 14, 2024 at 10:03 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Christmas, Home Free

Waiting For My Brain To Spark

Don’t mind me.
I’m just procrastinating.

Again.

I realise, of course, that everything would be easier if I just jumped in and did it…
My assessment is due tomorrow, and my brain doesn’t want to formulate the sentences needed to complete it. Despite this, I still need to think up those sentences, put them in the document, and send them off.
Time is ticking away…

The prac work is done, although I can still look and see problems. The reality never really matches what I see in my head, and I have to stop myself overdoing it and making it all into a muddy mess.
The images are already uploaded to the assessment.
Therefore – they are done. 😆

Behold – a (final) pear.

I still like the pear.
And still couldn’t mix a bright enough purple for the background.

Here are bottles, mixed with light.

I’ll probably answer a few more questions.
Or watch a couple more YouTube videos.

The morning will be brighter!
🙂

Published in:

on December 12, 2024 at 11:28 pm Leave a Comment

Lighten Up

Another day of rain.
Another day of painting.

In other words – a good day!
🙂

We didn’t have any problems with flooding (yay!) and everything was nice and cool. Makes it easier to cogitate about paint and its application…

I noticed my bedside lamp was having a bit of a holiday outside today.

At least, its reflection was.

And I spent a large chunk of the day in my art room.
My paintings are probably ok to submit.
I’m just not quite happy with them. I’ll look at them again tomorrow.
At this stage, I still think there’s a bit more to do, but I also need to know when to stop. Too heavy a hand can make everything look a bit muddy and drab.
I’ll get back to my colourful habitat tomorrow,
and look with fresh eyes.

😀

Published in:

on December 10, 2024 at 10:49 pm Leave a Comment

Opening

Petals.
Life.
Both, really.

It’s been a busy few days.
I’ve been trying to get Christmas stuff sorted, but the days have been hot, and the town has been bustling. Frustrating. Crowded.
Did I mention hot?

Despite this, I have been feeling pretty good 🙂
I even made it to an exhibition opening this afternoon.
I took some photos of random flowers.

I even got some Christmas stuff!

This is not my favourite Christmas song…
But this rendition of it is fun.

Although perhaps slightly worrying…

Published in:

on December 7, 2024 at 10:54 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: ArtsConnect, Christmas, Home Free

Juggling With Pears

One, anyway…
I jumped in to the next stage of my pear-trait today. It went ok, although the background needs work.

I’ll have to wait for this to dry and then work on it a bit more.

I find I have to talk myself into starting each stage – it’s something I don’t really know how to do, even though I enjoy it when I actually start painting. A lot of my preliminary work is working out in my head how to do each bit.
As I’m not used to oil paint, I’m finding it hard to plan around drying times. I hadn’t realised that moisture in the air slows down the drying, and we’ve had a bit more rain recently than the canvas could cope with!
I think I’m getting the hang of it now 🙂

In the in-between times, I’ve been fitting in other things I need or want to do.
One of those things today was putting the Christmas tree up, and organising my other Christmas bits and pieces.

My gnomes have emerged for another Christmas.

Tree’s up.
Yay!

My beautiful angel 🙂
She has stood on top of my Christmas tree for 31 years now.
And will for many more.
❤

Published in:

Creating

on December 4, 2024 at 10:33 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Christmas Tree

Feeling Heavy?

Why not try defying gravity
…country style?

Published in:

Music

on December 2, 2024 at 9:01 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Austin Brown

Waterfall

Been a bit wet today.
We braved the deluge to get our fruit and veg, and got soaked doing it.
Otherwise, it’s been a lovely day.

The rain is still pouring through the gaps in our guttering, and the resultant waterfall is digging out some sort of pipe in our yard.
No leaks inside the house, though – this type of rain isn’t driving enough.
But I’ve been keeping an eye on the flood cameras.

Although I’ve taken a lot of rain photos lately, they’re a bit boring.
Here are some rain songs!

Have you seen it?

Thirty years ago – maybe even twenty – I would have been dancing in the rain.

These days, I’m a bit less adventurous.

Whether dancing, or huddled under a tree –
I hope the rain is falling softly and gently on you.
❤

Published in:

on November 30, 2024 at 9:29 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: A.R. Rahman, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Home Free, Romain Axisa

Tree’s Up!

Sadly, not mine…
(maybe next week 🙂 )

Went on an unexpected jaunt to the bright lights of the city.

Saw people we knew, and went to see the tree.

Yay!
Merry (early) Christmas!

We got there while it was still light, and had a look at the newly opened complex at the other end of the mall.

Complete with giant baubles…

The sky was beautiful

Lots of wafty bits 🙂

And – just like that –
Christmas steadily approaches!
❤

Published in:

Thinking....

on November 28, 2024 at 10:00 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Christmas

Pear-Trait

I need to start my oil painting assignment soon.
There’s still time until it’s due, but I’ve never painted in oils before, so I don’t really know how long each layer takes to dry.
I don’t really know much about it at all…

It would probably be easier to start, and work things out as I go.
I tend to think everything out before physically doing anything…I think that helps me to get it all sorted in my mind, so that I know what I’m doing with my hands.

Well…I can only try.

My first attempt will be a pear.
This one.