Art for the Inner Child

2009-07-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

This blog is being laid to rest! If anyone would like to contact me you still can through my website at: www.yessy.com/ladyleo912

2009-07-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

Watercolors can be fun. I have to sike myself into it. I suppose I can work them in an abstract way that could be interesting.

I guess I'm still feeling guilty about not doing anything to contribute to the universe and in my belief creating art is a contribution.

I have to find ways to stimulate and inspire myself.

I found another cousin that I never knew on Facebook the other day. We've been emailing each other ever since. Facebook is an excellent communication tool! If I didn't have it right now I'd have no contact outside of my immediate family. I'm logged on all the time; always looking for some kind of human contact albeit remote.

2009-07-21T14:53:00.000-07:00

The night before my father's kidney stone surgery and I'm a little nervous about it. I just wish he didn't have to go through it.

Nothing special happened today and I have nothing special to write about. I probably shouldn't be writing at all if I have nothing to say.

So I won't bore you all with a lot of 'nothing.'

Things to Do

2009-07-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

I'm going to have to go back to watercolors which also means go back to drawing. I don't have any excuses for not doing it and I think it's something I should be doing. I need to be an artist in order to feel more fullfilled. When I finish writing this I'll go get myself setup. While I'm down there I should clean up in the studio; get rid of the turpenoid that's sitting out and put all the tubes of paint away. It will be nice to have some new artwork to put out again.

Party

2009-07-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to a good party later today at Ken and Allen's lake house. Wonder if they have a house that's unoccupied that Addi could keep up for them? Must find out. Other than that little piece of importance I just want to have a good time.

It's now Sunday and I had a very nice time at the party. The house is beautiful and right on the lake. Boy, I'd love to live in a place like that!

Ken took us for a boat ride but there were so many people around him I didn't get the opportunity to talk to him about Addi staying in one of his houses. I may ask Helen for his phone number and give him a call later in the week.

I'd Rather Watch Westerns

2009-07-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

The word for the day is 'boring.' Dad was watching the British Open golf tournament most of the day and I discovered that I'd rather watch westerns!

Thank God for Adija! Her calls break the monotony and give me a chance to talk to my best friend at the same time! I'm glad she has been calling every day because my mom doesn't have free long distance so I can't call her.

I'm home now and relaxing with my laptop instead of sitting uncomfortably at a desk using my mother's computer.

Tomorrow is really going to be different -- I'll be with people at a party at Ken and Allan's.

I'd Rather Think of Paris

2009-07-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

Today started off cloudy and drizzelly but it turned sunny and beautiful. It's not that way everywhere though, my online friend Nancy is having a terrible time because on top of her loneliness it hasn't stopped raining for days. She hates where she's living and I do too except I am grateful to have the opportunity to help out my mom and dad. There doesn't seem to be anything good right now in Nancy's situation. I wish I could help. I'd invite her here but then she'd really be bummed! There's nothing to do here but see an occasional movie.

I'd rather think of Paris and how great it's going to be. I see myself thinner so that means I'll lose weight in time for the trip. I don't see rain either so that means the weather will be perfect for us!

Paris

2009-07-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling better today -- no tears, no feeling sorry for myself and a surprise phone call from Adija!

We're going to take a trip to Paris and leisurely enjoy the "city of lights." I can truly picture us sitting at an outdoor cafe enjoying the sights while sipping on a great cup of coffee and deciding what museum to visit. Later we'll stop again for a glass of wine and a bit of cheese and bread. It's going to be terrific for both of us!

Feeling Funky

2009-07-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

Today I'm feeling funky. Ran out of my medicine the other day and that is not a good thing to do. You would think I'd learn by now.

It's beautiful outside but also empty. What good is a pretty place without friends to share it with?

At least dad got to play tennis. He's always in much better spirits after playing and today was no exception.

I met another cousin that I didn't know before online again today. She's 9 years old and wanted to know if my cousin Jan was her uncle's x wife. How cute!

Farkle and Other Games

2009-07-13T18:32:00.000-07:00

Today I've been playing Farkle. I wonder if it's a real casino game? I'm not a casino goer so I wouldn't know. I play it on Facebook.

I'm enjoying my time on Facebook getting back in touch with old friends; meeting relatives I didn't even know I had (and loving them!) and making new friends from all over the world by playing Fairyland.

Fairyland sounds so stupid doesn't it? But...it's not what it sounds like and it's through this application that I've made a really good friend with a woman named Julie from Leeds, England and another named Nancy from Vermont, USA. I've met other artists named Lou Majors and Daniel Vest from here in the states and others from Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Japan and Ireland.

Making friends is a good thing. Being able to converse with them each day is even better since I have no "in person" friends where I'm currently living.

My best friend Adija is in Maine for the summer without easy access to an internet connection so I don't get to speak to her as much as I'd like and I miss her a lot!

Meeting Kevin

2009-07-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

Returned from my mom and dads a little while ago. What a joy a baby is to have around! My parents just completely light up around the baby -- it's wonderful!

I just met a cousin I didn't know before on Facebook! What a nice guy! I'm going to enjoy this new relationship, albeit online.

Here's something he began in blog mode on Facebook:

Humidity and I don't get along. Our relationship is antagonistic and has only gotten worse recently. She relentlessly pushes (and makes me loosen) all my buttons, wrinkles my clothing (forcing it to cling to my body), screws with my mood every time she visits and provokes my poor sweat glands to shift into overdrive. Not to mention the fact that every time she's around I feel drained and lethargic. She's no friend.

Then a whole dialogue began where other friends continued the story in different ways. Very entertaining!

Waiting for Leah

2009-07-12T08:44:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday morning and a Facebook friend from Leeds asked me to care for her virtual garden today. Big responsibility! So I woke up and went straight to that application to make sure that all was well.

I'm eagerly awaiting a call from my mom saying that my niece has arrived at her house and that I should come over to visit.

Spent all night on the computer into the wee hours of the morning and am feeling a little groggy this morning.

This painting is called "Coming Out" and is one of the few paintings that I completed since moving to Hickory, NC.

I miss Asheville! It seems that there was always something around to inspire me there.

I Love Science Fiction and Orson Scott Card

2009-07-11T15:48:00.000-07:00

All of the paintings I'm posting were painted about one year ago and this one is no exception. "The Red Planet" was painted after I read one of Orson Scott Card's sci-fi books. He's been my favorite author for several years now. If you've never heard of him and/or never tried him you definitely should. Of course, it would help if you were also into science fiction. I would recommend beginning with a book titled "Ender's Game." Then, if you like it you can do the whole Ender series which is great! Or...try "The Worthing Saga" that's one I'm about to read for the second time.

I Can't Paint on Just Weekends

2009-07-11T15:47:00.000-07:00

I have been having a very hard time painting since I'm now with my dad full time during the week. I could possibly get in a couple of hours after I get home each day but that doesn't work out since I really prefer starting in the morning and working into the afternoon. It's more peaceful in the morning since my son and my dog sleep later than I do. I'm starting to feel down right funky about it.
If I painted with acrylics it would be different. Acrylics dry quickly which enables you to finish a painting in one sitting. With oils you can only go so far before you need to stop to let what you've begun dry. That takes days. That's why oil painters always have several paintings in the works at all times. It allows you to always have a canvas that can be worked for a while.
I've begun this blog to give myself something a little creative to work on though I'm not sure that I'll have enough to write about. Everyone says to use a blog like a diary. But I'd rather have teeth pulled then share my innermost private thoughts with an audience! So, I guess I'll just write like I'm writing today. Who knows there may even be someone else to read it some day!

Third try is a charm!

2009-07-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

This is my 3rd attempt at creating this post. Just not used to the process yet.

All of my oil paintings are on stretched canvases (forgot to mention that earlier).

"Sail Away" is another one of my favorites. It measures 18 x 24 inches.

2009-07-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

Here is another painting done in the same time period as "Oriental Influences."

This one is titled "Lady of the Mist" and also measures 24 x 30 inches.

2009-07-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

"Oriental Influences" is an original oil painting that measures 24 x 30 inches.

I painted this while seeing a Chinese Acupunturist in Asheville, NC. I was drinking all kinds of herbal teas and taking a variety of Chinese medicines that tasted horrible but actually made me feel good. This painting 'feels' of that connection.

Today is Saturday

2009-07-11T06:14:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday morning and my friend Nancy Barber suggested I start a blog so here I am.

I've got lots of paintings to share so I guess I'll start there and see where it goes.