Time Out

Sometimes I have to get away -- out of the city, out of the traffic, out of this metropolitan area I live in and into the natural world. So I love it when my friend Nancy calls and invites me to a city where she is attending a conference. We rent a car and take our cameras out into the wilderness. Last week it was Utah. Nancy's conference was in Salt Lake City, so we traveled to Zion and Bryce National Parks. It was cold and snowy, but wild and beautiful. This shot was sunrise on the Virgin River in Zion. We were standing knee-deep in powdery snow, freezing to death, but exhilarated by our surroundings. We hiked as best we could on ice-covered trails, and drove down roads we shouldn't have. Each moment outside filled us with joy. We soaked it all in.

Kolob Canyon, Zion Nat'l Park, Utah

Approaching Holidays

Every year around this time I promise myself that I won't be so frazzled NEXT year. So far, every year has been the same. Never enough time to cook, buy, wrap, send, visit, hug and kiss. It's getting easier though, since I no longer stress over Christmas cards! Thank goodness for the internet which makes it possible to shop in my pajamas any time of the day or night. Also can contact friends when I think of them instead of waiting for a reasonable hour for a phone call, or days later for a card to arrive. Yes, the internet is wonderful.

2009 has been the busiest year ever for my art business. I have painted more variety this year, and added some new skills. In addition to lots of abstract paintings I've painted quite a few landscapes, and just in the past few weeks, lots of cows. Lots of resin, carvings, castings, and encaustic. I took a workshop and learned image transfer to fresco, but haven't perfected that yet.

I lost a good client this year, by virtue of becoming business partners with her long time employee. We formed a new company in 2009, an art consulting firm, Art-Centric LLC. We were fortunate enough to land a big contract early in the year, artwork for the public spaces of the JW Marriott Hill Country resort and spa in San Antonio, TX. The project is now drawing to a close. It's been a great time, and big challenge for our first year of business. We've been blessed.

It's been a good year for love, too, since I started dating after a long hiatus! We've taken a few trips together, and bless his heart, he's a pilot and flies me around anywhere I want to go on his passes. I hope to take advantage of that a little more in 2010.

I moved my studio out of my house and into a 3,000 sq ft commercial space a year ago, and it was a long transition as I learned to paint in the new space. Now I love it, and have even gotten used to driving to work instead of rolling out of bed into the studio. It's good to have that separation of work and home.

It's been a good year overall, and mostly I have my partner Margie to thank for that. She's a gem, and we complement each other well. I'm blessed, WE are blessed, and I can happily close out this year and welcome the new one.

May each of you source the things that make you happy ~

I spent yesterday at the keyboard, and looks like I'll be doing the same today. I am developing photo montages for a golf clubhouse. Not something I'd ordinarily do, but it's part of the project and I said "yes".

Early morning business calls made me forget I was on vacation. It's cloudy here on my first morning in Berkeley, but the blackberries are ripening in the back yard and I'm having them for breakfast!

After flight delays, lovely to arrive in sunny California. Sorry to leave my partner with stacks of paperwork, but really happy to turn it over to her! Helen is leaving tomorrow for her trip and I'm housesitting in Berkeley for two weeks. YAY!

Getting on a plane this morning, headed out to northern California. Leaving Debbie to take care of the house and dogs, the vacation will take care of my spirit!

Played "angel" tonight to a group of people in transformation. What a treat.

More paperwork today - plus working on a painting mockup for approval.