Seeing my painters is always rejuvenating. They are ridiculously lovely people, who I always laugh with, am inspired by, and miss when we are apart. They are those people I can always come back to after weeks or months of being apart, and just pick up...talk about life, art, God, sex, art, studio practices, food, health, painting, significant others, friends, art, telekinesis, painting ....well, you get the idea.
I just love them to death, and wish we could be together more often.
Tonya, Jess, Steph and I saw McPeake on Wednesday night...with a pitcher of sangria. It was a glorious night.
Little miss Tonya, smiling, as always.
Classy pitcher
Wine-soaked fruit :)
McPeake warming up
Accordion and violin - beautiful
Pre-show, show (aka more warming up)
So happy we got there an hour early.
The crowds gather, most with wine or beer, and many with their four-legged friends.
And the sun went down...
Magical music filled the park.
Jess and Tonya
The lead singer encouraged us to do like their homeland Irish folk do, which was drink more and start dancing.
I can't wait for next Wednesday, when we go back to Pastorius Park to see Dukes of Destiny. For more info on the Free Summer Concert Series click here.
Ever think about that defining moment when you decided that you are an artist (for those artists among my readers)? I am not sure if I remember one, or even a few things that I experienced as a child that pin pointed my destiny as an artist. I think what I am trying to say is that I have always been an artist. I wasn't always comfortable, or proud, or brave enough to say it, but I know I have been preparing my whole life to be an artist. (This is kind of a funny though, because I believe that I will continue "preparing" for the rest of my life too. Let's face it, it's not a career like being a doctor or a lawyer...it's so much more beyond that degree.)
I love Bravo's "Work of Art". Yes, there are some fundamental things kind of wrong with the show from an artist's point of view, but I love it. I think that it is really fascinating to watch people go through a creative art process in 12 hours that would take me weeks to go through. I think that it really tests and pushes the contests to their boundaries in the best way possible. Tonight I watched the episode from 7/21 (last night). It was so intense. The challenge was to create a work of art based on that defining moment (or cumulation of moments) you had as a child, that made you the artist you are today. More than one contestant buckled under the pressure, and created less than impressive works; I think I would have struggled. It's such a heavy topic to deal with so quickly and so publicly. But I guess you'd be kind of a dummy to go on a TV show like that without those certain expectations (of basically being stripped naked on national cable television...in a different way than on Top Model).
All in all, the show is an inspiration and thought provoking for a young lonely artist (it's all I have until grad school starts in THIRTY DAYS [!!] ohmygod, I can't wait).
I found and read this on the wall of the bathroom in the spa I work in. I promptly went to the computer, found the original document, printed one for myself, and copied it here. I think it's important enough to share...even if you just tackle one thing on this list every day. I think it is the perfect list of things I need to practice daily.
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to__________ today.
I am thankful for______________'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it will not spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for__________.
Today I accomplished_________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.
