Happy Valentines Day

I know I've been AWOL for a while. I've gone back to work and it takes up all of my time. I did manage to get a few days off and spent a day full of solace, painting the large canvas I had gessoed recently.

I had no intentions for the canvas. I just grabbed a bunch of colours, a few brushes and went for it. I find painting a good way to process events & feelings in my life. Things are so good now I can hardly believe it, yet there is a lot of pain and uncertainty in other areas.

So I got out my paints in the chipper colours and painted out my pain. Holding the brush, I dipped into my paints and felt the texture of the much used canvas becoming something new.

Newest Painting

I'm still working away like a busy bee. It's hard to believe the amount of work that goes into putting on an art show. Since yesterday was Valentines Day I went to get my hair done to do something nice for myself. That and I didn't want to show up at my art openings looking like someone who's been wearing sweatpants for the last 2 months.

I had also committed myself to making a painting for a local gallery's fund raiser. This economic crisis has lead to our arts funds being chopped. Galleries that previously had funding are really struggling now. It was a little crazy to offer to do it considering the amount of work I have to do with these looming deadlines. It didn't help either that I had a blinding headache all day.

I woke up to find all the tea gone and started drawing and painting on the LP cover I had prepped the night before. There's nothing like leaving something to the last minute. I decided to draw my super power socks and I didn't title it but it did get handed in.

It will be sold (hopefully) at an event on Friday.

Happy Singles Awareness Day!

Hallmark and the chocolate companies are laughing themselves to the bank today.

I'm completely wiped and have spent the day on the couch forced by my immobility to watch a series of princess movies. Heck two of them were Cinderella stories backed right against each other. My guess is, it's to remind all of us who aren't partnered up and hand feeding someone chocolate dipped strawberries right now, what we should be striving for. And for those of us who are watching television to escape the dripping looks of love between couples in the sunshine should all be sad and remorseful that our prince hasn't saved us yet. Every single last one of us deserve to be princesses and have our lives rescued by that perfect prince....

Right?

Well, as the 3rd princess movie was wrapping up and the brainwashing was taking hold, that thought crossed my mind. As I really thought about it, I remembered where I've been and what I've been through. I got over wanting to be a princess when I was 8. I also remembered the things that mean something to me and how grateful I am to be who I am, striving to accomplish good things without depending on the aid of another.

If I need flowers, I buy them myself. If I need chocolate, I get it myself. If I need to feel good about myself, then I tell myself that I'm worth it. I don't knock having a partner but I'm also not going to put off anything until that day. And if that day never comes then I will be everything I need. It can be hard but today I will I feel the complete gratitude of being the conductor of my own life.

Heck, I died my hair purple when I was 30, I ran off with my kids to attend university in another city at 32, hula hoop in the living room at random intervals and wear striped socks blatantly and frequently. I truly love being able to be myself without getting that look... you know the one.