Being home all the time doesn't bother me much. My cats are here, my art business is run from home. I can talk to my friends and clients online. I'm taking this time to get back into oil painting, shades of college years ago. I've spent most of my career doing other media aimed more towards pen and inks but have done painting commissions and projects once in awhile through the years. It's like riding a bicycle..once learned, it's always doable. Practice always helps, though, in any medium. I play around with it and enjoy myself because to me, that is what art is all about. I sell everything I make but right now I'm more focused on getting more creative, alone here in my studio. My stores do the selling while I relax and create.
My cats stick with me wherever I go in the house. When I paint, they sleep. Sometimes behind my easel, other times in their different cat beds. I take breaks when they come looking for petting and treats. Little buddies. Lily is only three and loves to play! She loves to rocket around, knock stuff off of tables and play with her toys. When she's resting I can concentrate. Matty and Farrah sleep mostly, watch birds and eat..being older. They think playing is for kittens!
My studio is my "safety place". I go in there and feel at peace. It's full of what I love..books, music and art supplies. Being away from the stress and craziness of the world keeps me centered. Why I moved from the city to the country. I prefer fresh air, nature and peaceful living.
My parents moved to a lovely town a half hour from me. They are doing fine, busy with their own lives. Dad writes his book and mom loves to cook and garden. We keep in touch by phone now that we're all self isolating. Their kitties love the house and property, equipped with a barn for them to explore, big trees and safety from predatory wildlife. Their old house used to have wild raccoons who came from the neighboring forest to eat the cat's food and there's was a threat of coyotes so this is much better. I'm glad everyone is safe, happy and they like their neighbors.
So in general, my blog will be about what is going on here at home. Might be a bit limited since I'm not outdoors right now but when the pandemic is over, I'll get back into travel, do a show or two now and then. My ambitious days of doing weekly shows in my youth are over. Having a bad knee that needs replacing, I prefer selling from my stores and not pushing my luck until I get the torn meniscus repaired. It's not going to slow me down too much though because I use the downtime to be busy in other ways. Artists are resourceful. We have to be. I'm well used to that by now, starting my business from a very young age. With no money and no help. I believe in that saylying, "If it's going to be, it's up to me."
