The Artists Life - The Important Things

   A man lies dying in a hospital bed and says the following to his doctor; "I spent my entire life stepping on people in order to get where I wanted to be, and now there's no one left for me. It's only now that I realize it's so simple. It's who you love and how you love. As for the rest of it - the rest of it never mattered." This is a powerful lesson found in the latest book I am reading entitled, The NOW Effect by Elisha Goldstein, PhD.

   "It is not too uncommon for people to spend their whole life waiting to start living." Eckhart Tolle.

   Now that I've thrown two very heavy and thought provoking quotes your way, how about psychology story. Trust me - this has a lot to do with art and being an artist. A philosophy professor stood in front of his class holding a large, empty bell jar. She began filling the jar with golf balls and when the balls reached the top, she asked her class, "Is the jar full?" To this, they all agreed. Then the professor took a bag of pebbles and poured them into the jar. Naturally, they filled the spaces between the golf balls. Again, she asked her class if the jar was full, and again they all agreed.

   The sly professor who was most assuredly trying to make a point, then produced and bag of sand and poured that into her jar, thus filling up almost all the remaining space. "It's full now, correct?" The class believing nothing more could fit into the jar proudly stated, "Yes!" The professor took a sip of her coffee and then proceeded to pour the remaining amount into the jar, filling very small voids that no one thought were there. "So what does this mean?", the professor asked. A smart-ass student raised his coffee mug and replied, "There's always room for coffee!" The students as well as the professor shared in a good laugh.

   The professor pondered the concept further; "Imagine this jar represents the space in your life. The golf balls represent what's most important - family, children, health, friends, and things you're passionate about. It's about the things that, at the end of your life, you would be glad you paid attention to. The pebbles are essential but less important - such as your house, car, and job. The sand is all the small stuff in life that you're trying not to sweat. Finally, the coffee - well, you've already answered that one."

   The professor continued, "There's room for all of this, but only if you put the golf balls in first. If you put either the pebbles or the sand in first, there won't be any room for golf balls. The way we pay attention to our lives works the same way. If you spend your attention or mental space sweating the small stuff in our lives, you won't have the capacity to pay attention to what is most imp[ortant to you."

   This story speaks to becoming more mindful of what really matters. Paying attention to the things that make you value in life is fundamental to your happiness. Is it your relationship to your partner, paying attention to your children, taking care of your body, making room for play, or living with greater ease? Time to make a list of what's truly important to you and me. What do we value? For me, it's my immediate family; my husband Dave, my children and grand-children, close friends, and even extended family. Second, my health, followed by my art, my home, car, and employment.

   This past Friday, Dave and I went over to our youngest daughter's house and spent time with her and her two young boys. Her oldest son, was studying about birds, parrots in particular, in school. He loves to draw, so we drew me a nice sketch which took about 15 minutes. When completed, he handed it to me and said, "It's a grand-parrot." We all stifled our laughs. It's moments like these that happen in an instant that makes our lives worth living.

   In the painting aspect of my life - you probably thought I'd never get to this part - I have been asked to teach a senior citizen art class in addition to my busy schedule that involves writing, my art sketchbook project that's heading to New York in the Spring, along with another commissioned oil painting. While it would only be one day a week, it's amazing what the process involves, and the organizations activities director and I have still yet to meet. I've already completed a pros and cons list, but I'll need more information before I can make the decision that's right for me.

   Creating a way to be aware of our values can help us break out of autopilot and guide us back to what really matters. So here's what I want you to do; get a jar and some golf balls or if that's not your speed, maybe some nice stones that aren't very big. Label them with something that really matters in your life. If you don't have a jar, (or golf balls or stones), you can always draw one. Actions do speak louder than words, so check to see where in your life are you actions to your values. Are you taking your partner out to dinner? If you have kids, are you spending, that wonderful 80's term, quality time with them? Are we responding to people as well as yourself with greater kindness and compassion without being a doormat? Are you involved with something your passionate about?

   Not to sound like a cliche, it's your life - make the most of it.
   Until nest time,
   Jill

The Artists Life - Roses In Winter

   For well over several decades, my creativity has gone down a long, winding path. For the past 12 months, I've been meticulously working on a special project, and yesterday, my husband Dave, procured the last bit of supplies I would need to finish it; and it will be completed 2+ weeks ahead of the deadline. It's a good feeling. Those feelings carry over to when and how I create - it's like a big circle. For example, when I create, I almost always have to be in the right mood. When I'm in that state of mind, the muse accompanies me just about every time. When those two aspects come together, I'm most often pleased with the results, whether the work is finished or still in progress. When I'm pleased, it's a good feeling. See what I mean?

   For me, it takes the courage of Hercules for me to sit my butt down, by myself, and focus long enough to begin something new. In most cases, the inspiration comes from a story someone tells me that might spark a vision to follow. Other times, it comes from an abstract of some sorts from nature. A few times, it has come from the photographs my husband takes and then shows me on his computer. If any of my readers live in the eastern two-thirds of the United States, or even if you don't and you've been following the news, just about everyone knows how cold it has been since the day after Christmas. If the temperatures aren't below zero, it's snowing like hell. I'll admit - it's been difficult to doodle snow; all I get is a blank white page. With the frigid temperatures, there has been incredible amounts of sea smoke out on the ocean water and in the harbor which is two blocks from my house. Sea smoke is like fog, and while it hangs low near the water, it looks like a cloud. The farther out to sea you go, the more sea smoke there is. It occurs when very cold air meets much warmer water. But being who I am, and possibly a typical (or untypical) artist, the gray sea smoke lost it's novelty after about a week. Maybe because I knew how cold it was outside and was getting tired of it.

   Dave and I watched a good movie last night with Robert Di Nero and Anne Hathaway, called The Intern. I related to Di Nero's character Ben right off the bat. While I'm not 70 years old nor a widower, he had traveled, read all kinds of books, tried yoga, joined groups, etc., but felt like he needed something else to occupy his time. He wasn't ready to just roll over, be old, and eventually die. He gets hired as an intern as part of a "senior mentor" program and the experiences with along with all differences between him and a slew of millennial's that work for this internet company is amusing to downright hilarious. He ends up partnering with the owner and CEO of the company whose name is Jules, and is literally young enough to be his grand-daughter. Throughout the movie, the relationship between Ben and Jules grows from awkward, to professional, to friendship. By the end of the movie, it seems that Ben is the person who Jules not only trusts the most, but confides in frequently. Through him, she realizes that she doesn't believe in herself as much as she says she does, she doesn't know it all, she can't do it all, but with a little help from friends, family, and close co-workers, she can accomplish these challenges. It also shows that there's no substitute for experience. I related to Ben's character because, like him in the beginning, I sometimes feel lost and drifting through my days while my husband is at work. And yes, I've tried yoga, I do Zumba once a week, I read all kinds of books, I paint, I write, I crochet - and yet it feels like I don't "do enough".

   At times, I wonder about the value of my paintings, my writing, as well as my life, as silly as that sounds. While I've sold a good number of works over the years, I've still created more than I've sold. I need to examine and find new ways for them to be seen this year... and hopefully sold. The literary / art project I'm working on this winter will help curb the tide of canvases coming into my studio.

   However, I had a glimmer of hope after watching the movie. Say what you want - "Jill... it's just a Hollywood movie." Yes, I agree with you. However, there was a specific message throughout the film; You're never too old to learn new things, and you're never too old... period.

   Until next time,
   Jill

The Artists Life - Come Sail Away With Me

   As I write this, 2017 has officially come to a close and 2018 is almost twelve hours old. My blog this week was going to be about a completely different topic, but a few days ago, I found out that a dear friend of mine had also left this Earth. He loved me as a father dotes on his own child. I am forever grateful that he came into my life. As quirky as we were over the years, he accepted my husband, two daughters, and I without judgement. He taught me many life lessons - the foremost one being true simplicity.

   Looking back over the decades, I have to admit that he was an uncomplicated man. What you saw is what you got. His small home and furnishings were, by most societal standards, sparse. There were barely any pictures on the walls, as he didn't want anything to distract him from the view from his house that was right on a lake. One of the most prominent aspects of his life that he cherished was peace and quiet. While he worked hard and provided for his family, I always found it ironic that he worked with noisy, heavy machinery for a paving company for years.

   It was a brief, odd journey over a few days last week that led me to the news of his passing. He had a very small circle of friends that he always kept private about, and according to his oldest son, he did not want an obituary published in any newspaper. I guess you could say that he was humble and modest to the end. However, he always supported me in my artistic ventures, even though he never understood my art. He commissioned an art work of mine for a neighbor way back in the late 80's, when I was just getting started. While he always did his best to appreciate my works, I always found it humorous by the look on his face that somewhere in the back of his mind he must have thought that many of my works were just borderline crazy.

    I remember his small home on the lake, his motorboat, his sailboat, my attempts at water-skiing, as well as the cookouts at sunset. He surrounded himself with beauty, and even though life had it's ups and downs, he radiated contentment about his life as well as his concern for others. Along with my husband, he gave the push to "...live the life that was ahead of me. Search for tomorrow. To try the best I can and to carry on." Even with that thought process, my life seems so vastly different than his. Maybe that's just the way it should be. I oil paint - hence, many of my paintings adorn my living space. In fact, my art seems to take over my living space. In order to sell my art, I have to dress up and put on a "show" of sorts. It seems that at too many times, I have to persuade people that my art and art in general has great value in our lives. Can you tell I don't like selling?

   But, if I don't sell my works, even when I just feel like giving them all away to good homes, I feel like I'm not projecting my worth and thus selling out. Selling myself short in other words. I put a great number of hours into my work and I (as well as many of my artist friends) believe our worth of being paid a fair market value. An elderly gentleman once told me, "... a pieced of art isn't completed until it's in the hands of an admirer." This was at a time when I was attempting to "move" some of my older works at inexpensive prices to make room for more current work. That technique did work as an ends to a means even though it didn't put a great deal of money in my pocket.

   We all know life isn't fair. We're not handed a "life is fair" card or certificate at birth or at any other time in our life. So - what am I going to do about it? I got motivated last year and showed at three different galleries in 2017. However, this is a new year with new possibilities. I am making contacts with more galleries for upcoming shows, as well as getting reestablished on-line and through art licensing companies. A new year... new possibilities.

   I am still alive. "The art of life is to live in the present moment, and to make that moment as perfect as we can by the realization that we are the expression of God himself. The best way to prepare for tomorrow is to make today all that it should be." - Emmet Fox

   "Do what you love." In loving memory of Pete Jalbert.

  

The Artists Life - Christmas Wishes

   It's Christmas Day 2017 and as I write this, it's snowing a pretty good clip as they say here in Maine. My husband Dave and I celebrated and exchanged gifts with each other, our daughters, as well as our grandchildren at three separate times. My youngest daughter's two boys are spending the holiday as well their week's vacation this year up with their father. As a result, we visited with them earlier than expected last Thursday afternoon and evening due to an incoming winter storm that arrived the next afternoon and lasted into Saturday afternoon. We all had a grand time eating home-cooked food, engaging in play as well as heartfelt laughter.

   By Saturday morning, the snow had changed to rain as the temperature rose to 45 degrees - and promptly washed away all the snow we received the night before. This was good news for our oldest daughter as she had to finish up some last minute Christmas shopping. We watched our two oldest grand-kids for over four hours so she could get everything done, home and hidden. We decided to give our presents to those two while they were here with us. It also gave my granddaughter and I time to get creative as one of her gifts was, as she put it, a "whoppin' art can". It was good to create designs and art projects from the heart and the imagination. My grandson and my husband are "pretty tight" as my grandson puts it. While the women created, the guys went into our den and Dave pulled out his toy car collection. He'll be 55 in 2018, and he still collects these little cars. He's done so for the past 51 years. He's passed a good number along to all his grandsons as well as our daughters. It's part of who he is and I think it's one thing that helps him stay young at heart.

   The festivities kept rolling along on Sunday as Dave and I went to our oldest daughter's house for a Christmas Eve gathering and meal - because yet another snow storm was coming tomorrow. The adults exchanged gifts and the grand-kids laughed as Dave had to plow through God-knows how many layers of duct tape. Sometimes I think I have a really weird family, but it's our creativeness and uniqueness shining through. My daughter gave me a framed enlargement of one of her photographs of a Maine harbor in the fall. The photograph was absolutely stunning!

   The best gifts and times are from the heart. Give me a piece of yourself - your imagination, your creativity, of what's truly positive inside you. You can't buy that at a store or on-line. Stepping back a bit in time, I received my first Christmas card this season on Black Friday. Ironically enough, one of my neighbors gave us a picture of herself and her cat. What could be more reflective of the giver? Over the past few weeks, we've received dozens of cards. Some were comical, others more serious and spiritual, one was of a Christmas tree full of photos of the staff of one of my doctors staff down in Portland. That one made me laugh because it was personable and unexpected.

   Here's my heart-felt gift to you. Most who know me, know that I'm a flower person. I've always liked poinsettias and I was moved to create a doodle and paint one that was inspired by a card I received last week. Enjoy!

   Until next time, enjoy all the holidays!
   Jill

The Artists Life - Christmas Angels

   Over the past year, seeing, or more to the point, being able to see, has been my main focus (no pun intended). If you remember, I began this year almost blind in my left eye. Believe it or not, I didn't notice any real difference at first. Then one day, while drinking a cup of tea (which blocked the vision of my left eye due to raising it to drink), and reading a book, I noticed the words I was viewing looked like I was reading through a funnel. I finally told my husband a few weeks later, when it wasn't improving, that I thought I needed a new pair of glasses. My husband whom has worn glasses much longer than I have and a family history of eye problems, told me to make an appointment with my eye doctor asap... like now! He very rarely "tells" me what to do, so I knew he was extremely serious.

   About a week later, my optometrist confirmed a preliminary diagnosis and promptly made an appointment for me at an eye surgery center in Portland about a week later. The diagnosis - a small hole in my macular which is part of my eye that's beneath the lens. My doctor and surgeon informed me that surgery was necessary or I'll lose sight in that eye completely. He informed me that he would insert a gas bubble into my eye and the pressure from it would close the hole. Needless to say, I was speechless from this consultation. However, he put me at ease and informed me he had done over a thousand of these same type of surgeries. I would be fine.

   Fast forward a few weeks later; the surgery went off without a hitch and I healed up just fine. The only downside to this process is that it accelerates the growth of a cataract to an extreme level - like within six months I would need cataract surgery. Fast forward again to last week; I had my cataract surgery and again my other phenomenal surgeon took care of me without even "batting an eye". While I'll need a new set of glasses in the next month, I can finally see out of both eyes. All the better to create and paint, my dears.

   Yesterday I had the chance to deliver Christmas cards as well as carol with my sole grand-daughter. We had a blast! As we walked around my neighborhood, we didn't even notice the chilly weather we've been having for the past few days.

   The bottom line is, we all have special gifts and talents to share with others to make their lives a little less sorrowful and that much better. Be sure to give a hug, or a smile, or even a casual hello. Don't let "just because it's Christmas" as an excuse to do it - practice it all year round. Spend time with someone who may not have the chance to spend time with friends or family this season. Spread the love and become a Christmas Angel. It will do you a whole heap of good as well.

   Until next time,
   Happy Holidays!
   Jill

The Artists Life - Wonder

   As the Christmas holiday quickly approaches, I am filled with a quandary; it's not a question as to whether to shop online or not, or what gift to buy, or just who to send cards to this year. I am swamped with mixed emotions. I realize that I'll never have the Christmases of my childhood back. In all reality, my childhood wasn't as bad as some other kids I knew, even though I lost my biological father at age five. Even at that young age, I had discovered art - I hadn't realized yet that it was an emotional as well as a creative outlet, but dang, was I having a blast! Looking back further, I never thought I would miss the loud, crazy chaos of a big family gathering. I'm a quiet person. So - what's my problem?

   I look out among the elderly people in my neighborhood and I know they won't be spending Christmas Day with anyone and I get instantaneously depressed. And I'm not even living their life. The days of having my own children to dote on are long gone. My youngest daughters kids are going to their fathers house for the holidays as well as vacation, so we'll be celebrating with them early. While I'll be celebrating Christmas Day with my other daughters family, her two children don't believe in Santa Claus anymore. We were all at a Christmas open house last weekend at a local transportation museum (which both kids love) and Santa arrived via a Cessna airplane. Even with all that hubbub, my granddaughter said to me afterwards, "I'm sure that guy who played Santa was good for the little kids, but he doesn't do it for me anymore." I wanted to cry. Our grand-kiddos are growing up, and it's getting a great deal more difficult to pull any wool over their eyes.

   The past is gone and the future hasn't arrived yet, so I wonder what this season will hold for us. I know it will contain the annual parties at several friends houses, church services and events, as well as visits with family and friends galore. However, my granddaughter said it best; "I just want to make people happy."

   One day at a time. I make myself happy with love, self-respect, and faith. I have to love myself before I can love anyone else. Note I didn't say "in love", but "love". If I was "in love" with myself instead of "loving" myself, I'd be a self-centered, egotistical bitch. Not fun. One way I made myself happy this week was continuing to dabble in my doodle series of works. I am happy with the results. Next month starts the sketchbook project that will end up in New York. I'm excited by the anticipation that I'm feeling now.

   As for another right now, since I've finished writing this weeks blog, it's off for a walk in the season's first snowfall. Fresh air, fresh snow, and fresh ideas for art works! Can't beat that!

   Until next time, may the small things that are ordinary bring you joy,
   Jill

The Artists Life - Windows To My Soul

   I just finished reading the book, Five Wishes - How Answering One Simple Question Can Make Your Dreams Come True, by Gay Hendricks. The author is at a party schmoozing, but he hates making small talk. He meets a fellow named Ed who asks him to "...imagine you're on your death bed, tonight or fifty years from now. Was your life a complete success? If you're life wasn't a complete success, what would be the things you'd wish had happened that would have made it a success?"

   Wow! How do you answer that? However you answer this pondering thought, this question penetrated to the heart of an issue he needed to face; What am I really doing here on this planet? What is my life purpose? Do I have a sacred mission? The author's first wish was for a long term loving relationship, which thank God, I have. Going on 33 years and still strong!

   Now take whatever wish you thought of and turn it into a goal, then bring it into the present tense. Right here, right now - as if it's happening at this moment. In the author's case, he could take that wish and say, "My life is a total success because I am enjoying a long and happy marriage with a woman I adore and who adores me. I'm enjoying a lifelong blossoming of passion and creativity with her." His wish did end up coming true because he decided to make a commitment to the woman he was with. He allowed love to grow. The experienced the same result with his second as well as his third wish, which was about totally completing tasks 100%, as well as completing a written record of everything of significance he learned while on Earth.

   Concluding his wishes were to feel the presence of God all the time; to know what divinity is and how the universe was created in addition to have the gift to truly savor life. He wanted to go beyond being here here now, for the magic of life happens in the now. Take it easy... breathe...

   For me, I can honestly say that I am content and successful in my day to day living. I've learned to call on God first everyday and meditate and I have my true soul mate. I've cleared the wreckage of my past, and I flow in the river of love daily. I continue to work at being genuinely happy and doing things for my own personal development. Still being able to create art after all these years, sharing it with others, as well as making a few dollars from it is just gravy in the grand scheme of things.

   "From the perspective of your death bed what matters in that your final breath comes in with the sweet satisfaction of a life fulfilled and goes out with the blessing of a life complete. Even in the perspective of right now, what matters is that your next breath energizes your intention to fulfill your destiny." The challenge is to change one's life. I was fortunate enough before it was too late to realize to take the action to change mine.

   Until next time,
   Jill