Friday, December 31, 2010

Day Three Hundred Sixty Five: This End is A New Beginning

I guess this has been a winding down to this day rather than gathering to a crescendo. Like a watch that needs to be wound runs slower and slower, my attention nudging away.
Here it is then, New Years Eve. In terms of my original agreement with myself, I am finished with tonight’s  submission.  And was it worth it? I guess so.  But as of today, I am relieved.
And a little disappointed.  
I know I will see fruits from the seeds planted this year in the art to come, but my ego says I should have done more. Grander, more imaginative work showing more experimentation with materials and raw ideas. And better writing.  Perhaps more about my life using less obtuse references. Maybe so many things could have been different. But they weren’t.  This is what I did in a year of daily production, amid work and family and lots of cycling.
Which brings me back to New Years Eve, and by extension the new year.   
I will not make pronouncements this year as to specific actions, save for the 5000 or more glorious miles of cycling I hope to ride this next year.  I renewed my life with cycling this last year.  Somehow I had forgotten what I have lived by most of my life: riding my bike alters the fabric of my existence. My body of course is spry, fit, handsome from the exercise; but better yet, my mind has time to clear, to quiet, to ponder. I remember to be happy.
So this I will say, good love is in the air, I can feel it. This is going to be a banner year for all. New ideas are brewing. The freefall of the last few years is over. The attitudes have come full circle. Innovation and independence are surging . I feel it in the energy around me. I can’t help but breathe it in. I am excited to drop the ball at midnight and begin fresh, full of expectation.  Until next year, and the next urge, I am off riding into the next scene, the next project , the next fleeting bit of form that I can conjure. See you there, I love you.


Friday, December 31: Pastel, Old Art, Bikes (Thanks Mom!), a wink, a prayer and an Auld Lang Syne. 

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Day Three Hundred Sixty Four: This Too Shall Pass

You were expecting something more? 


Thursday, December 30: Sharpie on paper

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Day Three Hundred Sixty Three: Apathy and Excitement

Strange bedfellows.
I am glad to be coming to the end of the year and yet I will miss this.
And then, there is the next project. 
What is that you say?
I have a couple days to decide how to start.
Then I will let you know.

Wednesday, December 29: Sharpie on paper

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Day Three Hundred Sixty Two: Oblivion

Beautiful Oblivion.
What is a black hole? Where does it begin and if it never ends, does anything else exist?
I look forward to more happiness, love, awareness, clarity, guidance, creativity, bike riding, sex and joy.
At the same time I long for solitude. I think most things on the list above can also be accomplished alone.
Perhaps not as well, And perhaps, at least where sex is concerned, technically, it is called something else if there is no one else participating with you.




Tuesday, December 28: wishes

Monday, December 27, 2010

Day Three Hundred Sixty One: Blow Off Earth

I was driving today. If you have ever driven the Palouse you know how the terrain can change as the fields roll. Well, a couple of times today, vertigo hit and I felt like a mere fluff that could just blow right off the Earth and into oblivion.


Monday, December 27: Sharpie on Paper

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Day Three Hundred Sixty: !

Holy Cow.


Sunday, December 26: farewell seasonal light overload

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Day Three Hundred Fifty Nine: Merry Christmas to All

Peace on Earth.

Saturday, December 25: acrylic paint on paper

Friday, December 24, 2010

Day Three Hundred Fifty Eight: Winding Down

Why does it take the end of the calendar year to reflect and learn and move forward with new plans. Technically, everyday, every minute is the start of a new year and can be treated with the same wide-eyed wonder and excitement that the calendar celebration brings. But, I will take any chance to start fresh.


Friday, December 24: photo of eagle grounds and fog.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Day Three Hundred Fifty Seven: Lather, Rinse, Repeat

it looks the same, but its different.
it looks different, but its the same.

Thursday, December 23: sharpie on paper, 9x12

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Day Three Hundred Fifty Six: What Scale Are You Using?

What is your measure? How are you defining that? So much of communication is learning what terms we share. Even so, there are so many nuances. Goodness. I have said too much already. There is less to be misunderstood in silence.


Meanwhile organic notions continue to play.They need a larger playground.


Wednesday, December 22: Pastel and Sharpie on paper

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Day Three Hundred Fifty Five: Forward Motion, Pushed or Pulled?

Oh man, 10 days left of the year. 
I generally don't like to dwell on the success or failure of the last year. I don't have time, the new one is near, all fresh and ready for debauching. 
Ideas, possibilities, time.... all ready to be used, abused, invested, squandered, spent and enjoyed. 
God, what do you think I should do? I know you allow for days of rest. And for joy and love. I bet you like adventures and biking and music and the wind in your hair. And mountain vistas and a good book. Probably even know what I like.
I am certain a good plan is already in motion.


Tuesday, December 21: Sharpie on paper. 

Monday, December 20, 2010

Day Three Hundred Fifty Four: My Eclipsed Eclipse

In lieu of a photo of an eclipsed moon, I will give you a photo of a major star in my world rotation:

Monday, December 20: Photo of new teeth

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Day Three Hundred Fifty Three: The Wild Returns

Into the wild and back again. It was a quiet revolution. I enjoyed my day and the company without once reverting to the childhood patterns. Are we more mature? I hope so. Relatively so.


Sunday, December 19: Montana light

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Day Three Hundred Fifty Two: Oddly Montana

At the spur of the moment I find myself in Montana, a seasonal tree ready to adorn. Seasonal spirits at the ready.  I could surely do with less treats and more cycling. Now is not the day for that. More banana cream pie please. And brownies, wink, wink. 
And strings of lights
Weeeee


Saturday, December 18: sharpie on paper

Friday, December 17, 2010

Day Three Hundred Fifty One: ReCycle

While I was cycling today I pulled over to pick up some trash. It turned out to be yet another of the plastic shopping bags that are everywhere. I picked it up with the idea somewhere in my head that I would collect some good points. And then my ego jumped up and wanted to know whom I could tell, how to get the message out that I stop to pick up trash, even when no one is looking. 
Silly ego. You know you can't keep a secret. And by telling you negate the good that the deed did. You can't be selfishly selfless. 
Can You? Perhaps it is the only way?




Friday, December 17: sharpie on paper

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Day Three Hundred Fifty: Leaf Me Alone

A single leaf. Alone on the page. 


Thursday, December 16: Pen, Sharpie on Pastel on Paper.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Day Three Hundred Forty Nine: I Slink Towards Year End

As year end nears I feel relief. Not planning a big finale. I am enervated.


Wednesday, December 15: Sharpie on Pastel on paper. 

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Day Three Hundred Forty Eight: One Step Closer

More papers to sort, more revelations to make. 
And burdens fly and I make new paths. I am open to new thoughts. 
I am waiting!




Tuesday, December 14: Sharpie on Paper

Monday, December 13, 2010

Day Three Hundred Forty Seven: I Swaggered

I finally got out and rode today. It was mid-forties at eleven so I found some path and took off. It had been a number of days and I was feeling grouchy about it. It was ten miles of beautiful, amazing, invigorating, mind quieting and fun. All the things I expect and rejoice in. Afterwards, I had an errand to run and I found myself in a full on swagger as I walked across the parking lot and through the store. I caught myself and laughed, then continued. Hells yeah, I kick ass.

Monday, December 13: Sharpie on Pastel on Paper, 9x12

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Day Three Hundred Forty Six: I Saw Something

It was like a vision of a large, complex painting. It was a painting I am going to do I suppose, it incorporated elements of all the things I played with this year. It went on and on. It is going to be a steady handed bitch to complete but it sure made sense of the last year.  All the elements explored for days to weeks: ready to mix? Aw crap, more projects.


Or maybe it was cat dander confusing my brain.


Meanwhile, my armchair pursuit of the bike lead me to Stumble all day off and on, on my phone, only to Bicycling related websites. And that lead me to this:


Sunday, December 12: Sharpie on Pastel on Paper. 11x15


Meanwhile, I am learning that there are lots of my kind out there. Artists, cyclists. Perhaps I should mingle. 

Day Three Hundred Forty Five: Two Paw Smack Down

Move over, New personality of influence. 




Saturday, December 11: Sharpie, watercolor on paper

Friday, December 10, 2010

Day Three Hundred Forty Four: Shameless, Poor Imitation of Myself

I take to little time some days for art. And it rebels and shows poorly. My apathy is peeking out.


Friday, December 10: sharpie on paper

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Day Three Hundred Forty Three: Heartbeats

I am ready. Really. Let's do it. Thank-you.




Thursday, December 9: sharpie on paper

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Day Three Hundred Forty Two: Building A Tree

One Leaf at a Time.






Wednesday, December 8: Sharpie on Pastel on Paper.

Day Three Hundred Forty One: Expanding Possibilities

Simple action on a simple plan will take me further than the most complex, completely drawn out plan with all possibilities accounted for but no action. 
Time to move and shake.


Tuesday, December 7: Pastel and sharpie on paper, 9x12

Monday, December 6, 2010

Day Three Hundred Forty: Reflected Reflection

Whew:
By now I should be all full of wisdom learned by this project. But I never talked about it.
I think that is the problem. I never talk about anything that is going on in my life. Not really. I am horribly closed and non-forthcoming. Perhaps my story is interesting. Perhaps not. I am loathe to tell it. Instead I thrash about looking for another tale to tell. Something I can use, but its not me, not at all.
Sigh. 
This is what I know. While I did this every day, I would not say I was faithful. But I did learn something about the materials daily. And I gained a whole new ease working around other people. When something has to happen, you have to work in a lot of surroundings or never go anywhere at all. And I did play with friends.
I feel like I developed a lot of small images that are going to all contribute to a large, slow to produce, intricate piece this next year. That is all I can say about beyond the yoke of this imagining.


Monday, December 6: sharpie on paper, 9x12

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Day Three Hundred Thirty Nine: Leaf it to me

And that was a stupid pun. 


So many decisions to be made and action to be taken. Just keep moving and deciding.


Emerson said: An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory. 


I can see that.




Sunday, December 5: pastel, paint on paper, 9x12

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Day Three Hundred Thirty Eight: Innocence is hard to capture

I need to practice your face. I need to see you more.




Saturday, December 4: pastel on paper

Day Three Hundred Thirty Seven: Too Little

All my incubation period, sometimes it bubbles up into something.

I think I am going to take a class. I need to know how to do something. 



Friday, December 3: paint and sharpie on paper.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Day Three Hundred Thirty Six: Bicycle Advocacy

I like the sound of that. I found a job posting for a job in Austin. I am moving there soon and this job jumped at me today. I got truly excited about a job for the first time in a long time. I need to find out more. I don't want to just push paper, I want to ride all the bike paths and do research in other cities... say Copenhagen. 


Oh, a girl can dream. 


For today, I am doing this here and Facebook. These are two bike paths that I rode all summer and fall long. The top one I rode at least four times a week for months. The second one I hit on the weekends or early mornings. I like them both in the summer, but as you can see, the Washington side has no regard for cycling in the winter. The Idaho paths are plowed and accessible. In Copenhagen they have little bike path snow plows. Now that is awesome. But here, we have variances:




Thursday, December 2: photos of places I love to ride.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Day Three Hundred Thirty Five: Snowbirds Fly South

Of course I am getting winterized here. I am putting on a layer of warming fat, lazing around, ready to hibernate until spring. What I need is a man to laze around all winter with. Perhaps I would have something else to do besides eat more ice cream and draw this from my rear view mirror:






Wednesday, December 1: pencil on paper. 


Good to see you me!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Day Three Hundred Thirty Four: Is South The Right Direction?

I don't know. I just pick a direction and head that way until I bump into an obstacle and veer in another direction.






Tuesday, November 30: Sharpie on paper.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Day Three Hundred Thirty Three: 333 is Half Way.

And the devil is in the details. Small but noticeable when missing:






Monday, November 29: sharpie on paper

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Day Three Hundred Thirty Two: Peaceful Plenty

Yeah, symbolism rocks.




Sunday, November 28: Paint, sharpie on paper, 11x15

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Day Three Hundred Thirty One: I Have Wings

Oh yeah, I ate more turkey, and watched snow come down. 




Saturday, November 27: Paint, paint on canvasboard

Friday, November 26, 2010

Day Three Hundred Thirty: Misty Haze

Quietude. Yes Please.


Friday, November 26: Paint, paint on foam board.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Day Three Hundred Twenty Nine: Fast Feast

Like locusts they descend and consume all in the path. And thanksgiving is over. At least the cleanup crew has time to talk and hang out.


And there is some time to dream of above freezing climates and riding fast and far.


Thursday, November 25: Paint, sharpie on canvas board. 18x24

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Day Three Hundred Twenty Eight: Turkey Eve...

Jonesing for a ride, I give you this as I contemplate eating enough to power me through miles and miles and miles....


Wednesday, November 24: self photo with my lover.



Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Day Three Hundred Twenty Seven: Ice, Brrr, Fire Warm

Frigid cold weather somehow brings out the warmth is people. 








Tuesday, November 23: sharpie on paper, 9x12

Day Three Hundred Twenty Six: Thank You Snow Escape Friends

My drive was reduced tonight due to inclement weather. I am staying with a friend. Snow blowing fast on the prairie makes for super hazard. It is good day to see the kindness of the people around me. And the excellent spaghetti skills. 






Monday, November 22: Sharpie on paper, 9x12

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Day Three Hundred Twenty Five: I am blessed

My family is amazing. We sometimes grumble to or about each other, but we always step up to support each other. I am blessed. Thank you. And here again is the newest member. His skill set is still fairly limited but he has mastered smiling, looking cute and bringing out the smiles in us.


Sunday, November 21: Photo of Mr. Moo

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Day Three Hundred Twenty Four: Change is finding me

Some days I hear the universe screaming at me clearly. Time for change. Time to change. Times are changing... don't get left behind. Today was a big day for wake up calls. Time to change. That means a move. A fresh start. A new perspective. 
This time I pick Austin, Texas. All I have to do is store everything, tie up loose ends, rearrange my life and my finances, clear my head, stand up straight and get it done.


Saturday, November 20: sharpie on paper, 6x9

Friday, November 19, 2010

Day Three Hundred Twenty Three: The Write Way

Writing is beginning to capture my attention. More of that please. I just wish I had more to share. And of course, the fact I that I writing about writing, I have  even less to day.






Friday, November 19: sharpie on paper, 6x9

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Day Three Hundred Twenty Two: The Family Way

Today I can't help but see the beauty in my own gene pool. A pool I swim in. 




Thursday, November 18: A photo of my favorite boy. 

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Day Three Hundred Twenty One: Bad Questions, Bad Answers

Some days I feel like the questions are not the right ones. I might as well be asking the magic 8. To get better answers, I need better questions. Or to just shut up and get to work and let the answers work themselves out.




Wednesday, November 17: sharpie on paper, 9x12

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Day Three Hundred Twenty: I'm Special

Or so I heard today. I had to wonder though: is that like short bus special or I kind of like you special. I will go with the later until the former makes itself clear.
Tuesday, November 16: Sharpie on paper, 11x15

Monday, November 15, 2010

Day Three Hundred Nineteen: In the Pit of my Stomach

I walked into work today and for the first time in a while I was unhappy to be there. I have generally made it a point to be happy no matter where I am. But there it was. I want to do more, something else, something creative and inspiring and thoughtful. I was in mid walk to a mindless task when it hit me. Is this all there is?


Somehow my ego jumped up and told me that I am not using my talents. All the talents that god gave me, not being used. What should I be doing was my immediate question to the ill at ease feeling that ruffled my hair as it blew cold into my heart. I want more.

Damn ego. Just when I had this place wired. Just when I had befriended everyone here. Just when I thought I was here for the right reasons. Turns out my lessons here might be nearly learned and it is time to move on. Just like that, it hit me. It is time to move on. I do not know to where, but the time is nigh.

Now comes the time to search. As I hear it progress always involves risk. You can’t steal second base with a foot stuck on first. So. Today I clear the decks in my head and in my home and pray. What do you want me to do next?




Monday, November 15: sharpie on paper, 11x15

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Day Three Hundred Eighteen: Evolve or Die.

Choose or don't choose; that is a choice too.






Sunday, November 14: pastel, pen, sharpie on paper. 9x12

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Day Three Hundred Seventeen: I went to a movie

A true chick flick. Eat Pray Love. The boy I went with was laughing about all the estrogen in the room and then fell asleep. I cried a bunch through it, as is the plan when you see a movie like that. The scenery was awesome.






Saturday, November 13: sharpie and pencil on paper

Friday, November 12, 2010

Day Three Hundred Sixteen: I miss Anonymous

Remember back in the day when you could go somewhere without having facebook check you in and 300 of of your closest know about it. When you could get a coffee, look right and left a duck into a Disney film all alone and no one would ever know. 


Remember when you had nothing to live up to or live down to because there was no one to care unless you make a point of it. 


Well. No one really does. And even if they do, why do I care. And I don't really, but I do miss knowing that no one knows me as I try on new versions of me. 
Laurentia v. 52.11.12.11.43






Friday, November 12: Paint, pencil, sharpie, spit. on paper.