Florescence

With my fingers numb from the cold, I walked through my garden this morning and picked what I am sure is my last bouquet of the season.  Looking at these flowers, you might imagine my garden to be full of lush and colourful growth.  But no.  So much has died in the past week from the cold.  I was very lucky to find these valiant and beautiful survivors.

I always feel a little sad at this time of year.  Part of me goes into mourning as the annuals die and the perennials, shrubs and trees go into hibernation.  This year in particular I feel guilty that I did not look after my garden the way I normally do.  I wonder if it will forgive me.  I think it will. With a garden, there is always the promise of next year.

This year, I have had my paintbrush in my hand far more often than my garden trowel.  My computer mouse too, as my girls pointed out to me yesterday.  The past few months have been tense, intense and exhilarating as I learned how to be and became a blogger, a Photoshop operator, a digital printmaker and an Etsy shop owner.  As of this week, I even have a Facebook page for Trowel and Paintbrush. I certainly wouldn't have predicted that a year ago.

Many years ago when I left the corporate world where I worked in public affairs and communications, I chose the name 'Florescence' for my art business (initially a line of greeting and gift cards based on my watercolours).  The word 'florescence' means blossoming time and that seemed like an apt name for a business owned by someone who loves flowers so much.  Symbolically, it also fit in terms of what happened when I started concentrating on my art.  I blossomed.  Making time for my painting this year after leaving it to the side for such a long time has been transformational. I have had wonderful encouragement from family members and friends (you know who you are). It led me to my blog, the friends I have made here, my Etsy store and a lovely group of artists who have encouraged me there.  I am painting. I am writing. I am learning. I am happier. I am blossoming again. ❤

Walking to Work

September 1st. A day attached to so many changes and new beginnings.  Today, my youngest daughter begins high school. (In Quebec, high school is from Grade 7 to Grade 11.) My eldest is now in Grade 11. I'm sure that my youngest had butterflies in her stomach as she waited for the bus this morning. I will admit to having some in mine too. I know that she will do beautifully, but it is a big change all the same.

Now I have longer days to concentrate on my own pursuits. I am more determined than ever to get my art career back on track. I need to make sure that I am spending time each day in my studio. I also need to allow myself computer time to continue learning Photoshop (the beast!) and to get more comfortable scanning and making digital prints of my paintings. I have long lists of things in my head that I want to do. But, most important, I just need to paint. When I started this blog, part of my thinking was that it would keep gentle pressure on me to stay focused on my painting.

A while ago, I read about husband and wife musicians who worked at home on their farm.  They began each day by 'walking to work'. What a good idea! It's a way of physically signalling that the work day is about to begin. At home, it is so easy to become distracted and sometimes, in a creative sense, paralysed. So my faithful companion and I began our day today by 'walking to work'. And now, with my cup of coffee in hand, I am walking upstairs to my studio. Wish me luck. I hope to let you see some paintings I am working on in the days ahead.