A Rainy Day is a Studio Day

It rained all night and it is supposed to rain all day. It's good for the garden. I love the scent and find the sound comforting. It also means I have no excuse not to spend the day in my studio. I started cleaning it yesterday and need to continue my work. I am so tempted just to clear a spot in the middle of the mess and start a new painting but I know a cleaner, safer (yes, it got that bad) workspace would be the best thing.

I took these photos from the shelter of the back door this morning. I love how you can see the rain in the photos! Do you see the diagonal streaks?

The last painting I did was a commission. The customer requested two flowers of significance to her family but left the approach and composition entirely up to me. I couldn't ask for a more pleasant experience. Still, I am looking forward to doing a painting of my own choice. Plus, I have several watercolors from past months that are almost finished and are still waiting for final touches. I also have frames for some of my original watercolours that I need to assemble. I have new prints to create. Oh boy. So much to do. But first a clean studio.

I opened the screen door for Meeko to go out this morning and he immediately sat down. For the moment, he'd rather look at the rain than be in it. Maybe he'll join me in my studio later for moral support.

"The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain." 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

❤  ❤  ❤  ❤  ❤

Out with the Old, In with the New

I decided to start the new year with a major clean-up of my studio. Major. I promised myself not just to tidy up my painting table but also to deal with the piles of papers everywhere, the boxes of frames, the collections, the whatever (as I've lost track of what everything is).

I have been working on it the past week and I have made progress. I cleared everything off my bookshelf and rearranged things. I've gone through my nature collections and picked out my favourite things for display.

I attached some of my heart rocks to a frame. I hot-glued them right on to the glass. I love how it looks and we'll see if the rocks manage to stay attached.

I've sorted through my stacks of paintings. I finally framed the portrait I did of Meeko months ago. I've framed other things too--my own work and work I've purchased from other artists.

I've moved things from my painting table so that I can have more space. Last night, I was feeling pretty discouraged. I'm tired. Tired of cleaning and just plain old tired. There is a still a lot to go through and I was feeling like giving up. I'd rather be painting but I will stick with this. I figure a few more days and my studio will be in better shape than it has been in years and I'll benefit from it in the months ahead.

Here's hoping that your new year has started in a positive way.