I'm back with the creatives!

I know you must be wondering what happened to my blogging. I used to read many blogs and would run across one every day with apologies for no new posts in months. At that time, I was wondering how the blogger could not find time to at least write a few sentences and post a photo or two---especially after having captured my attention with an interesting blog.

And here I am --- writing the same thing---but, I can assure you that I have been storing up inspiration for the next round of artwork.

I have painted an entire house and my studio (and part of a large workshop) in a neutral white color. So why wouldn't I crave those bright colors of the alcohol inks?

I separated my office from my studio. So now I shall not be distracted by Facebook and any of the other computer related chores that I allow to consume my time.

I have sold or given away many boxes of art supplies (Maybe not art supplies to some, but to mixed media artists---they are treasures!) and personal belongings. So now I have no reason to feel that I have too much stuff that I must dispose of and I have more space to use for the creative process. To be honest, I also have more in this area to work on, but I will work on that as time permits.

I have rebuilt and built dry laid stone walls for landscaping, added pine bark mulch to flower beds, planted herbs, flowers, bushes and trees. The stones, flowers, fruits, butterflies, birds, lizards and flavors are still providing me with textures, colors and images that I could have easily missed.

I have lifted concrete blocks and construction rubble left from original construction of house, huge rocks and boulders, learned to drive a tractor and done lots of exterior clean-up. Now I am ten pounds lighter and have a little more energy to create.

I now have heating and air conditioning for my studio. Since I work a lot with alcohol inks and the techniques that I try to achieve in some paintings are so sensitive to heat and humidity, this absence of heat and air really limited my ability to do large paintings. I can't even imagine being creative in 90+ degree temperatures. With the addition of new lighting, I am ready to roll!

And the best part---I love being in the country! It is so peaceful and quiet---except for those crickets!