Three Things to Be Truly Happy

Cerys (love)

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"Cerys", "Amal" and "Bakari" - oil on copper panel, each 12 x 12 x .25 inches.  These pieces are unframed.  (click on the image to purchase)

They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for. - TOM BODETT

I'm certain I say this every year at this time, but where has the year gone?  ​

It has gone into over 135 paintings, 50 blog posts, a bazillion social media posts, vats of oil paint, gesso and walnut oil.  Dozens of demolished brushes and chopsticks, rolls of paper towels, reams of butcher paper, craft paper, stacks of canvases, Yupo sheets, wood panels and more.  And that's just in the studio!

Here in the blog we've tackled a ton of tough trains of thought sprinkled with malarkey and dappled with hope, exchanged heart-felt words and connected over the waves of cyberspace.

Amal (work)

Bakari (hopeful)

​In the wide world, things are tumultuous and still roiling, which sends this introverted turtle scuttling for her shell, mulling what really matters.  Bodett says it well - love, purpose (something to do) and hope.

Perhaps I've stumbled upon some of these things later in life (the last third, as we say here at home), but here they are and holy wow they are gooooooooooooood.  Mmmmm, mmmmm good.  And they are an armor of sorts in a world of anxiety and unrest.  Love, purpose and hope.  A formula for happiness.

This is the final post of 2024 as our wee tiny family will be adventuring for the holidays.  Wishing you and your loves big happiness during the merry season and beyond!

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​About the art: continuing my exploration of copper panel as a substrate, and my fascination with helmeted, faceless beings.  Once more embracing a more earthy background with a very modern figure in the foreground, keeping the background soft and the edges of the foreground more crisp.  These are androgynous beings - inviting us to dismiss gender stereotypes.  I'm particularly fond of Amal's beaded neckpiece, Cerys'  outrageous shoulders and Bakari's  dressy white shirt.  This trio has been major good mojo in the studio - more copper coming in 2025. :)

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It's the last post of the year, and your final opportunity to enter the December Reader Giveaway!  Leave a comment on any one (or more) of December's posts to be automatically entered to win a piece of original art - FREE!  The winner (or winners) will be announced right here in the blog during the first week of January.  Ready? Set? GO!