We Decided To Survive More

We Decided to Survive More

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We Decided To Survive More
oil on canvas panel
20 x 24 inches
This item is unframed
(click on the image to purchase)

Look, we are not unspectacular things.
       We’ve come this far, survived this much. What
would happen if we decided to survive more? To love harder?
What if we stood up with our synapses and flesh and said, No.
     No, to the rising tides.
Stood for the many mute mouths of the sea, of the land?
What would happen if we used our bodies to bargain
for the safety of others, for earth,
                 if we declared a clean night, if we stopped being terrified... Ada Limón, DEAD STARS

I've been thinking about muscles.

How they need to be stressed and then rested to grow, to strengthen and to become resiliant.  The balance of stress and rest matters - both equally important.  And for me, the struggle is always to embrace the rest.  I am happiest in motion.

And it is the same with our tender hearts, our feisty spirits, our burning creativity.  We must push and stress and exercise them, and then rest.  So while my muscles were pushed to the limit this month with 15 days of consecutive hiking, bouldering, cliff-climbing and sand walking, my insides were resting.  I was unaware of how needed it was.

​​So I was delighted and surprised upon our return to find clarity, energy, enthusiasm and boldness simmering up within me.  A desire to shake things up, explore, dive deeply, climb higher than I thought I should.  Where will this take me?  I cannot wait to find out. 

In the meantime, the studio is getting a coat of bold, dark paint.  OOOOOH!

What a mess! Ready for painters.

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​About the art: Beginning with a gesso'd canvas board and a rough idea of composition, I sketched the basics with a brush laden with thinned oil paint.  Slowly building the sections - working back and forth between colors and shapes, not lingering in any one place too long.  Coming back into the wet paint with chopsticks, rubber wedge, fingers and an edge of cardboard to rough up the smooth sections and add texture and veiny lines.  Stepping away before any section became too precious to me.

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Thanks heaps and bunches to everyone who has participated in several years of Reader Giveaways!  What a wild ride - over 75 pieces of art given away to lovely humans around the world.  I am just beside myself thinking about that!  WOWEE!  

The inner muse says it is time to do something different in the giveaway space...I am not sure what it is yet, but I am very excited to see what happens!   The suggestion box is open!  What would YOU like to see replace the monthly Reader Giveaway?  Leave a comment below!