work and love
Work is love made visible. (Kahlil Gibran)
Grandpa Walton once said something along the lines of, "The only important things in life are hard work and love." I think the old coot was onto something. Better yet, if you can find work you love you're very lucky indeed.
Yesterday morning I was aware of a growing sense of unease and a feeling of being overwhelmed by all the things I had to do. Then I remembered that when this happens, nothing calms and centres me like work. As someone with a mood disorder I have discovered that the best medication is exercise. Always. So I ignored the laundry list of duties, went to the gym for an hour and a half, then spent seven hours on the above drawing. By bedtime I was calm and happy again.
Yes, I'm very lucky indeed, but now it's time to tackle all those things I avoided yesterday. :)
posted by andrea at 9:02 a.m.
13 Comments:
good for you for pushing through and you have something to show for it too! i like the rough feel to this painting ..chalky somehow. adds a lot of texture in a different kind of way.
Synchronicity. I had a conversation with someone about this the other day. And then yesterday heard an artist describe the work ethic as giving your life purpose and my downer mood was improved by sitting down in the studio and working, and puttering in the garden. (Now if I could just get motivated to do the gym...).
Lovely drawing, really like the movement in the sky.
The sky is rather Van Gogh-esque. Very nice. Glad it soothed you back into a happy place. Laundry can always wait.
What a nice Howe Soundish feeling your drawing conveys. As a stress junkie I can only appreciate your (and Grandpa's) wisdom. Works for me, too, which is why I am actually working my pretty ass off this morning on a manuscript I'd let lie fallow since our jaunt to Oregon.
Recognisably Pratt, but with a touch of Vincent in that sky, as noted by several others.;-)
Not sure I'd want to take my cue from the Walton Family, though!
very, very beautiful i love the flow ;)
you know Granpa Walton lived right here in Topanga and founded a theatre called the Theatricum Botanicum :D
Paula: Thanks, I've been having a little fun, playing around with textures, movement and colour layering with this kind of work lately.
Ellen: The exercise thing is always tricky to fit in due to its apparent low priority -- until I actually do it and see why it's essential to me. When I don't I really notice my mood plummet.
Ponita: The Van Gogh-esque aspect is a risky move in some ways, but I actually think it looks more like a late Emily Carr -- but then, she was also influenced by the redheaded madman so I guess everything old is new again. :)
Ian: It's actually a Cowichan Lake scene, but, being a drawing, it's impossible to tell of course. Hope you had a productive day.
Dinah: You're too hard on ol' Zeb and his Pollyanna Progeny.
Val: Really? I actually loved Will Geer. I read somewhere that he was in trouble with the during the McCarthy era by refusing to testify.
We all learn how to soothe ourselves from the getgo. Unfortunately most of us find destructive avenues with dead ends.
I think that you are brilliant for recognizing and choosing the right path.
Thanks, Donn. I have discovered (sometimes the hard way) that less constructive methods are not as effective as the constructive ones. Unfortunately the less constructive ones are easier!
Once again I read your words Andrea and realize how "grounding" they are! And once again I find myself away from home (on Vancouver Island and heading to Campbell River) and, again, your thoughts are an inspiration. Keep up the good work! Life is full of detours and landmines and piles of laundry! Sometimes you need to confront them. Sometimes you need to avoid them!
I love the water in this one. All your recent drawings (pencil paintings I like to think) are really interesting. Simple and complex. I've been off the blog reading for awhile. Glad to see you are still at it :-)
Sonya: Hope you're enjoying your getaway. As for laundry: does it *ever* end?
Nadine: I struggled with the water (I akways struggle with water) so I'm very glad to hear that it "works" for you. I looked for you on Facebook but couldn't friend you. Would love to know what you're up to!
Love it pure and simple. Very soothing and filled with love.
feel like stealing Sonya's comment, abbreviating it to "Detours, Landmines, Laundry" and turning it into a street sign, LOL!
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