Age is just a number but…

…once that number begins to creep higher there is much that cannot be ignored.

Yes, I am enjoying the freedom of retirement, the pursuit of my art, the pleasure of grandchildren, and finding new friendships with like-minded folks.

However, I am not enjoying the, now, full-in-my-face realization that my body is no longer young and middle-age is rapidly becoming just a memory. My bones and joints and tendons are rebelling against my insistence on continuing to labor in my flower and vegetable gardens. Even though I have modified how I go about certain tasks, those modifications are now taking a toll.

Yesterday morning’s weeding chores necessitated a trip to the ER with a very painful muscle injury resulting in a pinched nerve. Groan! Rest, heat, painkillers are the prescription for the next week.

But what about all those weeds? And the cucumber and kale plants that I’ve not gotten into the ground? And my lovely patio garden that is a work-in-progress and so there is much left to do there?

Yes, age is just a number. Mine is nearly 63. And besides all that garden work, there are 1,063 things I still want to do before the final number.

above image, Lady on Scooter, Old Town Mall, Winchester

Cosmos Series

above painting, Morning Cosmos, second in the series.

 

Recently I posted that I am working on a new series of pastels featuring a field of cosmos.

The first painting in the series was Cosmos Nocturne.

 

Rainy Day Cosmos

Maggie’s Morning

A very special person left us yesterday. I never met Maggie but spoke with her on the phone and through emails and messages several times over the past year. She had been very generous to invite me to participate in a project of hers. She will never know how encouraging it was to have her notice my art. I am grieved  Maggie Price is gone but I  know she’d want all of us to keep painting as much and as often as possible.

Although I was very sad I decided to spend the day in my studio as a way to honor her. I took down a painting I had never been satisfied with and completely reworked it. I am dedicating it to the memory of Maggie Price.

 

Creative Freedom

Above image, working on one of my demos for Maggie’s book. Photographed by Karla Collegeman

I am pleased to announce that, Creative Freedom, 52 Art Ideas, Projects and Exercises to Overcome Your Creativity Block by Maggie Price, will be published by North Light Books and available at Amazon.com on March 25.

Over a year ago I was contacted by Maggie Price, well-known and much beloved artist, author, and pastel workshop instructor. She was beginning work on a new instructional book and asked me if I would like to be a contributor. Maggie had seen work I had posted on Facebook.

I was stunned, thrilled, flabbergasted and flattered and I worked very hard on the two pastel demos she asked me to do for the book. 

Unbelievably, Maggie was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. She is undergoing treatment and posts regular updates on her blog. She continues to be just as inspiring to all of us with her courage in facing this health crisis as she has been in her generous sharing of her creative gifts.

I am very grateful to be part of her latest project.