Grateful for Painting Journal Entry 5

On a good day, I get to spend a few hours of painting.  It is as necessary for me as breathing and as satisfying as a good meal.  When I don't paint, I notice that my heart rate goes up, I do not sleep as well, and I feel more stressed.   It is fortuitous for me that I can find a way to use my talent, skillset, and passion in my work.  

I am also grateful for the quiet time, the smell of the gesso, the sound of the paint dabbing on the canvas, and the tinkle of the jar of water as the paintbrush swishes back and forth.  It is in these times that I am most relaxed.  When I am in that zone, and the spirit moves me, I paint.

Samir Becic mentions many reasons in his book ReSYNC Your Life why painting is a good habit to begin.  Here are a few that are most important to me:

·       Improves concentration - Focus, you really must sit still and look at something when you paint.  We know that apples can be red but, if you really look at an apple, you might find that a red apple is also brown, burgundy, highlights that are pink or peach or white. The apple has dots or leaves, and it may cast a shadow or perhaps not.  This attention to detail will allow other problems in your life to vanish.

·        Critical Thinking Skills - Really, you must think about it, and when you paint as much as I do, you begin to think about everything as a potential art piece.  Sitting on the back deck, I see trees, flowers, plants growing, and I begin to consider what brush would I use?  How would I replicate that texture, what colors would I chose, and how much paint would be necessary?  Is that painting going to be large or small what angles would I use where I would want the focal point to be? When we paint, we become more decisive, more innovative, and much more confident about using these skills.

·        An excellent way to relax - As I mentioned before the attention to detail allows you to focus on one task and let go of all of the other things that trouble us.  Painting is a lot like meditation in this respect.  It fosters relaxation, and it relieves stress. 

The Robin

“Robins are territorial, and they do not like me,” 

Ray said as he recounts. 

"I had two of them trying to escort me off my lawn." 

A little tiny robin began to chirp; his redbreast thrust out for a fight. 

Chirp, chirp, chirp, and it flew near. 

Ray stood still. 

A half a dozen robins in the backyard are scavenging for food as the sun began to set. 

Ray took a step forward, and the robin began to chirp again and fly and dip and dive. 

A standoff commenced. 

Ray and the robin. 

The robin and Ray. 

I rolled my eyes and went inside. 

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My handwritten journals would be a mystery to you. Simple words, scratches, phone numbers, page number

My handwritten journals would be a mystery to you.  Simple words, scratches, phone numbers, page numbers, and notes from books and segments on the radio and newspapers I read.  Sometimes I write in full sentences, and sometimes I draw a picture or paint.  I have shortcuts and personal "codes" for the lack of a better word.  I might write a title or a phrase that is important to be followed by this -->>>>>>>> which means I want to research this idea or a word or phrase may look like this <<<<<-- love-->>> encased in these little arrows which reminds me it is essential.  Now and then the arrows become beaks of a bird, and a doodle will commence.  A journal is a creative place where I can be less distracted without pings and notifications of a computer or ap.  I do not worry about spelling, grammar, word choice, sentence fragments, and commas!  Researchers have found that by using a pen and paper, you see the following benefits:

• Increased Creativity
• Improved problem-solving skills
• Better memory 
• Critical thinking 
• Improved learning 
• Writing soothes the nerves 

I use both a computer and a pen and paper.  Once I allow myself the time to consider my ideas creatively, with pen and paper, I turn to Grammarly to help me with this blog, for example.  Here, I can focus on the more left-brain activities that are necessary for communication.

Permit yourself to create, to explore ideas, and grab a pen and paper.  Allow yourself to relax, write, scribble, jot, dot, underline, scrawl, scratch doodle, and design.  Have fun!

Poppies grew on the battlefield in a land decimated

Poppies grew on the battlefield in a land decimated by war and near the trenches where the military men had buried their friends and fellow warriors.  A Canadian soldier, John McCrae, took note and wrote a poem to the fallen heroes and entitled it  "In Flanders Feild."  A few years later, Moina Michael, was inspired and wrote another verse called, "We Shall Keep The Faith."  Two days later, Armistice was declared, and Moina Michael had a new calling. She promised to wear a red poppy flower as a sign of remembrance. In 1920 the memorial poppy was recognized by the American Legion.

Each year a few days before Memorial Day, I choose to paint poppies in remembrance. I give thanks. I am grateful for our servicemen and women. 

Iris put on her purple robe, her yellow crown, and popped up to address her kingdom

Iris put on her purple robe, her yellow crown, and popped up to address her kingdom.  It had been a long winter, and her people were in need of a little encouragement.

She did this every year at the beginning of spring.

She smiled. "Sometimes," she said to herself, the world needs a little reminder of what is lovely and fine."

Iris knew that she was little more than a figurehead, but she also knew that when she appeared that life took on a different attitude.

Suddenly people began to smile. There were picknicks in the park and lovers holding hands.  Children started to play outside; the dogs would be barking, and pleasantries, between people, would be spoken as they passed.

Iris stood tall in her purple robe and crown, and as the wind blew she smiled, and she bowed,