four things | seventy three

It’s been a day of comings and goings.  Rosa Jo is staying with us for a few days as my parents visit friends.  Our contractor stopped by to open our pool and talk about a few upcoming projects.  The refrigerator repair tech was out to make one last-ditch effort at getting our fridge working again (I’ll share all about that in another post).  I’ve been trying to work between it all, but this post has taken forever to put together as a result!

I’ve been called to jury duty next week, but I’m going to try to get a few post drafts ready in case I need to serve in a trial.  Life is keeping me on my toes lately…

Here are my four things for this week: Book stacks, another portrait show, seasonal fruit, and commissions.

what I’m reading

I’m still working through the Van Gogh biography, which I am thoroughly enjoying.  I have to take it in bite-sized chunks because there is just so much there!  So much to think about when it comes to art, doubt, and dealing with criticism, embracing what your hands make, etc.  I have to stop the audiobook pretty often to digest it, take notes, and think about it.

I’ve also allowed myself some more fun, light reading, which I’ve managed to keep under control, and I’ve done some reading for research.  Lots of book stacks around my studio, as always!

what I’m watching

I’ve shared several times that Portrait Artist of the Year and Landscape Artist of the Year are two of my favorite shows on TV.  I’m always so excited when  new season becomes available in the US.  So, I was so excited when I saw Portrait Artist of the Year: Australia on Amazon Prime (through Free-Vee).  I’m a couple of episodes in, and while it doesn’t have quite the same magic as the UK version, I am loving watching the art.  It introduces me to new ways of looking at a subject as well as my own art.

what I’m loving

“I’m learning how to eat the fruit that’s in season.”  – Ben Rector, Living My Best Life.

I heard this lyric in a song while on my morning walk the other day, and even though I have heard the song dozens of times, it hit me afresh.  Of course, literal fruit tastes better when it’s in season.  I’ve learned that so many fruits and vegetables I thought I didn’t like were ones I tried out of season when they were flavorless, mushy, and mealy.  No wonder I didn’t like that!  But then I tried a summer fresh tomato, and I realized they are delightful.

But the lyric also spoke to me on a creative level, about the seasonality of ideas, successes, and trends.  When cherries are in season, I need to enjoy them as much as possible.  When something I create is “in season”, I need to enjoy it as much as possible.  Lean into the success while it’s there, because it will, inevitably, go out of season as trends and the market change.  That’s not a bad thing.  It’s just the nature of seasons.

When viewed in that light, we can enjoy those seasons of bounty with more intention, knowing they are precious and fleeting.

what I’m working on

It’s been a busy week!  I’ve been working on commission paintings, taking care of a few odds and ends for the Lucketts Spring Market, packing and shipping paintings, framing originals, and doing research for my next book.  I do feel a bit all over the place at times, but I also feel fulfilled.  I’m enjoying my work, which is always the goal.

Here are a couple of portraits I worked on over this week…

I can’t wait to tell you more about this one…

What have you been reading, watching, loving, and working on?