Springing Back

 

Phew, bet you thought spring would never get here.  I'm a little slow getting back to my art and my blog.  My plate has been so full.  I wish I could just take the peas off and hide them underneath the rim of the plate.  (Peas being the not so favorite duties of life.)  But the artist in me that needs color and flowers never really dies, it's just been dormant as I've had to tackle the peas on the plate.  But there have been some great new things as well.  I will share more later...

Hang on Little Tomato

Brrr... chilly nights and I have just a few tomatoes hanging on the vine.  I'm sad to see them go and I've been thinking of this lovely little song written and performed by Pink Martini called "Hang on Little Tomato".  It makes me happy.  Go listen to it here.  Someday I'm going to illustrate this song.  I think it would make a great children's book.

The sun has left and forgotten me
It's dark, I cannot see
Why does this rain pour down
I'm gonna drown
In a sea
Of deep confusion

Somebody told me, I don't know who
Whenever you are sad and blue
And you're feelin' all alone and left behind
Just take a look inside and you'll find

You gotta hold on, hold on through the night
Hang on, things will be all right
Even when it's dark
And not a bit of spark

Sing-song sunshine from above
Spreading rays of sunny love

Just hang on, hang on to the vine
Stay on, soon you'll be divine
If you start to cry, look up to the sky
Something's coming up ahead
To turn your tears to dew instead

And so I hold on to his advice
When change is hard and not so nice
You listen to your heart the whole night through
Your sunny someday will come one day soon to you.

KatyBelle

Last week didn't start out very well. Disappointment and frustration seemed to be the theme. Someone once said to me that the heart of discontentment and disappointment comes from one's own expectations. And somehow you're not supposed to put all those expectations on someone else, an event, a relationship, a painting... Very, very hard not to do. Live without expectations? While I ponder that and think if it's even possible, I continue with my work, my projects and soon the week has moved to another theme - one of hope and that life isn't that bad after all. When I lived in Texas they had this saying that if you didn't like the weather, just wait a minute, because it would most certainly change. And it did. So I apply that to my days and sing along to my favorite Pink Martini song "Hang on Little Tomato. "
My friend had me paint her beloved cat Katybelle which I finally finished and sent off. I had lots of great pictures to work from, but I have to admit, not meeting the cat made me nervous. It sounds strange but pictures only show so much and meeting my subject matter really helps me create a true likeness. Just writing this I hear how hoity toity that sounds, but it's true. I look forward to meeting her and hope she's like the cat I got to know when I was painting her.