Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.

-- Thomas Merton

Today I was racing around in my constant, continual, never ending effort to get everything done, in place... right. And it hit me, I'm going to miss out on so much if I just don't slow down and learn to let some things be. I love to have everything in it's place! I love it! I seem to breath easier. But then things get messed up again and usually the very next day. I'm learning to paint in the mess. To let it be, and just paint. But more importantly, I'm learning to let things be and play with Daisy, talk to my husband and sit still. Breath. Look around.

When I teach students, one of the most important things I do is encourage them to sit still and JUST LOOK at the subject matter for several minutes before they dive in. Look at where the light hits, the colors change and the shadow grows. Enjoy the object before them and don't just look at the flower, apple, bowl or whatever they are painting as a task to complete. Let the act of SEEING shape your creative endeavor and not that pressure to complete and perfect a "work of art". Art begins with seeing. And I know as as artist and a human being, I need to sit still and take notice because I do think life becomes richer when I am still and paying attention.