Today is perfectly beautiful outside and I am sad to be locked inside in a cubical. For the past few weeks, a little bird has greeted me at my window each morning. She seems to show up when I am looking at artwork or photographs and knocks on the window. I think she must have a nest somewhere in a bush outside my window and sees me moving as a threat. I know that is what she is really doing, but I like to think that she looks forward to seeing me like Sadie and Splinter do each day. She just wants a clearer view of the artwork or photos I am examining.
I am listening to Derek Trucks Band Already Free and it rocks. In the liner notes (do they call them that any more?), John Snyder talks about the band and how they "embody The Seven Creative Virtues." Although written for these musicians, I would like to adapt them to visual art. So here they are:
1. Personal Exploration--an ongoing search for new knowledge. Simple. Direct.
2. Community Participation and Enhancement--being a "down to earth" person having a network of like-minded and similarly-skilled friends and associates.
3. Honor your Talent--feed and care for your art by practicing and developing a better understanding of "why we create."
4. Humility--keep it real. There's always someone smarter, better, and more talented and you don't know if you are talking to them next or not.
5. Honesty in Life and Art--my mom had a mantra of "be true to yourself" that she repeated over and over to us growing up. I try to be true in my day to day life. I am trying to discover who I am truthfully as an artist.
6. Purpose Driven Life--try to have a purpose behind what you do each day. In art, have a purpose for the outcome, whatever that might be.
7. Love of Family--peace, love, and happiness. I hope for so much more for my family than I have had and that motivates me to be the best that I can be.
By the way, my little friend was sketched with a 2B pencil on white card stock. The song is Sweet Inspiration.
Today was a particularly creative day. I am caught up with this post so that the days remaining is on the correct post day.
This is from Wednesday night's work. As I said, I had started working on a painted version of the graphic poster that I did last week. This is still a work-in-progress, but I like it so far. I still need to do the afghan and then figure out if it needs anything else to the rest once that color is in place.
On Tuesday I worked on the first sketches for converting the sleeping dogs poster into a painting. But I also worked on organizing and processing some photos.
Sadie. Sadie tolerates Splinter. After having a dog for so many years, we are amazed at how flexible Splinter is and totally entertained by how she makes herself comfortable. 
Today is perfectly beautiful outside and I am sad to be locked inside in a cubical. For the past few weeks, a little bird has greeted me at my window each morning. She seems to show up when I am looking at artwork or photographs and knocks on the window. I think she must have a nest somewhere in a bush outside my window and sees me moving as a threat. I know that is what she is really doing, but I like to think that she looks forward to seeing me like Sadie and Splinter do each day. She just wants a clearer view of the artwork or photos I am examining.
