Be Kind! It's a new year of Art

I haven't had the time to blog but HAVE been busy with my art. I looked, longingly at my easel and "just started" artwork during the holidays while I painted stick people on ceramics...

Watersong

Don't get me wrong...I LOVE making people happy by giving them my creations for my shop. Without that work, I couldn't afford a studio to work in! I would never put that down and say it is less BUT, I don't have the full creative process going on when I paint like that. It is far more emotional and thought provoking when I create my own art. What I have done so far is miraculous considering the time I had to get a full body of work together.

My thoughts really need medication but I choose Art to be that drug. During the holidays we have to deal with family, old friends and possibly lots more garbage for our brain waves than we can stand. It all makes me think waaaaaay too much.  But when it comes to producing Art.....that works for me!
I had a close friend say something so horribly unkind to me that it was like a cold slap in the face. We have been friends many years but were estranged for several years. I know that "becoming" who you really are and positive growth is a constant, never ending process. It is like recovery of sorts. You are always working towards keeping a healthy balance. I am too old to have rude, ill mannered people in my life. I mean....why? I have a sweet little studio and business, a husband that adores me, grandchildren and my bills paid. Why then do we "allow" someone to hurt us then work on that relationship? I love this person, she is my past filled with good memories and some really bad ones. I did the artwork above based on how easy it is to be unkind to people you are supposed to be the closest to. The ones who should receive the most respect are the ones we seem to tread the hardest on.  We are all guilty of it. I want to make sure that even that evil Wal-Mart lady has issues she is dealing with and the least I can do is be kind to her. We all have a story.