This lovely pink abstract puddle begged me to take its picture. How could I refuse? 

I’ve been listening to Just between you and me podcast. I like how Jen talks about having rest time, and how summer is that time for her. My normal rest or downtime is in the fall. I love having time off once the heat and humidity break. I usually spend summers in my air conditioned studio because it’s too hot here to do anything else. I pretty much work around the clock. 

Ellie Mae
Revised and available here 

I’m doing things a little differently this year. I’m still working on revising paintings, but I decided back in May that I wanted to actually enjoy this summer, instead of working through it like a mad woman. To slow things down a bit, work had to take a backseat to LIFE. I can’t tell you exactly how lovely this summer has been, but I can try..

I’ve been lounging around, taking daily naps, staying up until 5am reading books, listening to music, playing games on my phone (I’m addicted to this one, and no, it’s not Pokemon). I’ve also been watching Downton Abbey, going for afternoon drives, taking long baths to try to stay cool, painting my nails (something I haven’t done in MONTHS). I also started watching a new series – Mr Robot with my husband. Pretty exciting fictitious (or is it?) show about cyber crime. I’ve also had time to spend in the kitchen making coconut milk kefir, gf sourdough bread starter, and gf sourdough bread. I never knew you could make bread starter from only rice flour and water.  

Floral No 85
Revised!

To slow things down in the studio, I stopped churning out painting after painting like a machine. Instead, I started making art just for me again. I won’t be posting any of it on my blog, social media or any selling site. Not because it’s bad art, but because I want to honor it, and myself. It’s special to me. It’s my “keep a piece of yourself for yourself” project.

Remember the days before social media..way back before we were made to believe we have to share every moment of our lives (along with photos as proof or it didn’t happen), and bare our souls in public for everyone, including strangers to read? That’s the old, nostalgic feeling I’m going for with this project. I want to be free to paint without outside judgement or reaction of any kind, good or bad. No thumbs up. No happy or sad face. No hearts. No stars. No comments, no input, no opinions. No “this one liked it, but that one didn’t” record for me to keep in my head until the day I die because that’s what artists do. No obsessing over when or if it will sell. For this project, I’m going back to the basics. It’s just me, and my art. What else do I really need?   

Besides Jen’s podcast, I’ve also been listening to Snow and Coffee. As much as I love winter, I’m not quite ready to let go of summer yet because watermelon, fried green tomatoes from the garden, and fields of bright yellow sunflowers popping up all over the sunflower state, but I am starting to look forward to Fall a teensy bit. 

the charm of being tall 

sunflower photos were shot by my husband, Greg

Here’s to having some rest time while we wait for cooler weather, eh? I’m going to be doing more of the same as above. I’m addicted to slowing down, and having a summer break. I shouldn’t be away from the blog for long spells, tho. I have some posts lined up, so it won’t be as quiet around here.  

PS: Are you watching anything good on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon or Youtube this summer? Let me know in the comments below. I’m always looking for something new to watch, and since this hot weather is going to continue for a couple months, I’ll probably be spending a lot of time indoors.