4 x 4 in.

Today is turning out to be quite a creative day. I intentionally set it aside to get some painting done, and I’m happy to report that the creative juices are flowing. I’m wondering if maybe the earthquake literally shook some things loose. Maybe it’s that little reminder that life is precious and half of what we worry about is pointless, that we should just enjoy ourselves more. Honestly in the last 10 days I’ve had enough reminding of this concept to last me a bit. I get it. Really I do. Ever since the news about David, life has been feeling momentarily more delicate. I forgot to tell you that surfing was a bit of a scare for me on Sunday. I had a good time, especially the coffee and breakfast part of the day, but let’s just say I was held under the water a little longer than I would’ve liked when a set of 3 HUGE waves appeared out of nowhere and crashed right where I was, which caused my leash (the plastic connector between your ankle and your surf board that keeps your board from flying off without you) which in this particular instance I would’ve preferred that it fly away without me attached. The leash tangled itself in several loops tightly around my ankle and when the wave hit, my board yanked me under water, forcefully dragging me by my ankle. I think the rush of fear kept me from taking a deep enough breath and when I finally came up for air, I didn’t think I could’ve stayed under a moment longer. I did what you did when you fall of a horse, I got right back on the surf board and went out again. And all was fine until I came in and due to another powerful wave, the fin on the bottom of the board nailed my upper thigh, where now I have a black (there’s no blue in there) bruise the size of a lemon. At least it hit the most "padded" part of my body. And luckily I surf with boys who sympathized with me and then reminded me that this kind of thing comes with the territory and getting pummeled by waves "is not really too big a deal". That’s when you realize that we girls don’t always learn how to take a "fall" the way boys can. The waves and I have since made peace and I still LOVE my surfing. You decide in life that it’s worth whatever "risk" to do what brings you the most joy. And I decide to go in the ocean and I decide to live in California, big waves, earthquakes and all. It is still SO worth it. All I’m saying really, the point of this long paragraph. Moments like these can really make you feel ALIVE ~ and I’d much rather feel ALIVE than AFRAID. I GET it. Endless appreciation for my life every day.

And that’s one reason why I’m especially appreciating painting in my studio today (no waves and hopefully no earthquakes at the moment)

I’m working on paintings for an upcoming show and this tiny girl appeared. I am calling her Helen. And the title of today’s painting began as "My name is Helen" and then I was listening to my party shuffle on ITunes, (I’m a big song "shuffler") "The 59th Street Bridge Song" by Simon and Garfunkel came on and suddenly Helen was "feelin' groovy". And she needed a little yellow apron with flowers to wear in her grooviness. I leave you with another excerpt of the lyrics from the song that inspired this painting.

"Life I love you, all is GROOVY."

(original is sold)