November 04, 2010

my neighborhood

My neighborhood

5 x 7 in.

Let it be known I did not open my email until 5 pm today. And, I got a lot done...hmmm...not only the video below, but a new daily painting and I plan to keep the creativity going well into this Creative Thursday evening. So there! Making your creativity a priority, works.

This painting is literally inspired by an image straight from our backyard. Aside from our two cats, we have neighborhood cats that like to spend time in our garden. One in particular is this beautiful black cat, and yesterday he sat at the very top of our garage roof with three doves sitting directly above him. My creative license added the squirrel, as they are always running back and forth on the telephone, cable, electrical wires that run in rows at the back of our yard {tell me again, what do all those wires actually do?} I get so used to seeing them that I forget they are there. They become part of the city landscape as well as the social hangout for the critters and an interesting design element that makes an appearance in my paintings from time to time.

So, hey! did you get to do any kind of creating today? If so what did you make???

 

{original is sold}

 

Comments (11)

I started making curtains for my son's nursery. I could only find one curtain in the set that matches his bedding (they no longer make it), but he has three windows. So with a little creativity and inginuity I'm taking the animals off of the one curtain we do have and transferring them to three curtains that I'm sewing. I decided not to work this afternoon and I got a lot done as well! It's amazing how quickly the computer eats up your time.
Oh, sounds fun Elizabeth! You will have to share a link with a photo when they are all done!
i've just been newly introduced to your blog so was a bit worried when i first heard of your digital detox but then i saw your amazing "neighborhood" painting and bought it 2 seconds after laying eyes on it. it just connected with me on an emotional level that is hard to explain, but i also have my own "sylvester kitty" that i love and brings me many smiles each day, as well as a yellow house with squirrels running along electrical lines and birds hanging out on my garage passing judgement on the world below--and my living room is caramel with turquoise accents. it was the most perfect painting for me--and a result of your detox. so i applaud you and encourage you to continue this process.
i watched your video, as well as Susannah's, and appreciated the honesty and reality. it can be too much at times. i think above all if you lose that creative core then we lose you. so i'd rather have fewer posts, fewer comments, etc. and be able to enjoy the height of your remarkable works (not your reactive work). and take extra pleasure knowing that you're leading the life you dreamt of. it's so easy to get caught up in the crazy wave of technology, responsibilities, pressures . . . .but for what? nothing that serves you. so be true to yourself and the rewards will come. and we'll all be richer for it.
so parting thoughts: yay, digital detox! i love your remarkable work and look forward to reading about it and seeing it when time permits.
Sadly, I spent all my free time at the computer working on my book. Not a bad thing, but I would have rather been quilting.
I did take time this morning to be outside in our ridiculously warm weather to play Animal Rescue, Dog Trainer, and Baby Tiger with my girls.
This brought a smile to my face. I've totally seen this scene in my life before! (Ok, it's probably several occasions patched together, but still.) I am glad you were able to get stuff done. It was so hot today...
Not yet, but I do plan on knitting at work today! Then I'm off to a friend's house for the weekend and we are going to knit and be creative ALL WEEKEND!
I LOVE this painting!
I really like this one. Will you do prints of it?
Hi Lisa! Request granted! I just listed it as a print over at the shop <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60893356/my-neighborhood">http://www.etsy.com/listing/60893356/my-neighborhood</a>
what did Shawn this kind of painting was ? A winner?
correction, Sean.
Congrats on staying away from email till 5pm! I'll try that one day... Thursday wasn't very creative for me.. but Friday was.. and today has been as well! ;-)