March 10, 2010
Sweet Spring
It is the sweetness of a new leave just emerging from a seemingly lifeless branch, its tender shades of greens hinting of pale pinks and violets ... those first fresh signs of Spring. Soft rains deeply soak, awakening all underground, and cleansing all above.
There are many signs that arise. Birds start a song and dance ritual that changes the entire mood of the outdoors. I often go trance-like when their ethereal songs stream in, as they seem to come from some higher source. I think these songs rouse something within all who hear them. Squirrels play in fast motion, moving from one large tree to another in what looks like a risky, high-wire circus act. I often wonder where they have been all winter... huddling somewhere in those bare trees, no doubt.
At this time of year, I must step gently across the surface of my backyard, which consists of a lot of mud, sparse patches of grass, weeds and those ever-popular piles neatly left behind by our four dogs. I have a thing going with the bird feeder, which sits in a area that trails past one of the dog’s favorite spots. It gets tricky keeping it full, but it is oh-so-worth the effort.
Sitting in my office, I watch them. They often come in groups and/or pairs. Usually a squirrel is hanging up side down while another one is on the ground... they seem to watch each other’s back. The one in the tree has a unique approach to get to those seeds. I worry that my one dog, who seems to always be “switched on” hunting mode, might be quick enough with a surprise attack if he loses his grip.
Sometimes a beautiful pair of Cardinals arrive, or some Blue Jays, but there are usually a few doves along with those little Sparrows, which manifest in social groups. Their chatter is melodious and often seems synchronized. Occasionally I get a rare treat... some Rosy Finches or some other unusual species of Finch, but in truth, I do not spend that much time at this window.
There is also this strong urge to get my hands dirty - to grow a garden. I have been lapse in starting the process which should have begun a month ago, as our climate warms up much too fast for some things to do well if you wait too long to get them into the ground – mostly tomatoes. With all else I am doing, I am thinking I will probably just start a compost and build a small fence to keep critters out - my dog critters, actually. A garden should be done in small steps if you haven’t done it in years. I am okay with this idea.
Like all life around us, I am also feeling the need to bring forth new growth, and as an artist, creating more in my studio is a good place to start.
Thank you Goddess of Spring for gracing us, once again... we welcome your gift of primal energy and new life!
Posted by kay at 07:05 PM | Comments (0)
January 29, 2010
Let There Be 'Day' Light
This all started a couple of years ago. I had planed to somehow get more natural light into my studio, and as any artist will tell you, this could be most beneficial, but first I needed more room to move around – so we built a shed. That was a rather fun and enlightening adventure in itself, which I have also written about somewhere in this blog. There was such a sense of accomplishment when this project was finished, not to mention the gaining of much needed storage space. No more bicycles, generators, surplus wood, garden furniture and other miscellaneous items stuffed into this single-car garage turned into an artist’s workspace!
Then, there was this dingy, small window, that was not only a great place for spiders to make their home, but a complete dud for ventilation, as I was never able to open that flimsy, stuck aluminum frame. Oh, and it let in lots of unwanted heat in the summer, and cold in the wintertime ... nothing like a thin piece of glass for protection!
I played around with the idea of putting in a larger window or two, and perhaps adding a skylight to fill the room with even more ambient glow. I also thought about getting an all glass (frosted) garage door... wow, is that ever expensive! But in the end, the need for a separate entrance surfaced, making it clear that a pair of French doors just might be the perfect solution.
Having made the decision to have these doors installed meant that I would have to move that awkward, thin gate (another thing we could never open) and that small stretch of fence next to it. The fence needed to be built closer to the front of the house to leave room for the doors. I wanted a very useful and well-made gate and fence, and hired a company that cost a bit more, but I do think you get what you pay for. I had other quotes, but there was not such a difference in price, so going with this company was a good idea.
Thanks to a friend’s recommendation, I was able to contract a door specialist – Wayne Grate, ‘The Door Dude’, which is the name of his company. I would highly recommend this guy to anyone, as he was not only professional in every aspect of this procedure, he was detail oriented – all steps taken were done with precision. And, I believe his cost was not far from what others would have charged, but his craftsmanship was certainly top notch.
When he started to demo the wall with the tiny excuse for a window, we discovered that this window did not even have a header! No wonder I could not open it! My home was built in mid 1950’s, but don’t let that fool you into thinking everything was built better back then. Yes, I do have oak hardwood floors, and I think the rafters may even be made of cedar, but this window looked like something thrown in when no one was looking who might have cared.
I was happy to see “the door dude” pull out some 2”x 10”s, which he doubled up for the header of these new French doors. He started work at 10:30 a.m. and was finished with the entire process by 3 p.m. During this time, I worked outside on the roof of my home, just clearing away some branches and vines that had over-taken this side of my house. I did not know I had a living roof up there! There was soil and plants growing under the foliage that had been leaning on my roof for a few years... no wonder the roof leaks! Another huge, expensive project that will have to wait till later.... one of the many joys of owning a home.
The day the door went in was one of those unusual, glorious days we seldom have in this usually hot part of the Gulf Coast area. Even though it is our winter season, it was upper 60’s with clear blue skies, and a sweet, clean air! When Wayne had finished and left, I sat and stared at my new doors. I looked at the clean, crisp light fusing into my creative space, and how it fell upon the surface of the piece resting upon my easel. My face could not have had a bigger smile.
There is more to this project, but this is just another stage for now. I plan to build a small deck just outside the French doors, and redo the side for passage, with another small gate to keep my 4 dogs from overwhelming this area of refuge... yes, we think this will be a good spot for us to come outside and enjoy some peace and quiet. It is also a good place to bring guests into my studio... no dogs jumping on them with muddy paws. I need the Dog Whisperer.
Yesterday was semi-cloudy, but the door was wide open for ventilation, as it has been each day that the air is mild outside. How refreshing it is to have this flow of air and to hear the birds and wind chimes... so serene. I had just finished a piece, and later I began to construct a new board for the next. Even when it is cloudy and rainy outside, the light flowing in is enough to satisfy my need for natural light. I am thoroughly enjoying painting with ample daylight, and so happy to have made this choice for my studio, my art and my life.
Posted by kay at 05:05 PM | Comments (0)