A Milestone

As you know from my previous post, Daniel and I had a show of our artwork and the opening was last Friday. It was amazing! And absolutely so much fun! 

And as I get time to reflect, I realize it was so much more than that. In one of the quieter moments, I told Daniel that since our wedding day, this was probably the most significant event in my adult life. I was surprised when I said it, but then realized it was true. 

It was so much more than just showing my colorful art alongside Daniel’s exquisite watercolors. I spent the last six years following my soul’s urging to give it visual expression. When I finally decided to listen and stayed with it, I completed painting after painting, following my intuition and finally finding my own colorful voice.

Last Friday, I shared that with family, friends, students, some of Daniel’s fellow art professors, and the occasional stranger. And I felt not a hint of insecurity! I would say it was a miracle, had I not done a lot of inner work to stand strong in my own self.

Even with working on my sense of self worth, I wasn’t sure that I was up to public scrutiny of my art. Showing it online is very different for me than showing it all together in person. So it was a good thing I made a firm commitment when earlier this year Daniel and I planned to have a show together. That way I couldn’t bail at the last moment....

I called myself an artist before, but now I FEEL like one. 100 percent! And when several people told me how happy my art is and how it uplifted them, I knew that I am finally living my life purpose. Spreading joy and uplifting people has always been my wish, and even more so during these tumultuous times on our planet.

For over 40 years I have tried to find “my path.” I have had different careers, lived different places, had different interests, and nothing ever felt quite right. Or quite enough, I should say.

When I listened to the call to paint, I thought it was just another hobby I was going to try for a while. I never thought I’d find myself through color and paint.

Every painting I approach from a soul level. I never plan it, never do a sketch or figure out a composition first.

I pick a few colors and start dripping them into water on the canvas. When that dries, I try to look at it without judgment and wait for my intuition to guide me to the next step. Every painting is a new adventure!

I thought I could figure out my particular soul work with my mind, by reading books and thinking or writing about it, but that didn't work for me.

Painting the way I do helped me to get out of my head. I am a good thinker and analyzer, but my head was actually getting in the way of my heart and soul work. My art takes me into that space beyond words, which is where I found my path.

And last Friday, standing next to my extraordinary husband, I was brave enough to show it to everyone who attended our opening! And now my heart is filled with gratitude and so much love, especially for Daniel's unwavering support in my life's journey.

❧ Silke

Beach and Surf

Yesterday afternoon, Daniel wanted to go to the beach to see what effect Hurricane Sandy was already having, being so far away from us. We had been in town all afternoon and I had just settled into our very comfy reading (or napping :)) chair and I did not want to go. I couldn't believe it myself. Me, not want to go to the beach. 

Daniel dragged me there and am I glad he did. Here are some of the photos and also two little videos at the end bringing you the sounds of wind and surf, both much stronger than usual. It's also much warmer and more humid than usual as Sandy is bringing us moist air from the south. Not nice!

Now on to another topic. Dear friends, I have been very conflicted about my blog. When I first started it, I had much time to blog and was only starting out being creative and painting. Now, that has shifted and I feel as though I am neglecting my blog and all of you.

When I have the choice of blogging or painting, knitting, sewing, cooking, baking, often blogging is at the very end of that list. And it's not me putting up a blog post - that doesn't take that much time - but visiting all of your wonderful blogs, which I get so absorbed by that easily one or two hours can pass without me really noticing.

I've been feeling guilty about that. About not visiting your blogs like I once used to. And feeling guilty when you visit mine and comment so regularly. And then I thought how guilt is such a colossal waste of creative energy and so I'm just putting it out here.

My blogging will be hit or miss for a while as my time allows. As will my visits to your blogs. If you want to stay in touch with me more than that, there's a link to my e-mail address on my Blogger profile. And if there's something you absolutely want me to see or read on your blog, let me know! :)

And now a couple of super short videos featuring Daniel and the surf and sounds of Tybee Island with the effects of far away Hurricane Sandy. 

Enjoy your weekend with whatever projects and fun things you have planned!!

❧ Silke

A quick hello...

...and a great big thank you for all your wonderful and encouraging comments on my last painting!

Here, the weather has been PERFECT and today we spent a good bit of time at the beach (as you can see from the photo). It was incredible! A little windy and cool in the shade, but Daniel even went swimming. It felt like vacation. We even had a big group of dolphins (including at least two babies) come by and put on a show for us. They were jumping and playing and splashing around right in front of Daniel when he was in the water. One of those perfect moments, you know?

By the way, all those sticks between Daniel and the water have been washed up lately by the extremely high tides we had around the last super moon. They are the reeds and grasses that get washed out to sea when the tidal waters get really high in the marshes.

In those reeds, Daniel discovered a huge dead fish. It had been dead for a while because all the bone had been exposed. The pattern of the scales looked so beautiful to me.

I did a little research online and found an interesting article on exactly such a mystery creature that had washed up on a South Carolina beach in March. People wondered if it was an as yet unidentified sea monster. Turns out, it was a carcass of an Atlantic Sturgeon. Mystery solved...

Well, all of this great weather has severely impacted my computer time and my time in my studio. But I don't mind... Soon it'll be hot and humid and I'll have much more indoor time again!

I hope you are having a gorgeous and joy-filled Friday wherever you are!!

2011 coming to a close...

On Wednesday, we packed Winslow in the car, drove two hours straight south and spent the day on beautiful Amelia Island. What a gorgeous place and so incredibly dog friendly.

Winslow got to come along when we ate at 29 South, an excellent restaurant, where they even brought Winslow his own bowl of ice water.

We are definitely going back there, maybe even this next month to explore the area a little more. It's only a short boat ride away from Cumberland Island National Seashore and also close to Jacksonville.

There'll certainly be plenty for us to do...

These past few days I've naturally been thinking about the beginning of 2012 and about the past year, which was filled with so many wonderful things - visits to and from family and friends, travel to distant places, trips closer to home, art classes, art in general, much knitting and crocheting, good food, and much much more...

I did notice though, looking back, that I spent too much time feeling stressed about small stuff, anxious about things I don't even remember now, and feeling not as good about myself as I would like to.

 Somehow my year had become a "to do" list and much of what was on it I didn't get done, because - you know - life happens when we are busy making other plans.

And because I had that imaginary "to do" list, I seemed to always fall short of what I had in mind and I sort of approached every surprise happening (and there are lots of those in life in general, don't you agree?) with trepidation rather than joyous anticipation.

I want to avoid that in 2012.

Therefore, I hope to look at every day as a blank canvas to be filled with whatever happens that day - some of it planned but with plenty of time to enjoy life's little surprises.

And I want to have fun, especially with my art. I already have a vision of how I want to work in my next etching class - in lots of layers and in color. I want to have as much fun with that as with my "regular" art.

And then my sister and I are taking Tam's Life Book class together, which will be a yearlong fun adventure in mixed media art!

I hope to enjoy Savannah and the surroundings with Daniel and Winslow, especially during the cooler months. We live in such a beautiful part of the country and it'll be good to explore it more.

Most of all, I want to allow myself to relax about things and just take everything as it comes...

 ... without having to figure it all out beforehand and perfectly.

And I plan to savor each moment much more - because that's what it's all about, isn't it?

What are your hopes and dreams for yourself for 2012?

No matter what they are, I wish good health and a full and joyful heart for all of us.

With much gratitude for your friendships, I wish you all a very Happy New Year!!

A great day!

Saturday was Daniel's birthday. And we decided to celebrate it just the two of us. This has been a busy quarter for Daniel at school and with me taking a class, we don't see each other as often as we usually do. So, we decided to take Saturday off and play. 

Our day started early (Ramses decided that 5:30 was the proper time to get up), but it was a cool morning and we enjoyed it on our back porch with birthday waffles and a fire in our chiminea. Frankly, life doesn't get much better than that...

Later in the morning, we went to visit Oatland Island Wildlife Center, which is really close to us and we we'd never visited together. I had been there once with visitors, but for Daniel this was new.

It's a fairly large wilderness area with trails through woods and across marshes and with large enclosures housing animals native to Georgia.

The weather was perfect as you can see!

And the views stunning - I can't believe we live in a gorgeous place like that!

We even found a few signs of fall.

And some stunning colors in nature.

We both loved this old structure - what great texture and color.

Now, as to the animals, we saw a few ibis,

all of the wolves (I'm glad Daniel had the close-up lens on the camera so we could get some good photos),

the bison,

and of course alligators, which are everywhere around here. This one was a baby - you can still see the stripes.

Another one was much bigger, but quite peaceful around all the turtles in this pond.

It must not have been hungry.

Now, when we were looking at the turtles, Daniel started talking about how wonderful it would be to have a turtle that could just live in our back yard.

He'd been mentioning this on and off for a couple of weeks, but on Saturday it sounded like he really, really wanted one.

And guess what happened? We went home and while eating lunch on our back porch, Daniel spied this beautiful little visitor who had found his (or her) way into our backyard. Daniel was like a little boy who had gotten a pony for his birthday.

Can you believe this happened?! We were stunned! And just loved it!! We are not sure if it's still in our backyard or if it has moved on, but it sure made Daniel's day! Thank you, little turtle.

In the evening we decided to have dinner in one of our favorite restaurants by the beach and then go for walk barefoot in the sand.

The day had been warm, but it sure cooled off at night and walking into the water felt a little cold at first. But hey, it's mid-October and we are at the beach - how great is that?!?

And, to celebrate this special day the sky put on a show that had us speechless.

A perfect day!!