Learning to trust yourself

Creating art requires a massive amount of energy and brain power. I am struggling in both departments. My new normal is all about energy management . If I over do just a inch over the line , my body and brain crumble under my constant battle with Lyme disease and co- infections. This has become so frustrating ,one day what puts me over the edge can be the exact opposite of the next day . It's very easy to know when I have cross this line , my body screams with pain and nuerlogical symtoms . The hard part is listening to my body before it gets to that magic line of no return . 

  

My heart may say let's draw today and my body says no I am in to much pain . The next day comes and my heart says let's draw today and my brain says no , to much pressure and inflammation . So what my heart says does not often win .  

My heart won three times in the last couple months . Good thing I am soooo stubborn and my heart never stops asking . 

Move it or lose it ....oh so true

"Move it or lose it "....I heard this quote many times growing up , always just listening and chugging happily forward in my life . Well now , become ill and you start hearing this quote in your head over and over again in all parts of your life . It's become a daily battle and war to " Move it " .  Maybe deep inside me somewhere this quote was screaming in my head keep drawing, do not lose that part of your brain, keep moving your pencils and never give up  your passion for dogs . My goal for 2014 is to complete 4 pencil portraits a month and build up my strength to paint . I am already short on my goal this month .....treatment has been hard . Failure ? Nope ........because I am building my strength , I am " Moving it "

Thank you everyone for believing in me and my art ! 

" The Boys "

Well I am learning that often when one leaps , one does not always succeed . I guess I was just to excited to create this sketch of " The Boys " that I really never paid attention on where I put their moms name . If I do not take the time to put a name in my contacts at that very moment , well it will be gone from my memory for ever, nothing really sticks , part of my damage done  by Lyme disease. 

 

Lesson learn is that I need to ask Anita for help . I am not ready to fly solo yet, hopefully some day I will be  and if not , I will learn tools to at least help me along the way to keep better records. The hard part is , that it does not take much to confuse me and I get overwhelm very easy . I try not to get frustrated or disappointed , but it is hard , I know I am not to blame, that my late stage neurological Lyme  infection has damaged parts of brain. 

The most important part of " The Boys " is how much I enjoyed sketching them . Sketching leads to painting , it opens up the same pathways in my brain , the break down of color , thoughts about composition and design . I will keep sketching and feel free to ask me if I put you in my contacts ?Help is always welcome ! 

Dog friendly Maine and all the tail waggin fun it has to offer !

Maine has more than 2,500 lakes for fido to swim in and more than 5,000 streams for fido to romp in . The Maine coast is filled with beach front cottages and lobster shacks for fido to relax in . The most amazing part of Maine is the connection you will find sharing nature with your dog .

As a Maine artist, I am blessed to share its beauty and fresh salty air with my clients and their beloved dogs with our open studio. We are blessed to have over an acre fenced in for the pups to romp off leash in and a deck chairs for us to sit in and enjoy watching them run freely in the sun . See you in the spring 2013 !

Amazing Maine , awesome dogs and dog art !

Maine, and Gardening !

I just finished picking fresh strawberries, they are warm from the afternoon sun. They will be a wonderful treat for after dinner tonight. What happen to America and Gardening? The USDA estimates that in 1943, 20 million backyard Victory Gardens produce 40 percent of the country's fresh vegetables. How great is that !!!! The shocking news is that today only 1 to 2 percent of our fresh vegetable are grown in our back yards.  Bummer.....

I am thrilled  to write that here in Maine, on our little country road, I can count at least 9 very large vegetable gardens. All full of tomatoes, corn, lettuce , squash , and much more. I my self have over a 100 head of garlic growing. I am proud of my garden, I look out at it and I see my family and all the love we have. Two years ago I became very ill with Lyme disease. I was so sick that I was in the Hospital and walking on a cane.  On Mothers day that year, my family came up and built raised beds for the garden and hauled many, many yards of dirt to fill them.  Everyone pitched in , young and old, with shovels in hand .  By late in the afternoon I had 6 raised beds, 4ft X 12ft full of dirt ready to go ! So when I bite into a sweet strawberry, I know it is full of Love and Sunshine. Thank you to all of my family, for the greatest gift of all, My Garden !