Art adventures

Coffee, a magazine and lilies
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Not quite done
(another view of the model
in the kitchen -- playing with
light and colour)

I sat with an artist friend today weighing the pros and cons
of going on an art adventure. It doesn't matter where we're
thinking of going, what matters more is what might
hold us back. Both of us have some sane, careful Scottish
stock in our family histories. Going on art adventures costs
money, whether it's going down to the local art museums
or planning a trip to go and see an exhibition in another city.

This friend has been with me on a number of art adventures.
We had our first show together, long ago when our children
were little and we needed to believe in ourselves. There was
some brave spark in both of us that prodded us to take a risk
and put on a show in my friend's lovely, private home. We
were shocked and horrified when every single painting didn't
leap off the walls in that one two-day show. But the process
had begun, and we'd learned a lot.

Over the years we've had shows together, watched one another
partake in other shows, and recognized that all in all being
an artist is one long adventure. What's in the balance -- more
debt in a year when one child's in university , and wearing braces,
not getting to do long planned renovations (again). But on the
flip side is a new experience, new contacts, new insights and
no doubt a whole new way of looking at art .

It looks like the adventure might win. I popped the pizza
into the oven, and got ready to have another discussion about
it with my husband. It is probably time to turn dreaming into
planning.

Have an I'm-ready-for-another-art-adventure day.