The joy factor

Step Three in the Skype diptych
starting on the little girl in
Mother and child.
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009
(roughing in the girl's face and hair,
putting in the basics of the background
shapes, beginning to think about light).

Our apple tree now is thick with white blossoms. I stood
between the lower branches today and watched as huge
bumble bees enjoyed the flowers. What exquisite joy.

This morning I found a section in my journal that I wrote
last December about what I'd learned last year.
2008 was a very hard year. We had illness in
our wider family, and I broke my ankle. And yet it was a
magnificent year too. Here's what I said, and I
thought I'd share it with you.

My writing classes do a journal exercise on what they are
proud of, so I was trying out the exercise.
"Most of all I am proud of myself for letting joy be the
dominant factor in my life -- for seeking it, finding it, enjoying
it. This year I discovered that joy is spiritual, that joy
is visceral, it is the backbone, the bottom line, the
highest achievement -- the driving force, the ultimate
goal, the kindest gift, and readily available by opening
your eyes to the bounty of the universe."

The way the paintings look together at this stage
still lots of work to do.
Mother and child
8 x 16 inches
acrylic on canvas
Barbara Muir © 2009

That seems like a good thought for today

Have an enjoying-the-bounty-of-the-universe day.