Packing art

Suzanne in Paris
black marker on bond paper
8 1/2 x 11 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009
(My friend Suzanne gave me this picture
a few years ago when she came back from
Paris. It's one of my favorite photographs
because I haven't quite captured the look
on her face, but she looks almost
smugly content. I love how her hair
is blowing around in the wind. But the
main thing is that she is a busy person
with a highly demanding job, and
she looks so relaxed and happy in the photo.
This is how I will be feeling in a couple of
days, or maybe even tomorrow. Count on it!)

Every year (except the nightmare of last year) when we
drive out to Nova Scotia, I haul along practically my whole
studio. Easels, paint, brushes, canvasses, and usually
bring all of it back with zero result in productivity.

I find that walking along the beach by the ocean empties
my mind of the desire to produce. In fact it clears my
city-clogged brain of every kind of city urge. Instead
of talking on the phone, I read, instead of shopping I
gather shells, instead of walking the dog in the park, I
walk along a beach so long and vast, that I could walk
for miles without seeing another human, and listen to
that glorious push, pull of the waves and seagulls whirling
above.

I'm not religious, or a church goer, but this is my church --
the beach. It is fulfilling just to be there.

That said, this year I plan (fingers crossed) to continue my
daily blog, continue to produce images, and continue to
do my work. One reason is that I have a lot of work to
do, and the other is that I'm determined to keep my blog
going on a daily basis.

But...if I don't respond right away to your comments, please
understand that I may be in a car crawling across 785 miles,
or 1263 kilometers to get to a schoolhouse with no running
water and an outhouse. I really want to return your comments
every day. So please know that. But for the next couple of
weeks, I may have a little trouble being prompt with my replies.

Have a loving-the-journey-of-life day.