The last post

It's been a really good, honestly life-saving, and fun experience. After 1637 posts, covering 6 years and 2 months of my painting process, sharing the struggles, (the death of friends, the divorce, the empty nest, the move) and triumphs (the new job, the new city, the new love), I have decided to stop blogging.
Of the many transitions and changes along the way, the most powerful thing for me is how writing and painting have melded together as complimentary means to tell a whole story. Initially, I painted and wrote about the work. Then as the blog evolved, it transformed the paintings. Soon words started appearing in my paintings, and my paintings started to sprout from words! There was no division between the two disciplines.
I will continue writing and painting, because I love it...but I will be doing it without the internet exposure. There is a project I have in mind. And I am grateful to this blog- Showing up for the Muse- for pointing me in this new direction.
Thanks for all the great comments and emails and support along the way. So... to those of you who only keep track of me through the blog: we have to develop a new way of keeping in touch. I'm game for suggestions.

The rest of you, have a great year and stay inspired in all your moves. Thank you and good bye.
Tilly

SacrAMENIA in Miami

Mike and I just loved this place. It is possibly the oldest building in America.
William R. Hearst bought a 1133 cloister from Sacramenia (Province of Segovia Spain). Because of the social revolution of the area in mid 1830's the building had fallen to disrepair. At the turn of the century Americans were richer than ever and having a hard time spending all their money. Hearst bought the cloisters in 1925 and it was dismantled stone by stone and packed in hay for shipment to the US. Unfortunately, it arrived to the US just as an epidemic of  hoof and mouth disease broke out in Segovia. The USDA fearing possible contagion, quarantined the shipment, opened and burned all the hay, and re-packed the previously meticulously labeled boxes in a random, willy-nilly, way. The stones were warehoused in Brooklyn for 26 years. Hearst's empire fell on hard times and one year after Hearst's death- in 1952- it was purchased by two Floridians, with plans for a tourist attraction.

 It's located on the north side of Miami: 16711 West Dixie Highway  (305)945-1461

 The statue is of King Alphonso VII, who constructed the monastery as a thank you offering for his success defeating the Moors in a major battle.

 The stones were part of a giant jigsaw puzzle. It took 23 men 9 months to un-crate, read the mason marks, and layout the possible  pieces.

 This statue in the "chapter house" is of Christ the King- 12th century stone carved by one of the monks.

It took 19 months and one and a half million dollars to put  the Monastery back together. Some of the unmatched stones (yikes!) still remain in the back lot.

New work on FAA website

It's easy to generate posters, canvas prints, and cards of many of my paintings. Please check it out- use the link in the side bar. Thank you!

Heights and depths

I may be slow, and, thank goodness, I am starting to remember that Joy is all about the perspective. Whether looking at the big picture or isolating the details, the choice I make can shift my heart and open it to the miracle of life, love and what we all share on this beautiful planet.
So here comes the new year, 2013, and my last painting for the series of 50 Ways to Find Joy.
Actually I painted 50 and an extra- so 51 in all.
#50- my favorite view from the window seat

#51- Sea creatures, in a far away and out -of-my-comfort zone place that teams with unknown jewel like beings. I don't actually have to go there to appreciate it. Just knowing it is there, fills me with wonder and joy. Not to mention it is just fun to paint such a scene!

The truth and the dream are in separate pictures

I am grateful (really!) for the truth of the situation and I attempt to not hate myself for  dreaming of what should have been and

 how I never got it.

Perhaps I am suffering from PHS. Post holiday stress? Holidays are times were we seem to run ragged on obligations and inevitably I focus on the shortcomings of my reality. Everyone else seems to have it down- seems to do it effortlessly, seems to have the happy family unit in place. I have found myself on the short side of the ideal, if it is measured in picture perfect cut-out family. Too much time has been spent on lighting the candles and setting the table and waiting for love to show up. 

And it is always late, slightly incoherent, and imperfect when it does.

In painting these paintings I realize how frail and flat the ideal is, and...just how rich my nest actually is! My life is full of good questions, helpmates, positive energies, bright lights,

 and nurturing food. 

FYI: Painting helps me get over mood swings.

I painted 126 works this year, oversaw two school murals, collaborated on three school theater sets and 22 sculptural valentines. I also participated in 4 exhibitions from Miami FL to Easthampton MA to Pawling NY. All the while working a full time job. Until I did the inventory yesterday I thought I had done nothing! 

Before I quit blogging for the Muse- I want to finish on a positive note.

Showing up here has kept me on track- made me do the work, and bestowed an abundant reward for which I am barely deserving. Thanks, all you readers and visitors to the site, for being part of the motivation.

These are paintings # 48 and #49 of my series 

50 ways to find Joy

#48-nest (collection of R. Vogel).

This messy thing called love

There are so many tangents I can go off on about this... Isolating just one strand would unravel the beauty. This painting invites you to dive in deeper and travel the course of love as it slips in and out of focus. I suffer to make sense and I do not do it well.  In spite of regrets, self loathing, and feeling isolated, I know my capacity for gratitude as an exercise pulls together and knits the gifts I am blessed with into a beautiful whole. Amen for that.
#45 in 50 ways to Find Joy series  4 x 5 inches, canvas panel. (collection of B.C. Shafner)

Some call it a wormhole, I call it a telephone

we are all connected...
or disconnected...
it's a holiday story that goes on, generation after generation.
It would bring me great joy to hear from my sons, anytime.
Anytime now.
Anytime?
#44 in series of 50 Ways to find Joy  5 x 4 inches canvas and mixed media