Say hello to "Abundance". This is my most recent painting.I've been trying to paint every week to build-up 'painting stamina' so I don't wimp-out next summer and fall when I am painting all day, every day.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
WHY GO?
If there's one question I've heard more often these days since I've announced my leaving for a year, it's:
"Why go?"
Why leave Curlew?
Why leave all your friends and family?
Because now is the time, that's why. It's time for me to leave for a while. There's something pulling me in another direction and, before a(nother) husband and kids come along, now is my time to go and see what's in store for me- for me as an artist and for me as a human being.
It's time.
Here I am, 27 and a half years old, teaching 5/6th grade in Washington state's poorest county. I love it here, and I could easily spend the rest of my life in Curew, but if I never leave and explore, I fear I will regret settling down too soon- watching my 'exploration window of opportunity' slam shut right before my eyes.
That's why I have to leave.
There is more to me than THIS. There is more and, I am confident that it will be unlocked when I step out and take this big, giant leap. Uncertainty bows down to optimistic confidence. Optimism trumps fear. Sometimes I feel a twinge of doubt- whether i can really pull this off- everytime, however, I tell my inner pessimist to 'take a hike' and I continue planning- planning to leave, planning to paint, planning to grow and live- all of which will be best accomplished if I say 'arovior' to my comfort zone.
That's why I have to go.
"Why go?"
Why leave Curlew?
Why leave all your friends and family?
Because now is the time, that's why. It's time for me to leave for a while. There's something pulling me in another direction and, before a(nother) husband and kids come along, now is my time to go and see what's in store for me- for me as an artist and for me as a human being.
It's time.
Here I am, 27 and a half years old, teaching 5/6th grade in Washington state's poorest county. I love it here, and I could easily spend the rest of my life in Curew, but if I never leave and explore, I fear I will regret settling down too soon- watching my 'exploration window of opportunity' slam shut right before my eyes.
That's why I have to leave.
There is more to me than THIS. There is more and, I am confident that it will be unlocked when I step out and take this big, giant leap. Uncertainty bows down to optimistic confidence. Optimism trumps fear. Sometimes I feel a twinge of doubt- whether i can really pull this off- everytime, however, I tell my inner pessimist to 'take a hike' and I continue planning- planning to leave, planning to paint, planning to grow and live- all of which will be best accomplished if I say 'arovior' to my comfort zone.
That's why I have to go.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
'Blog' and 'Blah' sound a lot alike.
Okay, confession time- blogging is kind of a self-centered activity.
It's basically writing in your diary and then forcing other people to read it...except diaries are filled with juicy details about your love life, or bits of "who's cheating who?" gossip.
BLOGS, on the other hand, just bore people to death.
It's usually "today I went to the store and they had tomatoes on sale!" wow.
Well, NOT THIS BLOG! No sir. Today is YOUR lucky day. You've stumbled upon the one interesting-to-read blog in all of Interned-dom.
Congratulations, you're the lucky winner!
In order to keep this blog from being too 'blah', I will try to keep all news, ideas, and information fresh and captivating.
So, here is my solemn vow:
If, for some reason, I feel bored and don't have anything even remotely intersting to write, I won't write it. That way you won't feel obligated to read mindless details about who knows what.
For instance:
Let's pretend that I am two months away from leaving for Sweden and the art trip and I want to tell you guys how excited I am about leaving and embarking on my adventures.
So, I sit to write and all that comes out is:
You, probably, would think, "Whoopty-freakin'-do!" and then go back to browsing the internet, seeing what Crate and Barrel online has in their clearance section.
Your life would be neither enriched or improved for reading such an entry. You would have wasted time reading it, and I would have wasted time writing it.
Lose-Lose situation.
No lose-lose here, folks. That's a Vivian promise.
It's basically writing in your diary and then forcing other people to read it...except diaries are filled with juicy details about your love life, or bits of "who's cheating who?" gossip.
BLOGS, on the other hand, just bore people to death.
It's usually "today I went to the store and they had tomatoes on sale!" wow.
Well, NOT THIS BLOG! No sir. Today is YOUR lucky day. You've stumbled upon the one interesting-to-read blog in all of Interned-dom.
Congratulations, you're the lucky winner!
In order to keep this blog from being too 'blah', I will try to keep all news, ideas, and information fresh and captivating.
So, here is my solemn vow:
If, for some reason, I feel bored and don't have anything even remotely intersting to write, I won't write it. That way you won't feel obligated to read mindless details about who knows what.
For instance:
Let's pretend that I am two months away from leaving for Sweden and the art trip and I want to tell you guys how excited I am about leaving and embarking on my adventures.
So, I sit to write and all that comes out is:
"Two months 'til I leave. Yay!"
You, probably, would think, "Whoopty-freakin'-do!" and then go back to browsing the internet, seeing what Crate and Barrel online has in their clearance section.
Your life would be neither enriched or improved for reading such an entry. You would have wasted time reading it, and I would have wasted time writing it.
Lose-Lose situation.
No lose-lose here, folks. That's a Vivian promise.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Midnight Panic Attack
The other night, I awoke in a cold sweat.
Panic coursed through my veins and my mind raced.
Short of breath, and feeing an asthma attack coming on, I reached for my rescue inhaler and took a hurried puff.
Night terrors?
No.
Financial anxiety?
No.
Artistic worries?
Heck no.
With just 6 months to prepare for my painting trip abroad, there's only one haunting question would wake me from deep slumber and cause me to tremble in my sheets:
Panic coursed through my veins and my mind raced.
Short of breath, and feeing an asthma attack coming on, I reached for my rescue inhaler and took a hurried puff.
Night terrors?
No.
Financial anxiety?
No.
Artistic worries?
Heck no.
With just 6 months to prepare for my painting trip abroad, there's only one haunting question would wake me from deep slumber and cause me to tremble in my sheets:
"What on EARTH am I going to wear?!!!"
See? Intimidating, scary, horrifying... right?!
I thought so.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
January
Hello and Happy New Year to all my adoring fans (okay, probably just Mom, but whatev.)!
Well, I've done it. I finally broke the news to everyone in Curlew that I will be taking a full one year leave of absense to pursue painting in Sweden, Iceland, France, Greece, and (hopefully) Italy too. And I bought my ticket. That means it's official.
I leave Spokane on July 6th at 12:45 in the afternoon and arrive in Stockholm the 7th at 1:30pm-ish.
Aside from a handful of very excited, "I'm happy for you" individuals, no one seems to really give a flying fig whether I stay at Curlew or not. Yes, I have been asked several times if I have enough room in my luggage for various people too. Unfortunately, as of right now, I don't even have a piece of luggage to my name (it's on my 'things to buy when I have money' list).
January marks my month of financial discipline. So far, I haven't bought a single latte or mocha from our town's one and only espresso stand, AND I have had cereal and Easy Mac for dinner these past two nights. Hey, I gotta save where I can, right?
As of today, I have $1,300 in my 'art savings account'. I figure I need about $12,000 to make it a year without work....pretty much need a small (okay, LARGE) miracle to get that much saved in such a short amount of time, but I am not giving up yet. I have plenty of healthy organs I can sell...no biggie.
Well, I've done it. I finally broke the news to everyone in Curlew that I will be taking a full one year leave of absense to pursue painting in Sweden, Iceland, France, Greece, and (hopefully) Italy too. And I bought my ticket. That means it's official.
I leave Spokane on July 6th at 12:45 in the afternoon and arrive in Stockholm the 7th at 1:30pm-ish.
Aside from a handful of very excited, "I'm happy for you" individuals, no one seems to really give a flying fig whether I stay at Curlew or not. Yes, I have been asked several times if I have enough room in my luggage for various people too. Unfortunately, as of right now, I don't even have a piece of luggage to my name (it's on my 'things to buy when I have money' list).
January marks my month of financial discipline. So far, I haven't bought a single latte or mocha from our town's one and only espresso stand, AND I have had cereal and Easy Mac for dinner these past two nights. Hey, I gotta save where I can, right?
As of today, I have $1,300 in my 'art savings account'. I figure I need about $12,000 to make it a year without work....pretty much need a small (okay, LARGE) miracle to get that much saved in such a short amount of time, but I am not giving up yet. I have plenty of healthy organs I can sell...no biggie.
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