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Saturday, August 04, 2007

In The Weeds


I'm in the weeds (as in busy over my head!) more often than I care to think about. The past two weeks have been crazily hectic -- a co-worker changed jobs (a nice way of saying quit), leaving me doing the work of 2 1/2 people, right at the same time that we got busy again at work anyway, right at the same time that we had a huge garage sale planned here at home, right at the same time we're getting ready for a vacation next month, right at the same time I had a pastel workshop to attend, right at the same time that I have an out of town meeting to go to ... you see how the list goes on?

So, this means I've been a baaad blogger.
I'm waaaaay behind on reading e-mails.
I'm too tired to draw or paint much more than a few lines.
And I've not gotten to visit my favorite blogs to see what's going on in much too long a time!

BUT -- I see a light* at the end of the tunnel:
We may have a NEW co-worker in the next week or two (which would be in record time! Keep your fingers crossed and good thoughts happening for me!) This would take me down from my current 6 or 7 days a week back to the standard 5.
It's actually good that work is busy -- makes the days go by better, don't you think?
Our garage sale was today and it was a huge success. (This is despite the fact that a rather large bag of rubber stamps "walked away" from the garage sale ... we're wishing flat tires and bunions on people who steal from garage sales -- and may they get splinters in their fingers, too.)
Now that the garage sale "junque" is out of my house, I can actually see the room where I'm supposed to be painting.
Hubby and I decided to just go and buy a few extra clothing items, which let us get packed for our vacation way early, so that's DONE already!
The pastel workshop (yesterday) was another huge success, and I learned so much hearing it all again. If he comes back to town in the next six months I'll take it yet again -- I need repetition if it's ever going to fully penetrate this thick head of mine.
And the out-of-town meeting -- well, we're staying at a really nice hotel, and it's early next week and will all be over with soon, so it will be another thing off of my list.

Whew. I sometimes have to make myself stop and remember that I'm SO very fortunate -- great family, friends, job, etc. -- that there's really nothing to get stressed about. Nothing at all.


*(The light may be actually located in September, but it IS there.)

**And -- not to make excuses -- but I could NOT get this pastel painting to photograph correctly -- and no matter how I goofed around with the color, couldn't get it to look right. This is as close as I could get. For once I'd say that the original looks MUCH better than the photo! Still, here it is -- In The Weeds.

***AND I have to add, the nice little light feathery marks at the tops of the weeds on the right side of the painting are from Paul DeMarrais, the workshop instructor, who gave it a little touch here and there to show me how to tie it all together. I just realized that I can't take full credit for this painting at all! THANKS, PAUL!!!

;-)

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15 comments:

Tami said...

It is a wonderful painting, stress/no stress, done alone/learning from another, color scanned correctly/colro done the best you can...Glad you are coming up to the light, sounds like you need it!

Lin said...

Linda! I HATE being so busy like that and invariably, when it rains it pours! I'm so glad the light is coming, though! And despite it all, what a magnificent painting you've done!!! I LOVE IT!! FRom composition to execution -- is just awesome!!!! BRAVA! BRAVA!

Jana Bouc said...

Gorgeous pastel painting! A joy to see. Thanks for sharing it, even when you're so swamped.

Laureline said...

Wow, I'd love to be in THOSE weeds! What a gorgeous, luxuriant drawing! The colors are so rich and varied and you really got the deep space just right.
I hope things ease up for you sooner than you think they will, Miss Linda, but it's wonderful to hear your blog voice and see your stuff, no matter what the impetus!

Anonymous said...

This is beyond beautiful. I was looking a book at B&N - California Impressionists. This belongs in there. And if this is what stress does to you, bring on the stress.

Unknown said...

Linda
Sometimes a break is what we need when busy stuff pile up. I am now back from my break and I am in awe of everyone's work. Everyone including yourself have grown and improved with their work. This pastel is wonderful.
The light is at the end of the tunnel as we forge ahead. Bravo for all your fine work. It is great to be back reading your blog.

Chuck Rose said...

Geez, girl. Your life sounds like mine! Too much going on and not enough art. The pastel looks great. You just keep getting better and better.

Deb Salter said...

Love your soft radiant colours! Hope you get some down time in the midst of all the busy-ness.

Karen Sandstrom said...

Your artwork is some of the most inspiring in the "sketching" network. (You never do what I think of as sketching.)
How big is this painting, Linda?

Linda said...

Oh thank you all so much! I'm back from my meeting in Louisville -- no time for drawing, with 12 plus hour meetings every day (no joke) -- and am getting ready to head out again soon, but for vacation this time. I just can't figure out how to pack pastels into my backpack, so I guess they'll have to stay home. Still, there will be plenty of opportunities for sketching and drawing and little watercolor thingies!
Karen, to answer your question -- this painting is really rather small at 11" x 14". It is sitting in my former "formal" living room-slash- painting space and just grows on my daily. I think it's destined to be framed and kept!

pedalpower said...

You should definitely hang and keep this beauty! Hope things get better at work soon, but your artwork is going great!

Teri said...

Oh Linda, this is just beautiful!!!!

Anonymous said...

This is a wonderful painting. I hope your workload lessens soon...

mrana said...

Linda, this is absolutely gorgeous!

Desiree's Designs said...

Wow, I love this painting and the colors you used, thanks for your comments on my bull piece. I couldn't believe it when I read that your framer sprayed fixative as part of the framing process!!! Wow, that takes nerve and lots of liability insurance!!! Love your work and your blog!