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Hi Everyone!

A few days ago a Facebook artist friend of mine (Hi Dale K.!) posted that he was having a difficult day.  So many of us gave him some encouraging words on his post.  I put up a one minute video I had taken with my phone several years ago when I was sitting, leaning back against my favorite tree in the woods.

I like to occasionally video places that are close to my heart.  I have videos by this favorite tree in the heat of the summer, listening to the birds and watching the light on the leaves.  And again in autumn- same spot but watching the yellow leaves fall gently and scatter on the ground.  I also have one by our pond, listening to the spring peepers.  No words, just presence in that space and time.

Dale describes this as a Native American practice of silent hunting where we just sit and wait and experience what is happening right now.  I had not heard that before, but it would seen a natural way for all people who live close to the earth's heartbeat.

A painting can be approached the same way.  A way where we artists look around for what we can't take our eyes off and respond in the moment.  I don't often think about the point or meaning of a painting when I set out.  But it sometimes comes to me while I am working, or even later when it is all done.  I'll have an insight and think, oh, that's what this is all about: a safe place, a quest, a family gathering, an immersion, a welcome home.

I was with a painter friend (Hi Donna!) once and we were tromping across a little field lightly chatting, looking for the next painting when I stopped short, stepped back, stepped to the side, then back again.  She smiled and said, "I know that look" as she watched me drop my gear and set up my easel.  When you find it, you find it.  She did the same nearby.

In March I am part of a three woman show at Red Raven Art Company in Lancaster.  I've been working towards the exhibition for the last year and have paintings (with animals) and some unframed pen and ink sketches of animals as companion pieces.  If you are in the area please consider stopping in.  Or consider taking a look at their website where the paintings's images will be posted.  It will be a short show- the space is being renovated the last week of March and I am unable to attend the reception on March 1st.  But I will be at the artist talk on Saturday, March 2nd which will be posed on Facebook, so that will be fun.

Happy Hunting everyone, for whatever you may be needing in your own lives this spring.

Jill

Hello Friends!

There was a really gusty day a few weeks ago.  A door caught a couple of my fingers as the wind slammed it shut.  Ow.  A little drama.  A lot of days with my fingers taped together.  Now I only have one finger bandaged, the middle one, make of that what you will.  And it looks like it will stay that way for a few more weeks.  But the good news, I told Ed the next morning after the accident, is that I can still draw.  So I have been sketching, a little more laboriously but still working instead of painting for a little while.  And look at me: I can finally type this blog!

I am a very task oriented kind of soul just by nature.  As you may have guessed art has been job #1 for quite awhile.  Generally that means organizing the time in my days around painting but... now my side quest of drawing frequently has become my main focus until I can manage a palette knife again. 

Interesting thing about drawing for an hour or two each morning is that not only does my work evolve, but it has become an integral part of what I simply need...in every way...to do each morning.  It sets up the rest of the day for a day of balance, good humor and joy.  What an easy thing to do.  We had to run a couple of errands today.  After I got back from walking with our doggo Ed asked me if I was going to draw first.  I said, "yes".  And he replied, "good!"  So that is how that goes.

After a while of this daily morning practice it became clear that I have a lot of sketches that are looking pretty good to me.  I've been doing them on some nice good quality paper and ordered a supply of archival mat board, some framers tape, and plastic sleeves.  All set to go so I set up a new collection entitled Ink Sketches on my website.  And yes, first day up we had a sale (thank you Susan!).  

It is kind of fun for me that one of my side quests has stepped to the fore for awhile.  I hope that you have some good side quests going for yourself.  Mine fill me with such joy.  

Fingers crossed!

Jill Peckelun