Rain on my Window

Recently, I've been playing more in acrylics rather than oil. I love the fluidity of the acrylics. They also dry much faster than my oils which sometimes take months to dry.

One day, after looking out the window, I had the idea to just let the paint flow down my canvas. We've been having so much rain in Vermont that it somehow seemed appropriate.

This is how the final painting looks. I was so pleased with it that I've decided to do a much larger work. Which will be posted here when I have it completed.

Rain on My Window

Acrylic on Canvas

24" x 30"

Virus

Recently we’ve been seeing in the news the hysteria over the swine flu virus now called h1n1. This simple name change represents the confusion and fear that the name flu or virus creates. It’s difficult for me to believe that in this age that some countries were banning or killing their pigs out of fear that they could be contaminated with the virus.

When I was recently in Costa Rica, we had to fill out forms when entering the country indicating if we had any symptoms of the flu. When we were leaving the country there were announcements in the airport saying that visitors should report to a special area if they had any symptoms of cough, headache, or fever.

In my mind, a virus is a normal part of life. They’ve been here at least as long as humans have and will be here long after us. Perhaps, one day we will be able to control the movements of humans or perhaps provide a “cure” for a virus at a moment’s notice but we aren’t at that point today.

Perhaps it is a bit fatalistic on my part but there’s little we can do except wash our hands and be extremely conscientious when we or others around us are ill.

My latest painting I have dedicated to the virus.

Fluttering Flames

Every now and then.....

Perhaps it does some good to pause...

and REFLECT

About this winding online journey.

We have known one another 

some for a short time... some for much longer...

yet do I really know any of you at all?

Only the screen knows....that you are here now...

Electrons that are momentarily excited...

Providing a glimpse of you.

Yet when this site is left, could it really be just a memory in cyberspace?

Are you real?

Or are all of us merely fluttering flames on nameless CANDLES....

.....full of light now..

Suddenly going puff..allowing darkness to fall...

While no one notices?

Rivulets - New Painting

Two Rivulets side by side,
Two blended, parallel, strolling tides,
Companions, travelers, gossiping as they journey.

For the Eternal Ocean bound,
These ripples, passing surges, streams of Death and Life,
Object and Subject hurrying, whirling by,
The Real and Ideal,

Alternate ebb and flow the Days and Nights,
(Strands of a Trio twining, Present, Future, Past.)

In You, whoe’er you are, my book perusing,
In I myself—in all the World—these ripples flow,
All, all, toward the mystic Ocean tending.

(O yearnful waves! the kisses of your lips!
Your breast so broad, with open arms, O firm, expanded shore!)

Poem by Walt Whitman

Positive Words

Many times we just don't hear the world of words flowing around us. Frequently, we're too preoccupied with our own needs, too busy, or too unbelieving when we hear the words that are positive and affirming around us. I put together a list of what I feel are positive words. I am challenging you to listen for them in your daily life. Try using them with your friends and listen for them coming from the people around you. I think you'll be surprised at how much better they can make you and others feel.

Acceptance
Accountable
Acknowledging
Active
Adoring
Affectionate
Agreeable
Aspiring
Assisting
Assured
Attentive
Attractive
Aware
Balanced
Beautiful
Blessed
Bold
Bountiful
Brave
Calm
Capable
Charitable
Comforting
Commendable
Composed
Creative
Curious
Cultured
Decent
Dedicated
Delicate
Delightful
Developing
Dignified
Diligent
Disciplined
Discrete
Distinguished
Growing
Happy
Hardy
Helpful
Hero
Honest
Honorable
Faithful
Friendly
Flexible
Firm
Harmonious
Healing
Healthy
Gentle
Glad
Gifted
Giving
Goal-oriented
Industrious
Innocent
Integrity
Intelligent
Interesting
Interested
Intuitive
Illuminated
Illuminating
Knowing
Learned
Lenient
Lively
Lofty
Logical
Lowly
Loyal
Lucid
Masterful
Matchless
Mature
Meek
Merciful
Mighty
Model
Mover
Nobel
Nourishing
Nurturing
Objective
Observant
Open
Optimistic
Orderly
Organized
Positive
Pure
Purposeful
Practical
Quiet
Questioning
Rational
Reasonable
Responsive
Searching
Seeker
Sensitive
Simplicity
Spiritual
Spontaneous
Steadfast
Strength
Successful
Supportive
Sympathetic
Tactful
Temperate
Tender
Thoughtful
Together
Tolerant
Tranquil
Trusting
Trustworthy
Thankful
Truthful
Understanding
Unselfish
Uplifting
Valiant
Visionary
Vital
Warm
Well
Wholesome
Wisdom
Wonderful

Please, by all means, if you remember additional words to watch for, please let me know so that I can increase my list and share with others. We're in this world together.

Happy Sharing!