Odd Chick got her wings...

This is odd chick getting ready to fly!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I went and signed up to tandem jump out of an airplane before I even talked to Sweet Farmer about it. I was afraid he would talk me out of it!

I handed him my camera, a kiss like it might be my last, and happily jumped in a plane that took me up 11,000 feet.

The only scary part for me was that little roll out of the plane- I didn't want to get caught on anything like the step or geeeeez- the propeller! Then there was a 45 second free-fall and what a RUSH! I tried to stay totally present so I could recall the memory with great clarity- but even then, ITs HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS. I have nothing to compare it to. The cold, the speed and the rush of the wind on my cheeks and the ground whirling below me like a giant pinwheel. I have to admit I was glad when the chute came out and slowed things down a bit so that I could soar. I even spread my arms out like a bird to see if only for a minute I could feel in small measure the freedom of the spaciousness of the sky. 

 

It was a glorious flight on a sunny day at Port Aransas, Texas. And it was a dream checked off on a list titled, "Wild & Precious Living".

I loved it. I hope to do it again whenever I get another chance - I will jump at it! I was light and weightless in the sky.

It looks like I didn't stick my landing but I swear I did- or at least I felt like an Olympic champion when I landed on my feet - but then all my weight and the earth touch like a magnet to the ground.

I kept waiting to be scared but truly it was peaceful. Sweet Farmer thinks it's funny that I'm more scared to talk on the radio when we're flying our plane (now that stops my heart) than I was to jump out of a plane! Go figure.

 

What's on your bucket list?

 

 

 

Seriously....

This was an actual sign on the door of an art gallery on a street I was browsing in a tourist's town. I had to laugh because I wanted to meet the owner(s) whom don't seem to take themselves too seriously. But it was closed. lol.

Sometimes my life, my art feels like this too. I'm in, I'm out and sometimes there all the time unless I'm someplace else? Are you like that? Or are you one of those scheduled, driven, stay-on-task, stay-in-the-moment kind of people?



sign Peter Hurd used outside his studio door

Sometimes I take myself too seriously. I add too much weight to my creativity. Pretty soon, it's like putting on shoes filled with concrete. It becomes a burden. Joyless.

I have to remind myself to enjoy my blog without the crippling worry that I don't always write with grammatical accuracy. Or that I have nothing super-interesting to show or tell.                         just post.
I have to remind myself that my drawing should get better but that every piece I produce is not going to be better than the last one.               just draw.
I have to remind myself that when no one buys my art that is still a valid and important endeavor and that has value simply because it brings me joy.                    just paint.
 So I write and draw and paint what I love and add important exercises in between and then back off and start back again serious, not so serious.... again... and again.

Following are a few of my recent journal pages.

My attempt at charcoal on gesso with pastel, trying to improve my hair strokes, thinking about light and shadows more.

My attempt at mark making with pen and no eraser- loosening up, trusting my instincts.

My attempt to visually express deep disappointment.

My attempt to draw postures and gestures.

 

My attempt to improve my anatomy and specifically, hand drawings.

 

My attempt to draw glass and work on values.

Some of these attempts are serious and some not so serious. But I have attempted- that is something I take very seriously.

 

Thank you to all who visit my blog. I treasure your comments and your thoughts.

Seriously.

I do.