Starting with Hands

By the way, I think you should know that Anatomy Month might be really boring blog material.

I decided to start by going through George Bridgeman's Constructive Anatomy and copying some drawings. He starts with hands, and so will I. Graphite tonight. Nothing fantastic. I'll work on hands all week, just drawing, maybe something in oils at the end of the week.

More to come.

Welcome to Anatomy Month!

I decided to take on monthly artistic challenges this year. So this month is Anatomy Month, because I need soooo much practice!

Snow Leopard

I had leftover paint from Milo, so of course had to use it. :)

8x10
Oil on Canvas

Day 28 Joy

Today is the last day.

My deepest joy this day is all of you, my readers who have shared this journey with me. It means more than you know. Thank you so much for stopping by and reading, and commenting.

Love and peace to you.

Day 27 Joy

Once again, my joy for today is great friends. I had such a great evening tonight- my friend hosted dinner and had all kinds of fun things for fondue. It was so elegant. Tomorrow is the very last day of Soul Coaching! Wow!

Milo

A little quick two-hour painting.

8 x 10
Oil on canvas

Day 26 Joy

Today's joy is a miracle. Something I have been wanting to happen for four years. Someone is agreeable to some legal stuff that frees everyone concerned from things that don't benefit anyone.

Also, free lunch (again) at a very nice Japanese restaurant.

Day 25 Joy

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!

I tried to get a pic of it, you can't see it too well but i promise it is pretty.

Day 24 Joy

Gratitude is joy- even if life isn't going exacclythe way we'd like or expect, there is still so much to be deeply thankful for. Going to that place of deep gratitude is such a joyful thing- and best of all, it is always accessible!

Day 23 Joy

Joy is inspiration and insight from others' stories.
I just finished Eyvind Earle's autobiography, and it was amazing. Lots of things to think about.

Day 22 Joy

This morning Daya was painting while i was getting ready from work. Usually she paints people out of her head, portraits of me and herself, or colors pictures in.

But today, completely on her own with no guidance from me, she decided to draw from life!! She painted her paint water cup. :)



Tonight i spent a half hour playing with my new pan pastels. It's been years since I've worked with pastels! They are fun (but dusty).

Day 21 Joy

Today's joy is color! (and new art supplies!)
I've been wanting to try pan pastels, so I got some. They are so pretty and handle so well. Oils will always be my love number one but these might become a solid second.



I can't believe there is only one more week in Soul Coaching...it's been so extremely relevant and insightful, once again.

Day 20 Joy

Today's joy is friendship. I am the kind of person who has a few close friends rather than a wide circle of acquaintances.

I always appreciate and value friendship very deeply...especially because I spent many school years without many friends.

My friends rock and I am so blessed to have them in my life.

Day 19 Joy

Today's joy is giving- specifically, giving blood.
Needles scare me very very much but I still do it because it's so important.

Please give blood!!

It's somwhow fitting that the focus in Soul Coaching today is about facing our own death, and the blood drive at work was today. I hope my blood helps someone.

And even though my blood type is B Negative, I really advocate being a positive person, even when I don't particularly feel like it. This Be Positive junk is hard work- but worth it.

This joy journal has been really helpful the past few weeks, because I have been feeling blah, have had some rough days, and overall have not been feeling particularly joyful- but this is helping me balance my perspective.

Day 18 Joy

Today's joy is winter. I love winter.

Day 17 Joy

Free Food! It's hard not to feel joyful about free food.

My co-worker and I nabbed an whole entire Bella Vita pizza that was left over from a meeting.

Best of all I didn't even have to go to the meeting!

Day 16 Joy

I am NOT feeling very joyful today, it's been a rough day.
But every day, no matter how crappy offers joy somewhere, I guess it's a matter of looking for it even if you do feel shitty.

So, um, I'm looking around and back through my day.

Well, i'm pretty healthy so I'm going to feel grateful and joyful about that.
Because I'll happily keep my shitty day rather than exchange it for being sick or in the hospital.

Day 15 Joy

Joy is oil paint, fresh air, gardens, and wonderful trees! Combine it all and you get plein air painting.

I got 2 paintings done today in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.

Day 14 Joy

Today's joy is a tranquil quiet evening.

Day 13 Joy

Today's joy is the smell and feel of clean laundry.

Day 12 Joy

Today's joy is the start of a three day weekend.

Though to be honest, while I am making a big effort to focus on the positive, I do not feel joyful today. I have to work all weekend. No other details, since this is not the place to vent about my job.

Though I am grateful to have my job, no question.

Day 11 Joy

I didn't get qa chance to post yesterday, so I am doing it today. Joy for day 11 is having good co-workers. It makes such a difference when the people around you are friendly and capable.

Happy Delurking Day!!

Delurking Day is here!!

Day 10 Joy

My joy today is the gratitude I feel for being an artistic person. There are so many people who go through life, just going through the motions of everyday existence with no creativity. And then there are a lot of people who wish they were artistic but think they can't be for some reason. (Which isn't true- anyone can do it!)

Having any form of art in one's life is a great gift- a lifetime journey of development, something that is your unique addition to the beauty of the world. Because there's so much crap everywhere, we need balance.

I can't wait to go out painting on Monday! :)

Day 9 Joy

Today's joy is a wonderful relaxing hot bath with almond-scented bubbles and a large salt rock. And candles, of course.

Day 8 Joy

My joyful experience today is the feeling of sticking to goals and accomplishing what I said I would do.

Day 7 Joy

Today I took Daya to the Museum of Natural History because she asked to go. Near the end of the day, we went to the hall of ocean life. Downstairs is a huge area where a giant model of a whale hangs from the ceiling, and a big movie screen plays images of underwater fish, waves, and the beach. It's really relaxing. Daya and I sat together watching the fish and waves.

And...!!! someone had their dog in the museum! Not a seeing eye dog, a smallish shaggy dog. The family pet. I had no idea you could do that. This wasn't the kind of dog that could be carried around in a bag...it was too big for that.

I love the museum of Nat History. We go a lot, and I renewed my membership just so I don't have to wait in the admission line. Sounds sad I know, but it really is worth it.

Day 6 Joy

Today's joy is the scent of lavender.

Day 5 Joy

There are any things to feel joyful about today. First was an early snowfall (it didn't stick). Then the postman delivered a book I have been eagerly awating, just in time for my morning commute. It is a signed copy of Eyvind Earle's autobiography! With illustrations!!

Then I got free lunch again, at a nice restaurant.

But best of all- below freezing temps outside, Daya was asleep before 9pm, and I get to enjoy my homemade-from-scratch Mexican corn tortilla soup.

It is, in a single word, WONDERFUL.

If you were here I'd gladly share.

Day 4 Joy

Today's joy is a warm purring kitty cat.

Day 3 Joy

joy is dark chocolate. :)

Day 2 Joy

I have 2 things for today: unexpected free lunch, and a finished painting.

8x10 oil on panel

Day 1 Joy

Today is Day 1 of Soul Coaching. Part of the program is keeping a daily Joy Journal, because what we focus on expands.

My joy for today is freshly baked whole wheat bread. I made it late last night, and it was perfect for lunch today. (And tomorrow!) This is a bread I will make often- it is 100% whole wheat, yet is very light and moist. Plus, it fragrances my whole apartment while it bakes, and makes me feel healthy.