Summer in the City

Saskatoon in the summer! Last night I walked home from a friend's house. It was9:30-ish.The light was softening and there was a beautiful Saskatchewan sunset. I could hear the Jesse Cook concert in the distance at the Bessborough gardens. As I walked by Castle Theatre I could hear some music spilling out from Tom's play. On I went past St. Philip School and saw and heard kids playing in the schoolyard-their Family Day in the Park had ended and there were some kids on the play equipment having too much fun to want to leave.

Ponding

Man, making a pond is a lot more work than I banked on! It's still a fun project, but I have other fish to fry. It's looking pretty good,though, I must say.

Something you love

I heard someone recently say that one part of leading a full and rich life is to find something you love to do and work at becoming really good at it. I think it's really true. It made me take stock of what I really love to do. The biggest thing is creating something beautiful. Drawing,painting,flower arranging,wedding decorating, all these things involve the same charge I get from making art: the process of planning and problem solving,the elements of design, color(which I love), getting my hands in there and making an idea become a concrete thing that you can see and touch. It's in a small way like giving birth.
My son Tom's friend, Jared Nordick, has a blog where he talks about his very interesting spray-can artwork. I remember seeing him work at a festival in Saskatoon a couple of years ago. He has such a good knowledge built up of how his materials work and how he can use themto make the interesting and wonderful art that he does. That takes learning and practise and lots of hard work. And a touch of genius. It's kind of inspired me to get back at it. I'd like to wander around a bit this summer and get some drawing in. I also got such a kick out of doing collage in my last art class on 2-D design, I was so happy when I was at that class. Like a kid at a candy store.