Thursday, January 31, 2013

Making Every Day Count

Today ... we bid farewell To January. The time seems to fairly have evaporated for Deb and I here in Rockport. We both have been very busy... ridding ourselves of responsibilities and  projects that we had undertaken late last year. Christmas is always about Family for us... and we always set that time aside to focus our attentions and joy purely upon spending time with our combined Family.

Now that this hiatus has  passed and our family members have dispersed and returned to their own busy schedules and lives, we can place our focus and energy... starting tomorrow for us both on business preparations for Summer 2013 at The Paint Box Gallery. Our goal in the next months is to design and produce some unique new inventory which relates to tourist interests and the purse of the hoards of summer visitors. That influx will begin to descend upon Rockport commencing in early May... and will run (dependent upon weather) through to late October.

I have been working to complete a painting which certainly did challenge me.  I am most certainly not, by any stretch of the imagination, a portrait painter. But this project was a special one for "Me" because I was emotionally involved in the subject and the circumstances. These factors fuelled me "to step up" and to work outside of my comfort zone. It permitted me as well, to work outside of the kind  of "commission" relationship and negotiation process which in reality is usually necessary in the portrait painting genre.

In this case... I " had the stick" - no time constraints - no expectations from the other side, nor more importantly, no monetary issues to distract or discourage. This painting is a heArt gift to a Friend from "Me", not only because I greatly admire her Art... but more because I admire her generous spirit. I am waiting for the painting to dry enough to allow me to varnish it... and I will then forward it to her!

I hold on to and practise certain "rules" or principles which guide my life... my actions and I which believe govern "good living." All, ironically offer me an immediate degree of return of peace and satisfaction. Unconditional acts of love... and kindness demonstrate the kind of humanity which can only lead to a more balanced and stable world around one."What goes around... come around."Simply... be generous for the sake of being generous. Don't anticipate a return.and you will never be disappointed. Allow the Universe to work its mysterious magic... and in every case... you will discover , as I have... that..."my cup runneth over"
with unexpected blessings!

Tomorrow... I begin my own February Challenge. "Thirty Thousand Islands Paintings... in Thirty Days"
Busy priming panels this afternoon... picking out possible locations to visit. Some will be winter images... but I will also require other seasonal offerings. Not all folks share my love of the Canadian winters... on location!

Wish me luck... and stay tuned!.....


"Listen... to the Guitar Man" - oil on panel 12x10 inches

"He can make you love, he can make you cry
He will bring you down, then he'll get you high
Somethin'  keeps him goin', miles and miles each day
To find another place to play....."

"Guitar Man" by the Band Bread


And "He" has found one! "Listen"... to the Guitar Man!


Good February Painting... to ALL!!

13 comments:

  1. Hi Bruce, it's a beautiful portrait. Is it Tim? If it is Suzanne will be thrilled. It's just a wonderful portrait and gift.

    All the best to you,
    Joan

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  2. Wow! I am awed by the portrait...the sentiment...the message. Wonderful gift for your friend!

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  3. Thanks for visiting and for your generous comment about the portrait Joan!

    Just a private gift... "Friend to Friend". I hope that "She" will be happy with the gift!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  4. Hi again Wendy!... Thanks for dropping by and for your encouraging and sensitive comments!

    A wonderful gift,,, for an equally wonderful Friend!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  5. Hi Bruce, I like the portrait. My mother always said that portraits were often let down by poorly painted hands, but you've done a good job here. It's got a good sense of the character of the subject as well, which I think is the most important thing in a portrait.

    I share your feelings about gifts. When something is given in expectation of reward it's not really a gift. True giving is a reward in itself and a generous spirit will bring its own benefits in the end.

    All the best,
    Keith

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  6. I forgot to say that "Listen...to the Guitar Man" reminds me of "Lost in the Sixties".

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  7. Good evening Keith!... Thank you once agin for leaving such positive and thought-provoking comments! I am most pleased to have your compliment about the hands.

    Those were especially important as a part of this portrait... as important as the likeness of the face as well. Any guitar player would certainly cringe... especially with the chord hand positioning... if it weren't correctly formed.

    It gives me great pleasure to have this portrait goiing to the person I mentioned. I much admire her own work... and her spiritual courage and inner beauty. Some paintings.. are by their very nature... price-less!

    I too felt the same spirit of the individual during the painting of this figure... as I did with "Lost in the Sixties." That makes so much of a difference in the commitment one can make to the project. I love them both equally! Both will have gone to be in good homes, so releasing them was fairly easy to do! They are as valued there... as there remain to "Me."

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  8. Hi Kim!... Nice to hear from you!

    Thank you for the compliment! Liked your work in your sketchbook... great use of those free lines!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards... and Hi to Harry!
    Cheers!
    Bruce

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  9. It's a very tender and sensitive portrait. I think the sense of this is heightened by the palette which adds to the intimate feeling of the moment captured. A gift that will be treasured I'm sure.

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  10. I also recognize Tim and know Suzanne will be so surprised and blessed by this gift from the heart, Bruce. It is amazing and you can feel all the love she has for her Tim and all the love you have for your friends in this exquisite painting. I wish I could see her face when she receives this precious gift. I thank you with all my heart for doing this for her.

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  11. My Dear Friend,

    I have shared with you, privately, my deep appreciation for sharing with "us" such an incredible gift from your hands and your heart. I write this through a torrent of grateful tears and know that if you had had a chance to know my Tim you would have loved him as I do. Thank you my friend, I am so honored by your kindness, skill and generousity and will treasure this amazing gift for the rest of my days.

    Much Love, Suz

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  12. HI there Suzanne!... I knew of felt your deep sense of love and loss. He must indeed have been special. His talent seemed endless. I felt his passion for his music in the photo that you posted. I simply couldn't resist picking up the gauntlet to try to capture that feeling in paint. It was a wonderfully soothing experience for "Me."

    Life indeed plays dirty tricks oon us all. It holds no quarter and defies rationality... or fairness. However... we must accept the hand we are dealt... and play on... play on... and play the game ... of living! Tim would want you to do that fully... as you had done together and planned to do for the remainder of your lives together!

    Time is the great healer Suzanne. Give it time and push on with your painting. In my own case... my painting saved my life. It is a powerful tool in the finding Happiness! I wish you well... and will be honoured to have my portrait with "You" to encourage that search for a new life... and Happiness!

    Much peace and love,
    Bruce

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