Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Frozen


 gouache on illustration board, painted by my mother, 1947?

What felt like cozy cocooning, settling in with a cup of hot chocolate, some books and movies on DVD, and a stash of art supplies back in December is starting to feel like cabin fever.  My sloppy sweatpants and bulky sweater are hiding a shape that I don't want to think about.  My artwork seems to be stalled out.  My employed friends are overwhelmed with their jobs and families, and my retired friends are either busy volunteering or are away somewhere warm. The plumbing has been misbehaving, and the Saturn has been suffering aches and pains of old age; we have been enriching the local economy with money paid out for repairs.  Television and the news - forget about it. I've been thumbing through magazines and thinking that none of the people pictured in them look like anyone I know, but rather like like some other fitter, younger species.  The winter of our discontent is here, and more snow is forecast tonight.

I'm trying exit this state of blah.  I'm planning a train trip to Washington state in May, partially to do some family history research.  I've been to the athletic club most days the past two weeks. I cashed in my birthday gift certificate for a pedicure today, so my toes are adorable and very cold.  I matted three watercolors for an upcoming art exchange, though I wish my paintings were fresher, more original.  I've been doing a personal visual journal, though it feels a little like navel gazing.  I'm certainly not posting anything from that in public. Mostly I've been spending too much time on line, trying to see what other people are creating, or what they're reading. Got to stop that.  

OK, I'm done whining.  I know my moods are tied to the seasons.  Just for fun, take the little quiz on the link below.

Your rainbow is shaded green.




What is says about you: You are an intelligent person. You feel strong ties to nature and your mood changes with its cycles. Those around you admire your fresh outlook and vitality.


Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

5 comments:

Ann said...

I enjoyed this post - only in that I know exactly how you are feeling, I am right there with you. The image of your mother's art is great! I wish I could leap like that. I'd probably hurt myself though.

Sharon said...

I really get the cabin fever thing, although not because of snow, but feeling "stuck" in the country and craving the amenities of cities. I think it's interesting that your mother was also an artist, Sherry. It sounds like you are taking steps to overcome the blahs. Good luck! (That color quiz was fun.)

laura said...

I feel stalled too, and hate to think about what's under my sweatpants! Frustration, restlessness and boredom seem to be late winter trials.
I love your mother's artwork: what an iconic image!
(My rainbow is white: who ever heard of a white rainbow?!)

Anonymous said...

I'm with the other comments--really like your mother's piece. What is there about that that works so well? It's so perfectly tied together, but expresses freedom and joy too. My rainbow was shaded red. Not a real surprise, LOL.

Donna Mulholland said...

Love your mother's piece. The two figures are so synchronized!

Cabin fever. I hear ya. I'm going to start to paint more flowers to focus on the coming spring!