2012 DECEMBER BLOG

-
                     Thanksgiving was wonderful. The weather was perfect, the leaves did their thing, our son and his family from Dallas were happy at a near-by resort hotel and the Thanksgiving buffet where we dine each year was especially good. I cooked the meals we all shared here at our home ahead of time and in concert with our daughter who lives in Austin.

Yes, Thanksgiving was terrific but Christmas is joy. The children are older (aren't we all)! Gift giving is still front and center but Santa has taken a back seat. And the birth of baby Jesus can be celebrated in recognition of what it's really all about.

May years ago, our son said, "What do you think of our coming to Austin for Thanksgiving every year and to Memphis for Christmas?" I confess I felt second place and not able to compete with all the Christmas excitement in Memphis. There were 11 little cousins all about the same age, not to mention lots of aunts and uncles, when they were gathered at the other grandparent's home. Here in Austin at that time, including our recently married daughter and son-in-law and his parents, we numbered only 6.

But now with our 2 Austin grandchildren and our 3 Dallas grand-teens plus the adults that accompany them, we make a robust Thanksgiving of 13. In December we travel to Dallas for early gift giving and family fun, then back home before the eve of Christmas. Free from the last minute stress and crush, we can look forward to a beautiful Christmas Eve mass at our Episcopal church, then a leisurely Christmas Day with more gift giving and dinner at our daughter and son-in-law's home. (Although they may not think it leisurely, I like the way it is orchestrated.)

I'd love to know how you celebrate the Christmas season or your holiday time. I wish joy and peace for you and yours and a very happy new year.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Carole's FEBRUARY BLOG

-
Image
GULF COAST SPLASH 30" x 30" Oil on Canvas This painting is the result of my sitting on a sea wall at a friend's house located on the intercoastal canal in Port Aransas, Texas. Staring at the splashes against the rocks is hypnotizing. Like snow flakes, no two splashes are alike. As a result of a trip to the west coast many years ago and watching the waves break on the beach, I painted a wave. This painting reminded me of that similar experience. Toni, do you remember buying that wave for your son's wedding gift? The colors on our Texas Gulf Coast can't compare with the incredible blue of the Pacific Ocean, but I borrowed a little of that color for my Texas splash. Artist'd Privilege! MUSEUM SHOW: At the GETTY CENTER in Los Angeles until February 28 is "Rembrandt and His Pupils: Telling the Difference". If you can't make the trip, do as I did. The interactive on the Getty's web site allows zooming in on the images. You can test yourself b...
Read more

DECEMBER BLOG 2010

-
Image
Almost one year ago I posted an image of a painting that I call MOTION on my January blog. I was never completely satisfied with it but liked it enough to continiue to look for solutions. I spent an inordinate amount of time sitting and staring at the painting. I hauled it ( it is 30" x 30") to a meeting of some Austin painting friends where we share criticism of one another's work. Then finally months later, I placed it on my easel, took brush in hand and modified it enough to call it done. I would love some feedback from you readers who would go to the http://www.carolesikes.blogspot.com/ , scroll down to the painting below the HAPPY NEW YEAR on last January's blog and tell me which version you like best. A common dilemma of many if not most painters is knowing when to stop. Often when one is having fun moving paint around, the painting can become overworked. This one was a great challenge and I like nothing better. Other paintings seem to slide right onto the can...
Read more

WATER CIRCULATING 14 X 20

-
Image
The following 6 images complete my "close-ups" from nature. My intention in these works on paper has been to make ordinary things appear extraordinary, or at least important. To see with the artist's eye means to find and concentrate on what attracts one to a subject or a scene. I have attempted to isolate what is attractive to me in each of the following examples. Often it is motion, perspective, color, line, shapes or shadows. All 12 works were photographed and then painted with oil on paper in my studio. Austin's recent triple digit temperatures have made plein aire work less appealing than working in the studio. Paintings are matted in white museum board, beveled and available for purchase. When matted the dimensions are 20 x 26.
Read more