Journal

It’s been quite a while since my last blog however, now that it’s springtime I’m feeling more excited. Just to be able to go outside and really feel some warmth in the air is truly uplifting!

My last blog was a tribute to my mother. I am now writing about her again to share a part of her legacy.

When Mummy passed away in June, one of the first messages I received was from Hilary Sherlock, who is the principal of a small school (the STEP Centre) in Kingston for children with developmental disabilities.

I come from a line of artists. My grandmother, Barbara Parsons, made many beautiful paintings throughout her life, and my mother was also a talented artist. Mummy, however, did not get to indulge her passion for painting often because of her incredible career in innovative solutions for children with disabilities in poor countries.

After ten years in the Brandywine Valley area I finally made it to Hershey Park. My summer house full of children would not let me sit it out this time around, and so I found myself driving in convoy through Pennsylvania’s beautiful Amish country (the GPS for some reason took us on the scenic route).

I have recently been working on a project that has allowed me to take a look into the past of my painting. What I mean is that by having to revisit some of my earlier works, I have been able to learn and experience some interesting things about myself.

I am now in “expressing myself with oil painting” mode and have been for about the past month. I had previously been using watercolours, however, I needed a break from them as I was feeling rather saturated with the medium.

This has been quite a year! What with its ups and downs it certainly hasn’t been “dull”. And it would be very easy to say “Good riddance to 2017”, however there have been so many opportunities for learning that I would like to say “Thank you!” instead, for the gifts.

Deciding on what to paint next can sometimes pose a dilemma for me. I’ll now tell you a little story about that and how that helped to resolve it. One day years ago, I didn’t have a clue about what to paint next.

Taking a trip to Jamaica and then trying out something new on social media while being there can be a bit daunting. I tend to get overwhelmed so easily when I step out of my comfort zone and I see all this new stuff heading my way.