Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Inside My Sketchbooks

Nature is a common thread that connects many facets of my life.  More than ever, I find myself wanting to sort-of melt into the landscape and just be part of the Prairie's wide-open spaces.  I plan to spend more time communing with nature this year.  This is one of the many promises I made to myself after my mom passed.  I want to take time to breathe, to step into each moment with intent, to live fully.  How do I accomplish all of these... well, I am not completely sure, yet.  But I am figuring it out as I go. Isn't that what life's all about, learning along the way, making mistakes, and trying again?


I have always painted wildlife, as a way to feel that closeness to nature.  Feeders just outside my windows put me almost at arms reach of the many birds that visit.  I even started several sketchbooks, years ago, of my various garden flowers and roses.  I sporadically pull these books out to add a few pages to each.  I hope to make sketching outdoors a common occurrence this year.  Practice makes perfect with any endeavor... Here's to a renewed beginning!




6 comments:

Pilgrim said...

Great Post, I am glad that you are keeping your promises to yourself. Beautiful sketches.

Jeannie said...

You have expressed so beautifully how I feel about nature. The coneflowers have me dreaming of summer. I plant more and more coneflowers and bulbs each year. When we built my playhouse, the site was chosen between 4 trees and more windows than necessary. I wanted to be in nature even when the weather wouldn't allow me. Nature has a healing effect on me and I hope it helps guide you, too. xoxo

HollyM said...

The lst commenter expressed just how I feel. I feel completed and at peace when I'm close to nature and even when I get to observe my birds through the window.
Sketching it is a form of meditation for me as well.
I'm glad you're going to be doing more.

Anonymous said...

These are lovely….I enjoy your creative talent so much. Your written expressions about nature and the paintings give life to the tired spirit dwelling in me these days.

Love you Tracie!

PS.
The "box" from Quilts will be in the mail this week.

Katherine Dunn/Apifera Farm said...

Nature can rip down a tree but always leaves roots of some kind or seeds scattered, and I agree, communing with nature is king. I will be thinking of you Monday, as I think of you often. xo

Jane LaFazio said...

Thinking about you this week. So sorry to hear about your mom...loving what you are doing in your sketchbook. Art heals, ya know...