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I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving Day...whether spent with family and friends or by yourself, Thanksgiving is a good time to remember how much we truly have to be grateful for. I am grateful for everyone in my life who helps support my chosen path with encouraging words, purchase of my paintings, sharing of my work with others and inspiring me with their own creativity.

I was thinking this morning about when I lived out on our acreage, and I truly miss the wide open spaces, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, unobstructed view of the night sky and the wildlife that was a part of my daily life. Two frequent visitors to our property were the Red Fox and the Great-Horned Owl.  I would fall asleep to the hooting calls of the pair of owls whoo lived in the cottonwoods along the irrigation ditch, and on winter mornings after a snow, I would see the fox's footprints meandering along the fence line. For many years, a vixen raised her kits in the northeast corner of our field; she had made a den in the embankment at the end of our ditch. One of my most memorable moments was driving up the hill towards home on a cold winter's evening, and seeing the silhouettes of at least five great-Horned Owls in the bare branches of my neighbor's cottonwoods, their eyes reflecting in my headlights.

My first memory of being aware of owls was when I was little, maybe two or three, and somehow a barn owl had gotten inside our attic. My father told the story many times - and in fact, I'm not sure if I was actually witness to the sight of the owl in the attic, or if I heard the description so many times, it became my own memory. But in my mind, I can see the beautiful owl perched up in the rafters, and I can feel the tingle of excitement, awe and maybe a little fear.

Owls, as night birds, are shrouded in mystery and have become depositories for superstitions. Many of the original beliefs linked owls to evil, and over time the beliefs evolved and it became a messenger of death, a bringer of ill omens, a bird of prophecy, and finally achieved a connotation with wisdom.

There are a few other odds and ends that may have helped the symbolism--

• The goddess Athena controlled wisdom and darkness- her symbol was the owl.
• As a creature of the night, the Celts and Egyptians regarded Owl as a gatekeeper to other realms, particularly the souls of the dead. In some stories this bird actually accompanies a soul so it doesn’t get lost on its journey.
  
• Owls come and go mysteriously-- their ways were largely unknown to humans up until the last couple of centuries.  It may have been assumed that because of this owls possessed some kind of knowledge we did not.
• In Native American tradition Owl represents sacred knowledge. When you begin studying the mysteries this Spirit Animal Guide is an amazing helpmate and mentor.
• Early Christian texts used the owl as a metaphor for Jesus, who appeared in the darkness of sin and showed humans the way to salvation. *

We woke up to about 15" of snow this morning, making me glad that I work from my home and don't have to brave the two and a half foot drifts in front of the garage! It was tough settling in to paint though - with my husband home, my usual "routine" was interrupted, which put me in a slightly grumpy mood.

After several attempts to create, which included layers of paint applied, scraped off, reapplied, re-scraped, my frustration level grew...and I just started aggressively applying paint and using the tip of the palette knife to make lines - tangled, scribbled  and gouged lines that revealed the warm orangey reds and yellows underneath. WOW!! Suddenly, my frustration was gone, as I saw the beauty of sunlit winter trees and the suggestion of birds and tangled branches all in a loose abstraction. And I knew my painting had found me.

Once again, out of chaos and confusion the answer appeared. Not what I was looking for, but beautiful in it's own right. How many times does that happen in life, when we are trying to make something happen, and we are getting frustrated and angry to the point of tears...and then something does happen, totally not what was expected, but something wonderful anyway? Do we recognize that wonderful gift and embrace what has been given us, or do we miserably cling to our old thought pattern?

Maybe that is the essence of Gratitude, to let go of what we want and be thankful for what we have.

Something to think about on this snowy November day.

Last night I watched a program about bears on PBS...perhaps that is why this little Black Bear showed up this morning.  I've always had a fascination with bears...with their ability to stand and walk on their hind legs, and maybe just their shape, they are somehow very human-like. They do share many traits with humans - they are omnivores, they are opportunistic, they have dexterous "hands", and they are good at problem solving.

PBS.org has this to say about bears: "Held in awe by Native American Indians, classic characters in folklore, feared, trapped, hunted, displayed in zoos and made to perform in circuses, the bear has long had a complicated relationship with humans. The bear intimidates with its size and strength, but it may be the bear’s undeniable intelligence that causes us to revere the creature even as we fear him. Considered by many wildlife biologists to be one of the most intelligent land animals of North America, bears possess the largest and most convoluted brains relative to their size of any land mammal. In the animal kingdom, their intelligence compares with that of higher primates."

According to Elena Harris, " In the kingdom of spirit animals, the bear is emblematic of grounding forces and strength. This animal has been worshiped throughout time as a powerful totem, inspiring those who need it the courage to stand up against adversity. As a spirit animal in touch with the earth and the cycles of nature, it is a powerful guide to support physical and emotional healing."

I love Ginger Cats! I didn't know until 11 years ago how special they are. In fact, until our Ginger Cat, Curlin, came into our lives, I never thought much about them - I've had calicos, brown, gray and silver tabbies, seal points, flame points, black and whites...but no orange. My daughter brought Curlin home as a kitten and introduced the family to the wonder of this red-headed wonder of the cat world. 

First thing a Ginger cat teaches, whether male or female: They rule the Universe. Humans and other cats exist to serve and amuse. They MUST be obeyed, or they will do naughty things in order to bring your mistake to light.  Human forgot to fill water dish? Ginger cat jumps up onto the counter and sits in the sink. Forgot to fill the food bowl. Ginger cat will meow pitifully, thrown him/herself on the floor in a fit of starvation. If that doesn't clue you in, Ginger Cat will jump on the kitchen table and knock things on the floor. If that doesn't work, the counter, bookshelves, coffee table, side tables - any thing with something ON it will be cleared. Litter box needs cleaning. Well, Ginger Cat can't be expected to relieve him/herself in a dirty box! Door to bedroom closed? Ginger wants in or out, whichever is the opposite of where he/she is. 

So, if you've never been trained by a Ginger Cat, you may be wondering, who would want one???!!!  Well, the last thing about a Ginger Cat is this: once you are "the chosen one", Ginger will fix his/her loving gaze your way, insist on being picked up and loved on by you and you alone, and make you feel like the most special being in the world. Of course, Ginger Cat knows that he/she is the sun, and that glow you feel is, like the light of the moon, a mere reflection of Ginger Cats glory.

(This particular Ginger Cat owned one of my collectors. His name - the cat, not the human - was Fred Astaire. He is dancing with the stars now, but this little painting will serve as a reminder of his Extreme Wonderfulness.)

This pony came in pretty willful and wild - if only the layers of paint could talk, they would tell a tale of galloping wildly through a forest, strewn with fallen tree limbs and branches (Jump over? Go around? Go back?), getting lost and scared, stopping, breathing, looking with fresh eyes,  finding a path, gaining confidence and then, finally, breaking out of the dense forest and feeling rather pleased!

The funny thing about willful ponies is you have to come at them sideways.  You can't look at them too hard or you scare them away.  Nope, you've got to turn your back on them and get real busy doing something else like you don't care. And not only "like" you don't care. You've got to release all expectations of catching that pony. You've got to release your agenda and your schedule and then just be. Pretty soon that pony won't be able to stand it. He'll get curious and make his way over to you.  And here's where you have to be patient and stay in the present. Start thinking about putting a rope around him and he'll pick up on it and will be gone in a flash. So slowly, you shift, and offer him the carrot or apple you've got in your hand, and then, when his mind is focused on getting that, you can slip the rope around his neck, let him eat his treat and get some loving from you, and then that pony is yours.  Some paintings are like that, too.

Well, it looks like Foxy has herself a playmate! I was surprised and pleased with this hound dog showed up with fox this morning. Perhaps they don't know that they "should" be enemies.

I did a bit of experimenting on this painting, with both color palette and technique.  I've been looking at the work of Van Gogh and am captivated both by his use of color and his thick application of paint. And although I wasn't specifically thinking of either while I was painting, I certainly see some influence!

I think the underlying message of this little painting is that we can be friends with people who aren't like us.  All it takes is an open mind, an ability to respect each other's opinions without having to agree, a willingness to accept that not everyone is going to look, talk, think or act the same way you do, and a desire to find common ground. 

I don't know what common ground brought these two together. But it looks like the hound is watching out for his buddy the fox. And that makes me smile. I hope they make you smile, too.

“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching, Love like you’ll never be hurt, Sing like there’s nobody listening, And live like it’s heaven on earth.” ― William W. Purkey

Most of you have heard that quote, and I was thinking of it this morning as I danced alone in my living room to one of my favorite cd's, Loreena McKennitt's "A Midwinter Night's Dream". I never grow tired of it, and listen and paint (and dance!) to it at all times of the year.

I decided this morning it would be fun to let our friend the fox dance on the canvas.  After all the stillness and stretching, a silly dance might be just the thing to start the day with a smile on our face and joy in our heart! And what if, just for today, we follow Mr. Purkey's wise words, and are free from worrying what anyone else thinks and do the things that bring us happiness...wear the crazy shirt! Sing out loud in the car - even at a stop light! Dance! Be your crazy, weird and wonderful self!

Lately I've been reminded of not only the importance of sitting with my breath, but also the importance of mindful movement. When life is hectic and stressful, our bodies tend to tighten up and retain the stress, resulting in tense, sore muscles.  Long, slow stretches in the morning upon awakening and in the evening before bed help release the tension and keep us flexible. Animals seem to know this instinctively. And maybe we human animals know it too.

Perhaps stretching physically can also help remind us to stretch ourselves in other areas of life.  To go out of our comfort zone and grow a little - creatively, spiritually, emotionally and compassionately.  This little fox came today to remind us all....s-t-r-e-t-c-h!!!!

Despite best intentions, and not for a lack of trying, I didn't get my Thursday daily painting done...this is where I had to stop. It was a good day, despite not having more than 15 minutes at a time to paint. I spent a good part of the morning helping my mom see what her actual income and expenses are, to alleviate her worry that she didn't have enough money to pay her expenses. Sometimes a look at the actual numbers is a good thing.  For an elderly person, who remembers paying $15 a month for rent in her first apartment, the sight of a $200 electric bill is (pardon the pun) shocking. I find California utility bills a bit shocking myself! The rest of the day was spent starting the process of coordinating care for my mom until I return in December. I'm feeling positive that by the time I board my flight home on Friday, we'll have a schedule in place.

Despite all the distraction, I am having fun with this piece.  Taking the technique I discovered with Tuesday's "Blame It On Chagall" a little further, adding color and a bit more of a story, I am excited to see where this ends up.  I expect to be back on track and back in my home studio by Monday!

Thank you to all who have purchased a daily painting! Your support has been, as the song goes, "the wind beneath my wings." If Friday allows, I will ship paintings...if not, they will fly back to Colorado with me and I'll get them shipped on Monday.

Feeling calm this morning after taking time to meditate as the sun awakened the eastern sky.

Somehow, the path seems clearer, as if the fog has lifted enough to see where next to place my foot.  

Breathing in deeply, lungs fill with possibility.

Breathing out fully, emptying my mind and body.

Thoughts float by like a leaves in a stream. Effortless. 

Go with the flow. Be in the flow. Be the flow. 

Fox, so quick and cunning. Be still. 

Blame it on Chagall...literally! This mornings painting was wholly inspired by a gif going around Facebook showing Chagall paintings.  Chagall is my hero...his seemingly carefree approach to composition, his wacky mashup of imagery, his bold and unexpected  use of color..give his work a surreal, almost hallucinatory feel. 

This study started out without intending to pay homage to Chagall, but interestingly, I  decided to use some cheap bristle brushes that I have. The surface of the gessoed panels I bought is very slick,  and it doesn't have any tooth to catch paint, making it difficult to use the palette knives. But the bristle brushes swirl over the surface, leaving interesting mottled patterns. And in those patterns, forms were suggested.  I don't know if this is fully realized yet, but felt I was at a good stopping point. 

Words elude me right now, as if my mind can only process my emotions in picture form.  So today I will let the painting speak for itself. 

Painted with palette knife, brushes and white charcoal pencil on a new surface - cradled wood panel.

With Gratitude, 

Kate

I am here...in San Diego.  I  woke up early this morning to paint and discovered I only had 4 tubes of paint...carbon black, titatium white, cadmium yellow and pthalo blue.  The canvas I brought with me was under painted with alizarin crimson.  I was lost as I started out...these are not my usual colors to start with.  So I just started applying the paints that I had squeezed out onto a tiny paper plate, the only thing I had to use as a palette.

At first, nothing...just patches and then streaks of blue and yellow, blending into green.  Slowly, the visage of a horse and rider appeared, indistinct and shadowy. Strangely, I felt I knew who  this was; it was the guide who comes to me in times of trouble to help navigate the umbrous and unmapped wilderness that changes can bring. 

Sometimes male, sometimes female...this guide who appears in my paintings reminds me to be open, to set aside preconceived thought patterns, to expect answers without pretending to know what they will be and to trust that this guide, whose true heart is always visible, will show me the way.

Are you lost or looking for answers? Open your heart and follow your guide.

I really had no idea what I was going to paint this morning...with my impending trip, my mind is on logistics of getting work done today, packing, delivering a painting and going to the grocery store...not painting.  But I made myself sit down and start moving paint around, and this is what showed up.  The sky is stormy, the light is low and there's a wind blowing the horse's mane.  Everything in this painting feels slightly unsettled, and maybe that's how I am feeling, too.

I've felt this way before, and I'll bet you have too. Change is not only inevitable, it is necessary. We can't stay stagnant - life is all about change. What is unsettling is when our desire for things to stay the same runs up against the storm front of something different. To fight change is self-defeating, we end up fighting windmills and expending energy. And all for naught, because in the end, change wins.

I wish you all the courage and wisdom to accept and adapt to whatever changes are occurring in your life right now, as I search for my own courage and wisdom.

When these two elephants showed up on my canvas this morning, they made me laugh...they are goofy, playful, childish and joyful. This was a surprise, because I wasn't particularly feeling any of those things. In fact, I was feeling pretty serious - some news about my mom had me feeling anxious last night and I didn't sleep well. I will be taking an unscheduled trip to California on Thursday, so I had arrangements to make and appointments to re-schedule. 

According to www.shamanticjourney.com, "Elephants show us that by supporting and loving one another, our own ability to thrive in the physical world is enhanced. We learn from them to pass on the gift of nurturing we received in our early years, be it from our biological family or others who helped us grow into who we are now. We must honour the elders of our community and nurture the young. Like the elephant, we need to help ease the transitions of those who are going into adulthood with gentle love, wisdom, patience and compassion. By having open hearts and minds, we can create strong relationships within the community, therefore building a strong community."

I think of this in relationship to my mother, who, at nearly 93,  is our family's matriarch, I realize that some of my anxiety is seeing her become frail and unable to be the protector, counselor and caregiver that she was. And that she also feels the shift, and it is unnerving. It occurs to me that I need to help her with that transition with "gentle love, wisdom, patience and compassion" - all attributes of the Elephant.

As the elephants began to take shape on my canvas, I found myself relaxing into the creative process and focusing on what was happening right NOW. And the more I was present in painting, the more fun I had. I found myself smiling at the goofy elephants who came to remind me to be present and find the Grace in the shift and Gratitude that I am able to hop on a plane and be where I need to be.

What does it mean when a calico kitty shows up at your doorstep? According to Japanese fisherman lore, a calico cat brought on board a ship will protect it from harsh storms, as well as the ghosts of their envious ancestors. In the US, calico cats are sometimes referred to as "money cats" because they bring good fortune to their owners. And the Irish believed that you could cure warts by rubbing a calico cat's tale on the affected area...but only in the month of May.

As a spirit or totem animal, the cat carries many meanings revolving around the balance between seemingly opposites, such as inner and outer, action and rest, light and dark. It’s strongly symbolic of the connection with what usually hides in darkness or the unknown. The cat generally represents:

• Patience, waiting for the right moment to act
• Independence, yet enjoying social connections
• Spirit of adventure, courage
• Deep, relaxed connection with self
• Healing from the inside out
• Curiosity, exploration of the unknown or the unconscious

Back when I was around 9 or 10, I brought home a calico kitten and although my mom was not happy about it, my dad proclaimed that he "couldn't resist a calico cat", and so Brenda the Second (the First was a brown tabby) came to live with us. She was quite a character, and loved to jump up on my Dad's shoulder while he was shaving. She also carried a grudge and was known to lay in wait in the hall bathroom doorway and grab your ankles with her front paws and kick you with her back if you scolded her. She had "moods" - either sweet and purry or wild and crabby. We could always tell which mood she was in by looking at her nose. A pale pink nose meant the coast was clear. Bright pink and watch out!

Today is the first day of November. Get it? If not, I'll explain later...

This piece started out as a cute little rabbit. Kind of sweet...and then, well, something happened, and the rabbit became huge, too big to fit on my canvas. And a little imposing looking as well. What happened?

I couldn't stand the cute little bunny. It was, to me, blah, lacking in excitement, boldness. So I wielded my trusty palette knife and scraped most of the first attempt and pretty much started over, a little annoyed with myself for the first attempt. Maybe that's where the bunny got his attitude...

Afterwards, I looked up Rabbit as a totem, or spirit animal, and found that in general, rabbit symbolism reminds us to examine and use the tools we have within ourselves. Even though our instincts are inherent, they also need nurturing and development. Rabbit meaning also deals with abundance, comfort, and vulnerability (as well as  fertility and procreation.) "In other words, you have an abundance of creativity right now and should make good use of it. Furthermore, it signals that a windfall of abundance is imminent". (from www.spirit-animals.com) Well, that is good news, and if the Rabbit is VERY BIG...that's got to be good, right (well, except for the procreation part)?

And for those who don't know the significance of "Rabbit Rabbit":   It is a superstition that has it's origins in Britain wherein a person says or repeats the words "rabbit", "Rabbit rabbit" or any variation on the theme aloud upon waking on the first day of a month, to ensure good luck for the rest of it. Though many theories abound as to why rabbits are good luck, I think it is probably based on their ability to reproduce rather quickly, which makes them rather abundant,  and if you are looking for some luck, you might as well have lots of it, right?

This is one I'd like to try larger...say 30x30...now that WOULD be a Big Bunny!