I love Thursdays. I know, what a odd day of the week to fall in love with. But I've always likened how Thursday feels (for me anyway) to the experience when you've crested the top of the roller coaster and are feeling the exhilaration of heading back down. Whoosh--doesn't that feel wonderful? Friday night is so close, and the weekend will soon be here. Anyway, Happy Thursday.
I have a few things on my mind. Number one, my wedding anniversary is coming up and I always forget about it because we got married right before Thanksgiving and I'm always so busy with the holiday preparations, I forget. It's reverse in our family, The Husband never forgets. This year I am going to remember. I'm so lucky to have him and I don't want the poor guy to get the impression that I don't love him with a capital L. Still haven't decided what to do for him yet. Any cool ideas out there bloggy friends?
Yesterday, out of the blue, I got the urge to paint. I used to be half-assed good at painting. Both my mother and father were artists, so I come by it honestly. I had the good sense to know that I was a better writer than I was a painter. I played piano for a while but stopped taking lessons so I might concentrate on writing classes. In my twenties I decided that if I was going to be raising kids and working in the design field, I had better choose between writerly ambitions, my true love and stronger talent, and painting, because God only knew, time for such pursuits was damn near impossible to come by . So I stopped painting. Gardening is another love of mine, but when I quit designing to write full time, and we sold our house with the garden it took me twenty years to cultivate, (52 rose bushes, I had a chocolate rose!) I stopped gardening as well. A girl can only spread herself so thin. Yesterday, when I got the urge to run out to the art store and stock up on paints and canvases, I stopped dead in my tracks and said, "Self. No way! Finish the story you're working on!" And I did.
What have you given up for your dream? Or, did you give up your dream?
Please note: I lost the name of the artist that painted "Cocktail Hour" posted above, isn't it exquisite? If I couldn't paint like that I wasn't having any of it!
All Rights Reserved. © 2009 by Elizabeth Bradley.
All Rights Reserved. © 2009 by Elizabeth Bradley.
29 comments:
Sometimes it seems as I have given up peace of mind for the sake of writing.
So lucky to love your partner!
Aloha, Friend!
Comfort Spiral
I've given up nothing for my dream nor have I given up dreaming...I'm a big dreamer, now I need to find someone who can dream as big as me...
much love
The painting and those flowers are stunning.
I've given up a lot for one of my dreams. It's been completely worth it, but the cost was great.
I think the main thing I've given up is TIME--lol! But it's worth it.
It's not so much giving up, but changing gears. I went to art school and majored in Fine Art. Did the drawing, painting, sculpture, design, pottery, Art History classes. HATED the studio classes. It was like selling my soul to Satan. By the time I'd completed all the requirements for my Fine Art major, I hated art. Luckily, I'd taken up an interest in English - particularly writing. The only English major my college offered in the Dark Ages, was an English Lit major. I jumped on it. Thoroughly enjoyed all the creative writing prerequisites, but fumbled through Shakespeare and English Poets etc. Got through both venues eventually, but never loved art again. College killed the joy. But to this day, I still love to write. Crazy stupid writing, maybe... but I still love it.
I'm one of those people who like all kinds of things. There are so many things I'd like to try, but finding time is hard, hard, HARD!
I'd like to take classes in: painting, computer programming, website design, gourmet cooking, gardening, photography...
But I like to write more :)
Beautiful pictures!
Writing has always been my dream. Sometimes I'm giving up some normalcy at home for it.
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
The thing I gave up was sewing. I used to sew a lot, enjoyed it, learned very young. Used to make some of my own clothes. But when I had kids, I had to give it up. No time between art/making a living and the kids.
Later when the kids were older, I took up gardening which I don't do as much of as I used to. the whole art thing again. Go interested in another technique.
Oh yeah, in this family, it's always him who remembers. Mostly because I've never been much into ritual and I'm just forgetful of dates of events.
Lovely pictures, Elizabeth! Congrats on the anniversary too. Lucky lady. :)
As for giving up something for the dream? I've given up lots of useless television time to write. While that's not a huge sacrifice, it does mean that I'm often out of the loop at the water cooler.
Liz - you are a painter, you just do it with fabrics, wall hangings, furniture and home decor!
So you didn't give up your dream you just put your own twist on it!
Oh, and let's not forget that you can also paint a picture with words!
I think you should run back and get those paints. You are being called back for a reason.
Happy Anniversary!
I'm still in the middle of my dream.
Hi Elizabeth, sorry to hear you've had the flu. I've been battling it too but so far haven't succumbed - just sucked the writing out of me for a few days. Sound like your husband needs a special present that reflects his love and commitment - how about a tree?
Forgot to add, I haven't given up on dreams, just delayed them for very long periods. It has taken me twenty years and five children to finally start on my journey as a writer.
I have given up one of my childhood dreams...dancing. I've danced for as long as I can remember. Life has had a way of interrupting that dream that I could only live in spurts as an adult. And now chronic health problems are making it almost impossible to do, so I live vicariously with Dancing With The Stars.
But I've never given up my other dream since childhood and that is to write. On my deathbed I'll probably be writing my own obituary!!
Love the painting-it is beautiful! I really like your question as I find it difficult as an artist because I tend to want to do (or at least try) many of the things that I find interesting. I was a professional quilter for many years (pictorial applique quilts mostly). I was teaching and entering quilt shows with growing success. However, I realized that as much as I loved what I was doing it wouldn't pay the bills. So I went back to grad school and now I work in the schools. The great thing about it is that I still have time for my current artistic pursuits (writing, storytelling, and photography) while still earning a living:).
BTW, I'm glad that you are feeling better!
Blessings,
Kim
Happy Anniversary. About his gift, kinda hard to say, not knowing him. Obviously books would work for me. Also, most guys love gadets of any kind.
Hope you're feeling better soon.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
The painting is certainly very glitzy, but if you enjoy weilding a brush, why not do it? Surely the main criteria is self expression, not necessarily something based on other's ideas of what does, or does not, constitute a good painting?
Hope you're feeling better today
It seems like you love who you are with and love what you do. Those are great aspects of life to have.
Finding your true calling is a rare gift to have and you are fortunate to go down a path of enjoying what it is you are up to. I would say you paint well also.
Art is VERY subjective - a friend of mine and I used to draw in art class and get into trouble the art teacher said "you will never get anywhere drawing heman" the guy is now one of the top designers of video "heman" type war games.
He had artists in his family and you are fortunate for having the same it is a high risk high return venture.
Thank you for sharing.
Love the painting and the post! It's a good idea to be creative in whatever we choose to do, whether it be painting, writing, or cooking, etc. That is what separates the artist from the crowd. Happy Anniversary and many more! And do the painting, cher, as the gift!
Here's wishing you a very happy anniversary! You sound as bad as me - I always forget mine too!
As for giving up on a dream - nope, just found it, well, relatively recently :-)
I've given up my dream of attaining an athletic body. I accept that less-than-sculpted arms are just my fate.
I love Thursdays too! Fridays are great, but a little too close to the weekend. Saturday nights are a bit sad, and Sundays are so dispiriting, with Monday staring you in the face.
Oh, dearest Elizabeth...you never give up on your dreams...you simply put them on the shelf for a while...obviously, you are ready to take this one off the shelf ;-)!!
And now, I MUST tell you...my wedding anniversary is this week too!! Isn't that hilarious?!?!?! And my husband and I spent our first T-day in London...and had to eat steak as turkey was not a common menu item...LOL...And I, too, gave up on the piano lessons...but hope to take that dream off the shelf in a few years...You are a lady with many artistic talents!!! I know you will find a way to eventually pursue them all!! Love you...hope you are feeling much better!!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!! Love you!! Janine XO
My dream is writing, so nope.
Love the pictures!
I ain't giving up none of it and none of youse guys kin make me! I paint and I'm not that good but I love it. I haven't done it in awhile but I'm ready - I have my easel out and so on. I took lessons for two winters and it was extremely helpful to my writing practice - especially the part when my instructor told me not to focus on one part of the painting and think I'll catch the other stuff up because nothing will work unless you go for the total. I can't tell you how much that helped my writing and my painting. (though come to think of it I just did) I also love to take photos and garden and knit and hang out with my grandkids and friends and cook oh, I love to cook. And working - I like that. And sometimes I adore wasting time watching something on tv. ah. So refuse to choose I say. What focus? I'm like Dory in Finding Nemo. What did you ask?
Hey Girl, you are a very talented painter. Don't sell yourself short. I still have a couple of your paintings. I love your writing, but if you have an urge to paint - why not. Look at Joni Mitchell she writes songs and paint too!
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