Heat Heat and More Heat

Finally after my usual yearly break I am back in the studio. I am in full creating mode!!! And now the weather decides to heat up again and its just too darn hot in the studio. Temperatures of 39C (102F) Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As I now work at the Royal South Australian Society of Arts two days a week, gone are the days of unrestricted studio time. But in saying that, my work practices have changed. Because I have less studio time the time I do spend in there is quality time. There is more purpose in my work. I don't just go into a painting frenzy. There's more thought in the behind the meaning and the processes used. Although my paintings were my way of story telling I always felt they were not much more than pretty pictures to hang on the wall. I craved more depth and envied artists that could achieve it. I feel that my work is at a turning point, in a growth spurt and I am interested to see where it leads. I started the year with no goals or plans for my career path. I was floundering. I didn't know where I was headed or what I should do next. It frightened me. I usually set loose goals for the year. Luckily I had my travel plans to keep my mind occupied. I should really learn to trust the universe because things are changing, doors are opening and slowly I see some opportunities coming to light. For those of you who don't know, I am flying to the US this year to meet my on-line art tribe some of whom I have "known" for over 4 years. They are my kindred spirits. Its like the good ol' days when people met their pen pals. Flights are booked and paid for, a shiny new passport is obtained and this is finally really and truly going to happen. I leave Adelaide on June 12th for Chicago. On July 6th Elena, Robin and I are booked on a train journey to Seattle where I will get to meet our only "boy" tribe member, Glenn and then on to the forest near Portland (is that right Jan???) to meet another. This is my year for ADVENTURE!!!