Category Archives: life as art

09-07-2009

If you can't change your life, change your perception.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all you have to get done?
Even the enclave of your home has let you down.
After a a great vacation full of sunshine, reading and sketching, I needed to perceive some of that same order and beauty in my home.
I looked through a magazine to get some ideas for quickly refreshing my surroundings. Doing this always has the effect of transforming my way of looking at things. Sometimes, though, drastic renovation is not currently feasible.

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LPC - Intent is very powerful.

beth - @Karen How intrinsic is the spirit in what you are recreating in your home! I like the freedom of being able to release objects from your ownership when you are done with them and offering them to be of use to someone else. Isn’t that recreating the cycle of life? Does that reflect in your other work as well?

Karen Renna - funny you should ask…. Having just renovated my living room and dining room, I did remove many things completely and did choose selectively the things I would leaveout in the open. Some things I have put away for future rebirths and a few items have been put aside to be given away or as future gifts for my children- always wonderful to change refuse into reusable renewed interests.

As for seeing this as a metaphor of sorts for life I was pondering this issue this morning in reference to mentally choosing to refresh oneself by giving away the things that no longer serve my life. Don’t just throw them out but offer them to someone as possible newly discovered treasures. It has taken me years to understand that recognizing that you no longer need something in your life does not diminish its inherent value, it just means that i have moved beyond its significance to me. Desiring to share it so I can move on to discover something new allows me the room in my mind and heart to see, respond or even find that something. I no longer need to be attached to anything physical to appreciate it.

chironarts - And fallen lavender petals gathered with intention create a gift of scent and inspiration; sharing reminding moments of our lives, With deep appreciation and gratitude…- ng

03-26-2009

Painting the hours of the day…

I am continuing my exploration of daily hours, by observing the light on objects and places that I inhabit.

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Karen Renna - Carole, I don’t think I can add much to those thoughts. Perhaps just that nothing ever truly repeats itself so enjoy each moment as it is in its entirety. I too am taken aback by the power vested in one single moment of light if I take that moment to be present in it. Beth I guess that is what your painting does.

Carole Freysz Gutierrez - Beth,
you have a beautiful way with words – they always touch me! I also love your sketches. I remember painting the same corner in my room over and over many years ago. I always loved series of ‘the same’, which of course is never the same. It’s a great discipline to pay close attention to the richness of one thing in its many appearances. Every simple object harbors a wealth of inspiration when observed attentively. The world is in one moment, and the moment stands for the world.

02-10-2009

Life as art…a balancing act

The materials that I build my life with are artwork, spiritual growth, physical needs, intellectual development, relationships, environment (surroundings) and riches (both financial and other).

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Laura - I really enjoyed the talk by Elizabeth Gilbert–I just realized you have the same name!!–what a wonderful approach. She was naming and transforming rather than avoiding or being pressed down–just great!!!

Nina - I love the placement. Color under our feet !!!