Bird’s Eye View

Bird’s Eye View popped into my head as I worked on this 3×3 inch oil painting. I will share more about this painting in a bit. But first, I want to welcome new readers and describe the purpose of this post and blog. OK?

Small Spaces Special Places

Welcome new readers! Each year, I select a theme for my weekly paintings. This year’s is “Small Spaces Special Places.” Why? I have been surprised, even delighted, with the small spaces in our house that have captured my eye.

Also, there are the special places I see on my daily dog walks. Each morning, rain or shine, I love getting outdoors and looking for things to paint. Some weeks, we’re traveling in our camper. In either case, I start many of my paintings outdoors. Then I’ll finish them, usually from imagination, in my studio at home.

Anyway, if you are not subscribing to this blog yet and think you might enjoy a weekly dose of unique artwork with a dash of color and musings on life, sign up here. Let’s get to this week’s topic!

Imagine Bird’s Eye View

Wouldn’t it be fun to switch to a Bird’s Eye View, gentle reader? In particular, I am thinking if you are grappling with a pesky problem. Or, maybe you want to think about a request differently? Then again, maybe you are hoping for something that you want and don’t have. What if you, like me, are hoping for a breakthrough or a chance at something?

Zooming out and taking a look, heck, even pretending or imagining you’re way above the problem, is one approach. Have you ever tried this? I realize that I can be someone who sometimes just has to step away from a problem. Usually, when I do this, time and new ideas help to solve the problem at hand.

Seeing Opportunity From a Bird’s Eye View

In my case, I mention that I have been working on a getting a chance or a breakthrough. At what you might be wondering? Well, I have been applying to different gallery and show opportunities this year. Gotta say, it has been a good skin-thickening experience. Ha! Why do I say that?

Rejection baby! Rejection. Until this week, that is. I am excited to share that I am participating in two different Popup events. Hooray! Here’s information on the first one.

Third Friday at Golden Belt

On Friday, December 17, 2021 from 6pm to 9pm, I have space to show and sell my work at Golden Belt Arts in Durham, NC. Here’s a nifty graphic of the event to share with you.

As I think about it, showing in Durham seems quite apropos to me. Why? Durham is where I landed as a new potter the first time I ran away from corporate day job world in the late-1990s. At that time, I was lucky enough to work in Leonora Coleman’s studio. As I practiced pulling clay handles and put her used clay through the pug mill in her basement studio, she told me of her dream to start a clay studio in downtown Durham.

On lunch breaks, we would look at old and abandoned and not so abandoned buildings in downtown Durham. She refinanced her house so that she could buy the building where Claymakers still stands today. But wait, I digress, don’t I?

Well, what I guess I mean is that Leonora gave me the chance to learn about life as a potter when I was relatively new to it. And, she introduced me to so many things including downtown Durham. Later, when I met David, we moved to Durham, too. I am grateful for the chance I had then. And, even though I left pottery world to return to day job world, I would definitely do it all over again.

Pretty sure Leonora would be delighted to know that I am getting a chance to show and sell my artwork in Durham in 2021. I will think of her resourcefulness and persistence as I prepare for this opportunity.

New Bird’s Eye View

Here’s a visual representation of Bird’s Eye View. And, yes, it will be on display and for sale along with many (many!) other paintings.

If you live in the area and think you can stop by, please do! I haven’t gotten word of the exact location of space within Golden Belt Arts yet so stay tuned on that. If there’s enough room, I hope to set up my easel and do a painting demo from 6pm to 9pm on Friday, December 17th at Golden Belt. And, yes, you can ask questions while I’m painting. I look forward to hearing what you might ask! And, if you have questions ahead of the December, 17th Popup event, please contact me here.

Your Bird’s Eye View

What about you, gentle reader? Have you taken a bird’s eye view on something and solved a pesky problem? If so, please do tell! I would love it if you would share your experience in the comments below. Thank you as always for reading here today.