Love’s in Need of Love Today

Pretty sure you know why I’m writing “Love’s in Need of Love Today,” gentle reader. To see what the Ukrainian people are enduring right now boggles the mind, doesn’t it? Before I share more, I want to welcome new readers to this blog and post. Okay?

Transitions

Welcome! Each year, I select a theme for my weekly paintings. This year’s theme is Transitions. I am expanding on last year’s theme. 2021’s theme was “Small Spaces Special Places“. Since we were all spending a lot of time in or close to home last year, it made sense to me to keep paintings small and simple.

Why Transitions? So many reasons. Here are one or two. I plan to transition to larger paintings this year. In fact, the first painting I posted this year was huge (for me.) It measures 8×24″…wowza. Here’s the painting and post for that week. Second, I am focusing on transitions within my painting process, too. This includes transitions from light to dark. Something I love to think about as I compose a painting. I also love to think about the negative space around an object. An example of this is the painting I shared two weeks ago called “Blowing in the Wind.”

I’m also trying some new processes that I have never done before including glazing. I’ll share more about that process once I have some results worth sharing. In the meantime, there’s lots of painting going on here.

So there you have it! The scoop on transitions as the theme for 2022.

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Love Needs Love Right Away

Seems the world’s biggest bully is at it (again) people. It seems ridiculous to imagine this but what if somebody were able to take Putin on a walk, brain wash him into seeing what he has wrought in this world and to see him express remorse and regret and change his ways for good.

We can only imagine, of course. So, as you can see, I have no clue what to do about Putin. So I decided to do what I can. First I reached out to my Ukrainian art school pal to see how she was doing. Not well. Understandable. I admire her and hope she feels supported in the midst of all of this. Give her a follow on Instagram, her work is wonderful.

And, then I decided I might as well paint. Here’s this week’s painting.

In this imaginary landscape, I imagine a world where everyone has a creative outlet and a healthy digestive system. Call me crazy, but I believe many angry and frustrated people are troubled human beings who haven’t found their creative outlet, yet.

In My Opinion

Riffing on the concept of an imaginary landscape and creativity, in my opinion, it doesn’t really matter if a person’s art or craft is exceptional. What matters is the doing. And, it helps if the doing happens everyday. This ‘prescription’ for world health does not mean each human being must create something for hours on end everyday. But what it does mean, is that each human being must create something for 10-20 minutes everyday.

Guess what happens when a person commits to doing something creative for 10 minutes a day? It usually evolves into longer time commitments. Consider this idea a way to ‘trick’ ourselves into making something uniquely our own everyday. In my mind, this activity would have a significant impact on both self-esteem and self-worth.

Then perhaps certain needy, miserable people (yes you Vlad) would channel their energy into their own works of art instead of invading the country next door.

More on Love’s in Need of Love Today

Here are some of the lyrics from Stevie Wonder’s beautiful song “Love’s in Need of Love Today”

Good morn or evening friends
Here’s your friendly announcer
I have serious news to pass on to every-body
What I’m about to say
Could mean the world’s disaster
Could change your joy and laughter to tears and pain

It’s that
Love’s in need of love today
Don’t delay
Send yours in right away
Hate’s goin’ round
Breaking many hearts
Stop it please
Before it’s gone too far

The force of evil plans
To make you its possession
And it will if we let it
Destroy ev-er-y-body
We all must take
Precautionary measures
If love and peace you treasure
Then you’ll hear me when I say

Oh that
Love’s in need of love today
love’s in need of love today
Don’t delay
don’t delay
Send yours in right away
right a-way
Hate’s goin’ round
hate’s goin’ round
Breaking many hearts
break-ing hearts
Stop it please
stop it please
Before it’s gone too far
gone too far

People you know that
Love’s in need of love today
love’s in need of love today
Don’t delay
don’t de-lay

And You

How about you gentle reader? Maybe you have a suggestion to improve our current world dilemma? If so, please do share in the comments below and thank you!