The Readiness Is All

Tis the Season to ponder the ‘readiness is all.’ What do I mean by that? Plenty to consider as we careen to the end of 2021. But before we do all that, I want to welcome new readers and describe the purpose of this post and blog. OK? Here we go.

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!

Readiness IS All

I remember reading this quote wayyyy back when I was single and working away in day job world. I liked this quote so much, I put it on the door frame of my place. So, every morning, before I walked out the door, I would see it and read it. I didn’t interpret the quote much beyond, “be ready”…”be ready for anything.”

Here’s the quote that I had in it’s entirety:

There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ’tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come—the readiness is all.

Hamlet, Act 5 Scene 2 by Shakespeare

After awhile, I did a little more digging into the significance of this quote. For those of you who don’t know me well, I will fess up. I am not a big reader, although I wish I was. So, no, I didn’t come across this quote because I was reading Shakespeare’s Hamlet after a good day of marketing in healthcare or selling for a software startup. In fact, I’m not even sure how I came across this quote.

And, so, even though this quote, within the context of the play, is about being ready for death, I chose a lighter view of it then and now.

There is a Season

When I think about it, I could have called this week’s painting and post “Turn Turn Turn.” You know, the fantastic song by the Byrd’s (1965)? And, you ace students out there already know the lyrics to this song are a variation on the Biblical verse in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

But it’s time to cut to the chase on all of this and share what’s happening here in the studio this week. It’s all about getting ready! So TA DAH – here’s one painting that is all dressed up in it’s frame, ready to hang in the upcoming Third Friday Show at Golden Belt Studios 800 Taylor St Durham NC 27701 on Friday, December 17th from 6pm-9pm. If I have enough room, I plan to have my easel set up and to demonstrate how I paint during that time too.

This and all the other paintings will be ready to hang on your wall. And each will have a special, reasonable Holiday price on it. Why? Because the world is a better place when there’s original art you can see on your wall everyday.

What’s Happening Day to Day

I have really enjoyed taking the time to choose the right frame for each painting. Before the frame joins the painting, I varnish it to protect the surface. Then I apply archival tape on the back of the painting in the frame. And, I cover all of that with a dust cover. The next step is to apply hardware so that you can hang it on your wall. Each of these steps takes time…especially for me.

Why? I care about each of these paintings and need to give myself enough time to do things to the best of my ability. I may not have been wielding a drill and a hammer in my teens. But, I’m trainable believe it or not. And, I’m learning the benefits of time and care in this process.

Thank goodness for YouTube videos on the subject and the super helpful crew at the framing shop at Jerry’s Artarama. They gave me wonderful advice, ideas and materials for framing with a beautiful but affordable solution in mind.

A Favor

If you know someone who you think might enjoy seeing these paintings of mine, I will ask you a favor. Please send them this post. If they live in the Raleigh/Durham area, please invite them to stop by. I will look forward to seeing them and you, if you are able, on December 17th.

How About You

How about you gentle reader? Are you in the midst of getting ready for the season? Or perhaps you are dreaming and scheming big plans for the new year? If you are doing any of these things, please share in the comments below. I would love to hear about it and cheer you on.