Things that inspire

There are so many things in this world that make my heart sing.  One of the most delicious things in that category is friendship.  I am not only fortunate enough to have good friends that live near me, but also I have friends scattered all over the world.  Some of those friends I have never even met in person.  They are people who I have met because of the world of blogging.  It is amazing, when you think of it, that you can meet someone in another country virtually.  Mind-blowing.  To my dear friends, both near and far (you know who you are) thank you for being out there.  For putting up with me, and my incredibly long list of imperfections.   

Not too long ago, I checked my post office box to find a well-traveled brown envelope.  REAL MAIL!  Can you believe something like this even exists today?  Well, I hugged that envelope to my chest, and waited until I was at home to really savor such a special event.  Turns out that fellow artist and blogging friend Cynthia, from Germany, sent me this envelope with all kinds of goodies inside.  (Click on her name to read her blog.)  A beautiful handmade book, a card with an image of one of her paintings, and a tiny book with a cover made from a paint swatch.  So much fun!  Cynnie, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for such a thoughtful, beautiful gift!!!  Treasures.

Another thing that makes my heart sing is music.  I love music - many different kinds.  I nearly always listen to music when I paint.  Thanks goes out to M, my dear husband, who always supplies me with new interesting music to listen to.  Lately, I have been listening to several bands, and enjoying them immensely.  One such band is Over the Rhine.  Several of their albums speak to my soul, one of the favorites being Drunkard's Prayer.  Another band I have been obsessed with lately is a bit more obscure, perhaps, but equally compelling - Broken Bells.  There are many more wonderful bands making music that helps me paint, and I am thankful to them for sharing their music with the world.

I think I will devote more time on this blog to things that inspire me.  It is always nice to remind ourselves that creativity isn't something that comes from a vacuum.  It comes from how we interact with all that is around us.  So much of that is worth sharing. 

Shoreline.  Oil on canvas, 12 x 9 inches.  ©k. swenson2011