Alone again

Just about the time I was getting used to having a husband at home, he has gone again. Dropped him off at LAX yesterday, and he is certainly in Thailand by now. The house is emptier than usual, and cold. Yesterday was spent feeling a little sorry for myself, and for him. At least I have the fuzzy dog to bury my face in. And then there is the studio, to bury myself in. So back to the easel I go.

Today I hired a local photographer to come and take photos of me for some updated images on this blog, as well as for my website. She took this fun little video of me painting with her iPhone:

Many thanks to the beautiful and talented Elena Ray for this fun little clip! (Isn't modern technology a wonder?)

What I am currently reading and loving: The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver.

2012 - Ready or not

It has arrived. A new year! WOW.

"Privacy." oil on linen, 24 x 30 inches. ©2011 Karine Swenson

I have been writing and thinking about goals. I am not interested so much in resolutions, but I do like to set goals. When I first started setting goals, there was a certain amount of doubt or maybe even disbelief. Would it be helpful? Would I feel more satisfied or fulfilled? Time has shown that goals do help me. I do feel more satisfied and fulfilled, even when I don't achieve all of my goals, or when I fall short. I look back on what I did achieve, and realize that I have become a more productive, more successful, and even more financially viable  artist by setting goals. Even goals involving my health and personal life have given me a greater feeling of satisfaction. And so...Onward!
This week will be about sitting down and writing down a list of proud accomplishments for last year. I will also be fine tuning the goals for this year. I have also been reading my friend Patrica Scarborough's blog, and she wrote about choosing a word for the year. I love that. I think I will come up with a word of my own, for 2012.

How about you? Are you a New Year's resolutioner? Do you set goals? Do you have some New Year's ritual?

Christmas Eve

Have a Merry Christmas, my dear blog readers!

It's life

M came home late on December 10th, after being gone since July. Two days later, he was in the hospital. It wasn't the homecoming either of us had anticipated. The good news is that he is okay, and today, he finally got to come home from the hospital. A big, heartfelt thank you goes out to all of you who called, emailed and prayed for him this past week. It means so much to both of us. We will make every effort to to follow up with each of you individually, but I thought this blog might be the quickest way to deliver the good news to all of you.

The Christmas cards might end up being New Year's Cards, and a few Christmas packages might be a little late, but those things don't seem so important to me right now. Not because I don't think of you who are far away, but simply because I know you will all understand that my priorities were elsewhere.

In other, desert-related news: our backyard has been the happening spot in the early morning hours, before the sun comes up. One morning, we had a bobcat, stalking a cottontail. It is the first bobcat I have seen in several years, and it was thrilling. A few days later, two coyotes had killed a jackrabbit. I managed only a few shots before a certain fuzzy dog noticed my interest and frightened them all away by running out his dog door, barking. A friend of mine asked me if it was hard for me to see the coyotes kill one of my beloved jackrabbits. I didn't really know how to reply. I've had a few days to think about it now, and this is what I have decided: I understand the relationship between life and death. All living things die, and when one creature dies so that another may live, there is a sense of rightness to that. What I really have trouble with is suffering.

You can just make out the jackrabbit in the coyote's mouth.

News

"Vision." Monotype, 7 x 5 inches.

This brand-spanking-new monotype was delivered to Art of Framing in San Diego on Wednesday, along with some other new monotypes and small paintings. I even managed to do a small amount of exploring in San Diego, which was a major step for me. (I am terrified of the city, and in particular, the traffic.) I found a wonderful little cluster of galleries in a part of town called "Little Italy." I hope to go back when I have a little more time, and maybe when I can convince a friend to go with me.

Got some REALLY exciting news: M might actually be coming home tomorrow night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoa! I had to spend the day clearing paintings and boxes out of the way, so that he doesn't feel like his whole house has been overtaken with art. Even after a day of working on this particular task, I realize he may still feel like his whole house has been overtaken with art. It's his own fault, for leaving me alone with paint and brushes for such a long time. Right? Right.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone. I am thankful to you all, for reading and for your comments and feedback.

Communication

I spend quite a lot of time thinking about relationships. It is a major theme in my art, and I believe relationships are one of the most significant forces in our lives. In particular, I think our relationships with other people can be life changing. As an artist, my life tends to be filled with solitude, and I often find myself closing people out so that I can paint. Lately, however, I have begun to realize that I need other people. It is time to carve out a bit more space in my life and my heart for people: face to face, quality time with people I am fond of. Even if it means one less painting is born.

I know that there is risk involved. When we open our hearts to another, there is always the chance we will be hurt by them. In fact, it seems inevitable that we will eventually hurt someone we love, unintentionally or purposefully. But that is no reason to close ourselves off. There is much more to be gained by taking the risk to love and be loved, and this is what we must remember. This is what I say to myself.

We all know that communication is essential to any relationship, and just like anything else worth doing, it must be practiced. Non artists might not realize that one of the reasons an artist creates art is because it is how we are most comfortable communicating. It is a form of self-discovery, but art is also how artists say things that seem impossible to convey any other way.

"Revealing Light." Monotype, 5 x 7 inches.

 Do we spend so much time afraid of saying the wrong thing that we end up saying nothing at all?

Sequim, WA

I disappeared to a small town in Washington last week. Visited my sister and her family for Thanksgiving. I got my fill of leaves, water, and gray skies. Sequim is a lovely town, with abundant farm animals, old barns, and friendly faces. Moss grows on everything. I mean EVERYTHING. It will never cease to amaze me how one can now jump on a airplane, and in one day travel from a dry, dusty desert to a town of rain and green green green. GREEN.

 Next time I am going back for berry season. Doesn't that sound fun?

I have discovered the advantages and drawbacks to traveling with a Kindle. They are as follows:
Advantages:
lightweight
can carry more than one book and not strain back or shoulder, while lugging things around airports
the little light comes in handy (on my cover)
No one knows what I am reading by the cover
The battery lasts a long time
I can download another book anywhere there is a 3G connection

Disadvantages:
I have to stop reading during takeoff and landing
The books I REALLY want to read cost as much on the Kindle as they would if I bought the actual book.
One must remember to bring the cord to charge it
No cover art. (i miss this!)
No pages (for those of us who are into the tactile qualities of reading a book

Overall, I like the Kindle for travel, because it is lightweight and convenient. I'm just sayin'.