How do you Mark Time?

Today I turn 36. It's a little hard. That just seems so much older than 35. Although my brother informed me last year that the insurance companies will always round up five years at 35 so statistically I'm 40 already. Brothers are great for that aren't they? :) So on the most part I came to grips with the almost 40 thing last year and really today I'm just glad to be who I am, where I am, with the people I love.Talk to me again when I'm 39 though, and I might have a different story for you.

But having done the birthday thing for *almost* four decades now :) I've come up with my own favorite way to celebrate. I buy art supplies, splurge on a big canvas (it always helps that today falls during Dick Blick's 60% off canvas sale) and I paint. I go look at art or spend time in nature, I spend time with family, and time alone and try something new.
The idea is that each year's painting becomes a gift I give myself to mark the occasion. I haven't done it that many years but really enjoy spending the day this way. It's the painting time that really seems special, I don't do it often. Painting is personal, more than any other art discipline I believe because it bypasses the mind and my heart and hand connect. I enjoy printmaking, mixed media, and sculpture immensely because they do engage my mind as well as my heart. But painting.... painting is different.
I don't have many paintings in my house but those I have, I love. So today I thought I'd give you a little tour of my personal collection.

The waterfall paintings were done in my mid-twenties- after a trip to Yosemite Falls. The flower pot painting to the left was last year's birthday painting. The little painting/pastel work at the top is a view of the pond near my parent's. It was one of the first things I did that I liked after I came back to my art 4 years ago. The painting of Venice is from 2003. It was my after the fact souvenir of the trip. The water in the canal was almost an aqua, it was so beautiful. Each has a meaning and each is special because it marks a time in my life.




So that's the end of a brief tour of my favorite paintings. If you stick around, maybe next year I'll give you a tour of my prints or sculptures. ;)