Change is in the Air!

New beginnings...

It’s only a few more weeks before we reach the autumn equinox…such a wistful, evocative time…

“Some days in late August at home are like this, the air thin and eager like this, with something in it sad and nostalgic and familiar…” - William Faulkner

There always seems to be an air of melancholy drifting gently skywards as summer draws to a close, even though we are heading into autumn, a favourite season of mine. Recollections of long summer evenings, endless walks amidst the frothy, billowing cow parsley, birds, their songs floating on the breeze, are all being gently wrapped in metaphorical tissue paper, to be safely locked away in our memory vaults - ready to be re-lived once more in the dank, dreary days of winter.

And yet, there is also an air of anticipation; the new school term will shortly begin, and even though, as I have said previously, my children are long past school age, there is still that feeling of a ‘new beginning’. The remaining hours of summer are busy, making plans for the coming season; all the while remembering to enjoy the last of the shortening days…

Setting goals for the months ahead, and planning how I am going to achieve them, has left my desk (top) covered in a myriad of paper, both real and digital - and out of this seeming chaos, a plan is slowly emerging.

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“If you don’t make the time to work on creating the life that you want, you’re going to spend a lot of time dealing with a life you don’t want.” Kevin Ngo

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At the moment, the end of the year looks as follows:

• September - start on a new body of work

  - work on creating a stock of videos

  - make plans for December event

• October - further develop this Substack offering

  - put systems in place/organise tasks for ease of admin

  - continue with body of work

• November - organise an on-line Charity Flash Sale

  - continue with Substack development

  - continue/finish body of work

• December - Art & Yoga Soirée

  - enquire with local gallery about solo exhibition (to take place next

  year)

  - seasonal review

Having a plan, writing down my goals - yes, I even have financial goals! - makes me feel more business like. Their importance grows even more when I acknowledge that I am on the wrong side of 60, and there is still so much I would like to do! As per Kevin Ngo’s quote, I am working towards creating a life I would like to lead; to be able to paint and travel, work from anywhere, meet people and spread the joy of painting. For that to happen, the work has to pay for itself and that’s where the plans come in. Also, writing my aims down, putting them in this post, telling you - well, it holds me accountable doesn’t it?

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it; boldness has genius, power and magic in it!” Goethe

And some of the plans have been set in motion; I am making a concerted effort to be more organised with my record keeping/filing systems/image & video storage - and we have set a date for our Art & Yoga Soiree:

Full details of this will be forthcoming nearer the time - but it would be lovely to see you there!!

As for studio work, well, although other ideas are brewing, I am not quite there yet. So, in the meantime, I have been doing what I always do…doodling…

Not sure these are anything more than doodles, and a way of using up some of the old paint in my palette, but it keeps my creativity flowing while ideas for new work crystallise…

What plans do you have for the coming season? I would love to hear all about them, so drop me a line in the comments….

Until next time, happy creating!