Best laid plans

So the balance of 2013 and early 2014 kind of sabotaged the intentions behind my last post (thank you Mother Nature - NOT).

Enough already though, in the last 3 weeks I have felt compelled to get back in the game... Even if it is just a mind game of my own making.  To act on this decision I have taken over a corner of my hubby's man cave, set up my art supplies and started painting again.   

It has been a wonderfully healing act to give myself  permission to be creative again.  I find I have to be gentle on myself through what I feel like is a time of rebirth - I haven't flexed my creative muscles like this in many many years.  I've only completed 2 pieces so far and I love the first but hate the second.... We'll see how work 3 shapes up, but regardless of if I like it or not, I am going to hang it in my little painting corner and celebrate my emerging acts of creation....

My creative rebirth project #1 was a bit of a cheat, because it only involved embellishing a thrift shop find, but the hat and the cat are all mine ....

("Pensive Little Witch" - acrylic and collage on a thrift shop print of Albert Pinot's "Pensive")

(Detail of "Pensive Little Witch")

My creative rebirth project #2...  (Be gentle, I really don't like the painting on this one, but the freehand paper-cut peacock was a fun success)

("Dream Tree 1", Acryllic and collage on Masonite)

(Detail "Dream Tree1)

Creative rebirth #3... A work in progress:

(Untitled work in progress, acrylic on Masonite, based on a self portrait taken by my talented sister-in-law Cathline Dickens... Here's a link to her Flickr account to see my source of inspiration https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/londonscene/5598141804/)

Throughout this time, I've discovered some new musical muses as well, and want to take this opportunity to give a shout out to Karla Adolphe (http://www.karlaadolphe.ca) a local singer/songwriter/musician from High River, Alberta, whose music is making my soul sing. (You can listen to and download her latest album called Honeycomb Tombs from her website)

Ok, enough blogging for now, it's time for tea, a cuddle with my kids, a little bit of office work, then back to the art cave.

Ttfn!

O Fortuna it's cold outside!!!

So, I've been out of the blogosphere for a while, but I haven't forgotten what I've started here.  One of these days I'll get around to filling in the blanks between now and my last post, but for now I just had to post a link to this video - my favourite piece of Classical Music, sung to new lyrics.... . I think this is a brilliant adn timely publicity piece for the City of Calgary and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus, especially given the COLD SNAP that descended on southern Alberta yesterday and today.

Oh well, enjoy the video and KEEP WARM!!!
(MMMMMMM Baileys)

Another Muse - Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen has got to be one of the sexiest men of all time.
His voice is like dark velvet and I can listen to his recordings, with the lights turned low, for hours and hours and hours

... there's no foresaking what you love
no existential leap
as witnessed here in time & blood
a thousand kisses deep....

Dedicated to you Ken......

Because I love you, and given the chance would marry you again, and again, and again....

I Will Possess Your Heart (Album Version video)

I recently discovered this band, Death Cab for Cutie, thanks to a Facebook friend's status update....
I went to check them out on YouTube, and haven't been able to stop listening!
A new band for my dream studio/summer 2011 soundtrack (if it ever comes... can you believe we have MORE snow in the forecast????)



... ok - so the lyrics are a bit depressing, but I love the music, and sometimes wish I could be the girl in the video, backpacking around the world.

One of my Muses.... Kate Bush

I Love Kate Bush - I have been a fan of hers, ever since the first time I listened to "The Ninth Wave" (side 2 of her Hounds of Love Album), back in the mid 1980s.
I find her music to be timeless. It is everything from inspirational to disturbing, humourous to haunting.  The Stories she tells through her music are almost always breathtakingly creative.
Kate Bush's voice and the imagery in her lyrics embody an ethereal beauty and magic that always stays with me long after I turn off my stereo.

Her music makes up a big chunk of my all-time most played playlist, and will definitely be playing in the soundtrack of my dream studio.
The following videos show just a sample of her genius.

The Haunting Beauty:


The Fun Cover Songs:


The Wondrous ...


... and the Frighteningly Moralistic Storytelling:


Blissful Pleasure:


and Sheer Horror:


If you have never done so, take some time to really experience Kate Bush's music. Allow yourself to drift away to surprising and mysterious places.

and above all else, enjoy the moments...

As Always,
Dayna

Time to stop Coccooning

Spring is slow to come this year.

View from my driveway, March 25, 2011

Today is the first day of sunshine and above freezing temperatures that we've had since the technical first day of spring on March 21. I should be thrilled to bits that I can open my windows and doors to the fresh air for a change....

Cocooning by Cecile Veilhan

Unfortunately, I don't entirely trust Mother Nature's moodswings this year - she can be such a tease.  There is still so much snow on the ground that I feel more inclined to continue cocooning than I do to go outside and watch my garden re-emerge from under its slushy wet blanket, as the snow melts in the much-missed warm warm sunshine.
huh - whose feeling melancholy today???


OK then, I officially resolve that today will be my last day of seasonal coccooning, and S.A.D. moodiness this winter (oops, I mean spring).  To mark the occasion, first I'm going to post some pretty girls in spring paintaings by French artist, Cecile Veilhan, then I'm going to get out of my pjs, make myself a big pot of tea and a leafy green salad for lunch, then I'm going to wrap myself up in a cozy warm sweater (and maybe a blanket), tune into the Kate Bush playlist on my ipod and force myself to go outside to sit in the sunshine, while it lasts...

....wow I'm getting whiny in my old age!!!!

Un Printemps Turqoise by Cecile Veilhan

Un Printemps Rose by Cecile Veilhan

Un Printemps Abricot by Cecile Veilhan

Candle on the Water

Easter 1981, when I was 10 years old, my family moved from Ottawa to a tiny village in Northern Ontario (population 300), to take over my grandparents cottage resort. Needless to say, it was a pretty sad and scary time for me, having had to say goodbye to all of my friends and finish grade 4 in a temporary new school, in a new town, and in a new language (Although English is my mother tongue, until then, I had been enrolled in an early french immersion program, and this was the first time I would study in English full time - but that's beside the point to my story)

One of the only things I think I remember from that spring is my music class.  In particular, I remember learning the song "Candle on the Water" from the Disney movie Pete's Dragon. At the time, the lyrics carried a special significance to me, as I struggled to overcome my homesickness and fit into my new life.... over the years as I grew up, the song has remained with me with changing significance. Sometimes I wished it were being sung to me, and other times, I have wished it out to loved ones - both friends and family.

Currently, there are some people who are very dear to me, struggling through challenging times in their lives. Without naming them, I wish them to know how much I love and care for them, and wish them continued strength on their life's journeys.

If there is one thing I have learned in my life so far, it's that everything changes and nothing stays the same - both the good stuff and the bad stuff. So dear loved ones, please try to trust that this too shall pass. I believe in you.




I'll be your candle on the water
My love for you will always burn
I know you're lost and drifting
But the clouds are lifting
Don't give up you'll have somewhere to turn


I'll be your candle on the water
'Till ev'ry wave is warm and bright
My soul is there beside you
Let this candle guide you
Soon you'll see a golden stream of light


A cold and friendless tide has found you
Don't let the stormy darkness pull you down
I'll paint a ray of hope around you
Circling in the air
Lighted by a prayer


I'll be your candle on the water
This flame inside of me will grow
Keep holding on you'll make it
Here's my hand so take it
Look for me reaching out to show
As sure as rivers flow
I'll never let you go

Affirmation

so what if this music dates me a bit, I'm almost 40 and entitled to be nostalgic.  To me the messages in this song are both timely and timeless.  I do believe in Karma - what you give is what you get returned.

Affirmation - by Savage Garden:

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone

(chorus) I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold

I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires

Chorus

I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists
I believe in love surviving death into eternity
 

Chorus....

The world would be a much gentler place if we could all live by the affirmations listed in this song would.
What do you believe?

14 day Countdown to 40 - Self Indulgence #1

An afternoon curled up under a comforter with a glass of wine, a good book: Three Cups of Tea, and Peter Gabriel's Passion - Music for the Last Temptation of Christ playing in the background

Imogen Heap - "Just For Now"

I LOVE this artist.
I LOVE the composition of this song.
I envision this version as a sound painting, and lose myself in it every time I hear it.
I wish I were more musical - but alas being born into a self-diagnosed tone deaf family my musical performances are limited to karaokeing with my 5 year old daughter (when no one else is at home), or when I've had too much wine to really care what you think about my (ahem) crooning.
ANYWAYS - even though I don't make much time to express myself creatively these days - I have long ago accepted that painting and drawing is my personal poetry, whereas music such as this is my muse.
So enjoy this song.  It's my future inspiration and will definitely be on the playlist in my glass bottle walled dream studio.

As always, Dayna

Brazilian BBQ

Last night I took my in-laws out to dinner in Calgary, while my husband took our son out to a Flames vs. Stars NHL game (thanks to tickets Santa brought) - for what it's worth Flames won 4-2.   Mid way through the game my son texted to tell me: "This is cool mommy - there is real fire when the Flames score."  I don't know if he really cared who won - he was just captivated by the crowd cheering and the fire.... oh to be 8 again.

ANYWAYS - while they were at the game, I decided to entertain his mom and her husband, on their last night in Alberta, by taking them out to dinner in the city...... and what a dinner it was!!!

One of my friends recommended Bolero, which is a Brazilian Steakhouse on MacLeod Trail (www.bolerocalgary.com).  It was so much fun - like a buffet where the food comes to you... similar to dim sum I guess, but all the grilled meats and grilled vegetables are served to you at your table, from these long sword-like skewers..... very cool!!  The atmosphere is dark and cozy, but still family friendly.  The Bar had a pretty good wine list, and some South America cocktails that are totally worth indulging in!!!  Desserts were enormous and mouthwatering - and entirely unnecessary, after the HUGE amount of food we ate. 
I booked our reservation online through their very handy reservation system - and it's a good thing I did, because the place was surprisingly busy for a Wednesday night! I can't wait to go back again with my whole family (unless I find a way to whisk my husband away on a romantic date sans kids - haha).

So, in honour of my amazing dinner last night, at a very funky restaurant, my favourite-thing link-of-the-day is to a video for another Bolero - this one by Ravel. It's played by a neat musical group called Barrage and is a very compeling interpretation of a fantastic piece of classical music (which we incidentally used for our wedding march - oh so many years ago).....

Enjoy!

As Always, Dayna