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Our lives have certainly been turned upside down lately! COVID-19, toilet paper panic, disinfectant scarcity and protests all over the world.

It is my hope that you and your family and friends are safe during this time. Isolation and trying to find out accurate information is a daily challenge. As well as finding the necessities of life including social contact with our family and friends.

About the toilet paper. Several months before the virus crisis our local grocery store had Cottonelle toilet paper on sale for BOGO every 3 weeks or so. My mother taught me to be a sale shopper so I bought 2-4 12 roll packages each time. So you guessed it, I had a great supply in my closet and not from panic buying. My friends were very envious but I shared when necessary. 

Zoom is great but it does not take the place of physical contact.

But thank God we have it at this time. Can you imagine our lives without it right now? As an artist, I am used to a life of isolation but even this is a bit much for me. 

What about your motivation?

Are you finding it as difficult as I do to keep motivated? I have to admit my motivation took a deep dive when this all started. The lack of information and the mixed messages created stress all over the world. Don't wear masks then you have to wear masks, 6' of distance, stay home, there are plenty of supplies that we need, doctors and nurses telling about the shortage of supplies, wipe all your purchases down, you don't have to wipe them down-it is enough to make you go crazy.

No wonder we are not motivated. My biggest stress was changing the way I shopped for groceries. Shopping online was not my ideal because I like to pick out my fresh vegetables and fruits myself. And going to the grocery store was an event I looked forward to in my artist isolation mode during normal times. It took me away from my canvas. I have to admit though, I have grown to like shopping online for groceries and picking them up! Who knew?

Something that really helped me was giving to other artists less fortunate than myself.

The VAE in Raleigh, NC had an event called, "Toilet Paper Art". (that darn toilet paper issue again)  Artists were to create art on toilet tissue and donate it to VAE so they could auction it off online to raise money for artists who needed a helping hand. It was really fun. Wished I had toilet tissue however without ridged, wavy lines. Below are my 2 donations that were auctioned off.

What about you? What did you find out about yourself during these virus crisis days? Come on, confess.

I already told you mine. Leading an isolated life in my studio has become too much of a norm for me and I need to go out more. And get very stressed because I need to have accurate info. I need to have some control and I like to follow directions! While I have always been a walker and still did that during the virus crisis, I learned I really needed contact with others more than I knew.

While all of us know the point where we lose our ability to cope now, we also have to congratulate ourselves for being able to adapt to all that has gone on. So give yourself a hand now, especially those that had children of school age who had to be task master to their learning at home!

During this time, I have created new paintings and I would like to share them with you in the hopes that viewing art will give you some relief from your current stresses.

Art has a way of healing as many hospitals have found. It works so take a few minutes to ponder my newest work. And we all need a little healing now. And it helps to know there are others with the same views.

    Stretching the Boundaries • 36" X 24" X 1.5" • Acrylic on Canvas

Life can get so complicated and unfocused. But if you reach for those events that you can use to stretch your boundaries and get lost in the creative exercise itself, your purpose comes into focus. Whether it is exercise, dance or any other outlet, losing yourself in it will stimulate you.

The inspiration for this painting came to me when I was cleaning up some piles that had accumulated in my studio. I found a sketch book that I had used about 6 years ago that had 6 quick sketches of women in different positions. Can't remember why I ignored them for so long but I decided to do a series of them. So this is the 1st one and more to follow.

From left to right (click on the colored links to view larger): Connections 3, Connections 2 and Connections 1

We have been connected by history since the beginning of time. But it is only in recent history and with the addition of technology that separates us even when we are in the same room. We have short, faceless texts of abbreviated words on our devices. Most of us still need face-to-face connections and conversations.

These are 3 small series paintings 12" X 12" X 1.5". They are created using Acrylic/Mixed Media on Canvas. Use them together or each one by themselves. The meaning below never has been truer then the last several months even though I painted these in January before experiencing the virus crisis.

Turbulent Weather, Turbulent Times

24" X 24" X 1.5" • Acrylic/Mixed Media on Canvas

Our social times and our weather patterns have been so erratic that life just feels like I am on a constant moving roller coaster. From day to day, I get up in the morning not knowing what choas will prevail that day. But I am sure it will be something that I will have to control my reactions to until the next event happens.

At the beginning of this post, I didn't mention our turbulent weather patterns over the last couple of years. There has been so much chaos over the last year that I can't believe I left that out! We really are facing some dramatic times over the next century if we don't solve what is going on.

I hope you enjoyed viewing my new paintings. Click the colored links to view them larger. And many thanks to those who have supported the arts at this time.

How are you dealing with all of this? Please comment below. We need your voice to be heard. Thanks and stay safe.

#abstractart #abstractpainting #Covid19 #pandemic #weather #toiletpaper #mindfulness #auction