There is increased tranquility when I settle within myself that the object of my art display is simply for me to be available for whatever conversations may be valuable.

I was extremely humbled and encouraged to read a golden nugget in an email from one of my amazing collectors who recently provided a home for the little Boreal Owl who was featured in last month’s update. She wrote “Art and artists are so important. So thank you for…expressing yourself visually. Beauty, awe and wonder are so needed these days.”(emphasis mine). I love that idea!

As I was working away on these portraits of powerhouse women, some thoughts came to mind based on their attire. I’ll plainly confess, I don’t know much of significance (if anything) about the worlds from which these two hail. Consequently my following mental musings may lack some critical background information…

Wherever you are, whatever you find yourself doing at the end of 2021, I hope that you can to peer through the gloom of difficult circumstances, and focus on the things that bring a smile to your heart. There is Light to be found in the Christmas season, but sometimes we have to look hard for it and push the shadows out of the way very intentionally.

Part of the reason I suggested this scene to my client was that the river rock is composed of a lot of greys and blues that meshed well with the décor and feel of the lobby and office space. Looking back I’m astounded that I didn’t see more in the reference image.

When Pat opened the brown-paper package, delivered later that week, she gasped. It was that delightful. McClintock Bay and her sister’s front-lot trees were captured perfectly in the reflecting windows. Her sister would have her lakeview memorialized, along with her wilderness cabin—if Pat could now part with it.

The Battle is real. The word Battle needs to be capitalized. I can go for weeks, even months, busily producing art, enjoying the process, at peace with what I’m doing artistically. Then out of nowhere, the three-pronged pitchfork of self-doubt, confusion, and disillusionment comes stabbing hungrily at me.

Looking at my palette just now, I noted again how frequently I return to a few favourite colours in my art.

Where on earth did a two of my paintings go?

I’ve taken the plunge . . . and have my first batch of Fine Art prints matted, packaged and ready to be ‘adopted’. I’m proud of these little guys. They are 5”x7” images, matted to fit 8”x10” frames.

I have just completed a commission (meaning, I was given “an order for the production of a work of art”) featuring a type of antelope called the greater kudu. My father wanted a painting created using reference photos he shot during his time in Zimbabwe (where, incidentally, I happened to be born).

“…as a person familiar with the feel, motion and activity of painting, I had a lot less to worry about or focus on than my classmates who hadn’t done much (if any) painting.”

Client’s feedback about the commission: Marion Aitken you have many talents and an indomitable drive to connect with people in profound ways. I have an unflinching respect for your ability to identify and paint such evocative imagery that inspires feelings of hope, challenge, determination, peril, adventure and excitement. Thank you for creating such an amazing piece. I can assure everyone, that it looks even more spectacular in person.

Even in the wind and rain, there are great lessons to be learned, conversations to have, ideas to share and laughs to be had.

Dr. Howard Thurman’s quote resonates with me: “Do not ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”