Breakout, the wine, food, flowers, music and love! I’m celebrating!!!

I have a brigade (the Home Love Brigade), aka “My peeps, my tribe, my love buckets, my family” and the nick names go on and on. No matter how I’m feeling or who I’m yelling at, my brigade is my stronghold.  They love me fiercely and I them! :)

The last few weeks were extremely busy, holiday stuff, school work, household junk, workshops, sales, art fair preparations, holiday studio tour preparation, marketing and creating (my only grip on sanity)!!

My brigade has been there through the thick (which is me) and the thin (my patience)! But, they still love and support me! So this is my special way of giving them a shout out and absolutely begging them to continue…:)

(c. Indigene T. Gaskin – “Food Celebration” – 10″x10″, Mixed Media/Paper)

So meet the Home Love Brigade:

Jon: Commando, BBQ-Meister, Security, Confidante, Framer, Baker,  Kindest man in the whole world and my Go-To Snuggler!

No. 1 – Radical Son: Web Meister, Great Cook, Creative Buddy, Listening Ear, I have to beg to snuggle him and who now can say no to me, with no repercussions (except Mom-guilt, it still works)!!!

The Baby:  The Love Bucket, Assistant Baker, Chief Eye-roller to certain demands of mine; Major Art Fair Helper; aka: “messy-haired girl” and a sweet snuggler!

I love and have absolutely the best brigade in the world!!! (Uh, love brigade, you are going to be helping at the next two events, right?!) :)

Loving your people, makes life pretty spectacular!

In peace to you and yours!

P.S. I am so in the dog house for putting their pixs on my blog! It’s holiday time, maybe they’ll forgive me…again?!

Attending workshops, creating new work, gearing up for my  Holiday Studio Tour, conference calls, video summits and taking care of my daily business routines!

I’ve also spent some incredible time with new friends and old friends, (Thank you, awesome goddesses, you know who you are); which always fills me with love and adrenaline…:)

My thoughts have been scattered, but focused…is that possible, you ask? Yes, because these scattered thoughts and actions are an abundance of energy, that I believe are coming together, to bring another dimension to my life, creating richer experiences for me. They are only scattered, in the sense that I’m snatching time from here and there, because I want it all (insert, Vincent Price loud laugh here)!

I want to do so much and every waking moment is filled with something I love and need to get done, but at the same time, I’m savoring every nano-second and loving it! Now, how’s that for scattered thoughts and feelings?! :)

Every day, I miss my Mom and my sister, Renee, but I remember their beautiful spirits and then I live…in all my moments!

Savor your scattered moments, they have a place in your life, too.

In peace to you and yours.

(Image: collaged page from my “Creative Entrepreneur Business Journal”, Date: Friday, Oct.14, 2011)

P.S. I didn’t have time to edit this, so pardon any typos or scattered thought processes (insert more Vincent Price laughter!)

Night Flower

Since August 22, 2011, at 9:30PM, I am  disguised…Mum died.

I appear strong to my family, I thanked people who gave me their sincere condolences.  “Not now, maybe later” is what I’ve said, to the many well-meaning offers of support.  I have nodded my head appropriately in conversations, completed household routines, consoled my children and clung to my husband.

I am a dependable, responsible and strong daughter, a calm sister and a quiet mother.  I keep my disguise intact.

Disguised this week, making the phone calls, finalizing information and writing Mommy’s obituary, (because my siblings think, I write better than them). Trying to capture a woman, “the Mommy”, who I was connected to from conception to the end of her life; the container of my childhood, my maiden years, parts of my mid-life, the starter of my creativity, the strength of my stubborn will, the fierceness of my independence, the sweetness of my caring and the sour of my temper.

But in the dark soul of every night since August 22, the disguise comes off… like some insidious poison, grief drips into my heart, gently at first, waking me from my tenuous sleep, as if someone is calling me sweetly from sleep.  This grief pummels me awake, until I’m finally sitting with my knees to my face.  A sharp sliver of anguish piercing my chest.  I cry hard and long, with bouts of inconsolable anger, ill-formed regrets and wracked with confusion, I pick up the phone, and call my mother’s home.  After several rings, her message comes on, “This is Gloria, I’m not home right now, would you please leave your name and number and I’ll get back to you.  Thank you and have a good day.” I leave a message, “Mommy, I need you, call me back, I miss you.” I realize, just how corrosive grief is, at night.   Like some dark, insidious poison, it drips into my heart so gently, it goes unnoticed during the day. In the morning, the disguise comes back.

I will work every day, because routines and rituals help keep me sane and thriving.   I put pencil to paper, paint to canvas, my hands are in the habit and my mind pushes for it.   My heart is broken.

I am more determined now, than ever to continue a artful legacy, my Mum gave it to me…a love of creating.   It is the one thing, in this ending that I can begin anew…my art.   It is the thing that goes on with or without a disguise. Thank you, Mommy.

It is morning, I wish peace to you and yours.

P.S. My mother loved flowers, birds, all things of nature.  I generally do not create flowers, every time I have, it’s been with her in mind.

“Night Flower” 9.5″ x 8″ Pastel/Paper

I listen everyday, as my Mum’s voice gets weaker and weaker and all that is happening to me is my heart swells and I wear it on my face.

I hold on to all the sweet and sour that is her and pray that it lasts me a life time.

I pray that everyone holds what is dear in life earnestly and closely, so that they may be able to let it go when it is time.

In peace to you and yours.

When Linda Hensley, sent me this, I thought it was a good time to do something fun and show my appreciation of these artists.

First, I want to thank Linda Hensley, for giving me this award. Linda writes and blogs over at: http://lindahensley.blogspot.com. She’s a thoughtful and informative writer and an amazing illustrator. Linda adds value to the blog world! So this wonderful artist has given me an award! Yeah, thank you, Linda!

There were some rules for picking up the award, why, Linda, why? Rules…ugh! :)
The rules for receiving the award:
- Thank the person who gave you the award.
- Write a post about it.
- Answer the questions below.
- Pass it on to 10 bloggers who you think really deserve it and send them a message to let them know.

So here’s some miscellaneous stuff you didn’t want to know about me! :)

Q & A:
01. My favorite color: Orange & Turquoise – never could choose between them!
02. My favorite animal: I should say my daughter’s cat, Oscar, but we have a love/hate relationship! So I have to say my German Shepard, Keisha, who has gone to doggy heaven!
03. My favorite number: 3
04. My favorite non-alcoholic drink? Limeade
05. I’m a member of Facebook and Twitter
06. My passion: I’m not sure there’s enough time to list them all! I’m fanatical about My family, Women and Children Issues/Advocacy; The Elderly, The Environment, and Art, which is not last or least!
07. Getting or giving presents? I love both equally!
08. My favorite pattern? I don’t have a favorite.
09. My favorite day of the week? Friday.
10. My favorite flower? Sunflowers, because when I see them the make me smile, no, matter the mood, there’s something about their brown faces and bright yellow/gold flower hair, that brings out the best in me.

10 Favorite Bloggers:
I hate choosing just 10, because I love so many, but here goes this time around:

1) Vanessa Brantley Newton – http://oohlaladesignstudio.blogspot.com. Her joy and enthusiasm, and pure madness always keeps me laughing!

2) Valerie Walsh - http://www.valgalart.com/blog. Valerie thoughtfulness and beautiful aesthetic always gives me food for thought.

3) Bella Sinclair -http://bellasinclair.blogspot.com. Bella’s art is wonderful and Bella has enough warmth and love for the whole world, and I’m so happy she give me some of it!

4) Jack Foster - http://jacktoon.blogspot.com. Jack’s expressive illustrations are always fun, warm and so easy to relate to.

5) Josh Pincus -http://blog.marshotelonline.com. He is always over the top, and his posts has me laughing out loud with memories and amazed at his knowledge and research!

6) Paula Kuitenbrouwer – http://mindfuldrawing.com - Paula’s posts are always calming and meditative with a smile factor, proving life is in the moment.

7) Ellen Byrne – http://ellenbyrne.blogspot.com. Her blog always has a nostalgic feel and sparkles with her personality.

8) Laurel Gaylord – http://www.studiololo.blogspot.com. Who for the longest time, I only knew her by “Lolo”. She’s an amazing talent with several wonderful blogs!!!

9) Roberta Baird -http://www.robertabaird.com/blog. She is the only illustrator who can get me to look at a mouse, longer then two seconds! Her illustrations makes the child in you dream.

Last, but never least:

10) Sharon Wagner -http://sharonrwagner.blogspot.com. Sharon’s color and designs always jumps off the page, in a fun and whimsical manner.

Sharon has given me a beautiful award, which I want to acknowledge here, also so that you can see her beautiful style and of course to end this blog post in vivid color as well. Thank you Sharon!

I’m truly blessed to know so many talented, amazing, fun-loving and caring artists. It makes life bearable and memorable!

Appreciate your friends, they are your extended family.

In peace to you and yours.

It’s not something that I can articulate well at this point, and maybe I never will.

(“Mind Body & Spirit” – Mixed Media/Paper)

My sweet little sister, Renee is in hospice, that is really all I can say now. My dreams are filled with surrender, an outpouring of love and a deep hole of sadness. So on these midsummer nights, I try to understand, believe and sustain faith. May the God you believe in, give you the peace of mind, that can surround the body, so that the soul may be released. Blessings to you and yours.

]]> http://indigeneart.com/midsummer-nights-of-mind-body-spirit/feed/ 16 http://indigeneart.com/shadow-of-her-former-self/ http://indigeneart.com/shadow-of-her-former-self/#comments Sat, 04 Jun 2011 16:01:29 +0000 Indigene http://indigeneart.com/?p=1956

Soaking up this beautiful weather, communing with nature, chatting with friends, loving family, laughing, being shamelessly silly and truly understanding how life is so precious, always puts me in a pondering mode.

(Work In Progress- April 25, 2011-SEE COMPLETED PAINTING BELOW)

I’m currently pondering on…

Creating starts  with shadows, some darker than others, with more and more substance added and once the shadows have become a thing of substance, color invades it from all angles.

Like our earth.

Maybe that’s really the big bang theory, or is it what God created from the shadows, what is now our earth; no matter what you believe,  something started it off.

Is that what it will take to save the earth from the onslaught of humankind’s continual draining of her resources? An intervention is inevitable. She is a shadow of her former self…Save her…save us.

(COMPLETED WORK)

“Saving Me, Saves Us“

(24″ x 18″ – Mixed Media/Paper)

Enjoy what has been given freely…the earth.

Peace to you and yours.

]]> http://indigeneart.com/shadow-of-her-former-self/feed/ 12 http://indigeneart.com/asleep-with-nature-awake-with-life/ http://indigeneart.com/asleep-with-nature-awake-with-life/#comments Tue, 31 May 2011 11:49:43 +0000 Indigene http://indigeneart.com/?p=1951 Quietly asleep…under moonlight…

I love waking up, when the ribbons of light from the sun, are just beginning to streak across the sky.  Nature is wide awake with bird songs and crickets, and many humans are still asleep.

Nature has the most beautiful way of putting us to sleep and waking us up. The beginning and the end…the alpha and the omega…

Peace to you and yours.

(Backyard Shack - 12″x32″- Mixed Media)

Hmmm…I’m sure that word does bring about songs, music, dances, couples and possibly love.  It does for me, too!

But, I took a little detour from the traditional visual. What comes to my mind is the “duet” of our inner and outer selves.

You, know that duet, that dance!  It’s the duet we do when we  present one self to the world and keep that protected, vulnerable, beautiful self, well hidden. We all dance this duet with ourselves moment-to-moment.

Now take a breath, slow and deep…I would like to invite you to show that beautiful self that you keep hidden, that perhaps only your family sees, or your friends see or maybe only your God sees.

Maybe you can only show it for a moment, that’s okay, you get braver each time you show your true self.  Peel back your winter defenses and let your spring shine!

We are all deserving of our true self, to share with others…so that our duet of self can become one beautiful dance that we can all participate in.

Peace to you and yours.

Title: “Dream Sequence 12″

9″ x 5.75″ – Mixed Media On Paper

(Acrylic/Graphite/Watercolor – ($150)

]]> http://indigeneart.com/duet-the-real-dance/feed/ 8 http://indigeneart.com/family-time-toy-days-no-more/ http://indigeneart.com/family-time-toy-days-no-more/#comments Sat, 26 Mar 2011 22:29:05 +0000 Indigene http://indigeneart.com/?p=1880 There use to be a time when she and I would have days and days of play time, where all we would do is create art projects and play with toys: Barbies, Legos, Puzzles, Games, watch “Little Bear and Land Before Time”. Now I have to steal time for pixs and hugs!

No illustration or painting can stand up against my beautiful creation except her brother, my first beautiful creation!

This Saturday is strictly family time, I’m hoping for a few good snuggles…:)

Happy Saturday!

Be with the ones you love, if not call them!

Peace to you and yours!