Sunday, November 19, 2006

IF:Thanksgiving


Admittedly, I was stumped this week along with many of you. Our friends in other parts of the world don't celebrate Thanksgiving~but they do give thanks. So...I'm pushing away the turkey portrait I started (wings in the form of praying hands, thankful he wasn't chosen to be dinner), and instead I'm using a painting I did last year called "Gratitude." This is where I go every day, the path at Asilomar beach. I always, every single day turn to the ocean and say "thank you." Just that simple. Thank you God, the Universe, Great Spirit...whatever your belief is. I'm not a religious person in the traditional sense. I always tell people "Nature is my church, kindness is my religion."

I've survived neglect, abuse and cancer. I think we should celebrate every birthday because we're lucky to have them. Yes, I'm thankful for every day. Even the bad ones.

Oh...another thing I'm thankful for? A mural client came to see my new studio the other day and she bought this painting!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate it, and happy day to those around the world who don't!

31 comments:

  1. I'm glad you chose this one. It's beautiful!
    Congratulations on your new studio!

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  2. This is a beautiful painting. And i agree with you that we should be thankful for each day that we are here and all that we have.

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  3. Laurel, I love this, beautiful work - the way she's reaching up to the sky...I'm not surprised it sold, congrats on the sale! Also thanks for taking a look at my work - glad to see I *stirred* up some emotions with my humble soup :)

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  4. This is lovely. Beautiful painting.

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  5. enchanting illo and post! :)

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  6. Congratulations! This is a lovely painting. I really like the combination of colours and the dramatic sky.

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  7. It's an absolutely lovely painting! I love it, great colors and attitude. Gratefulness is for every day, I agree! Mary :-D

    PS, hand turkeys are sheer fun! You can still do them as an adult. (I'm 60!)

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  8. I love your words and work here at this post. Thank you for posting this and many more happy years to you.

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  9. This is great! There's such a calm and joyous feeling about it! I really like the lady she brings to mind the healers and oracles of old... Congratulations on the sale! Its so cool you have your own studio now, great to have your own space to be creative in!
    Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. gorgeous, thanks for sharing your very inspiring story. this holiday isn't about turkeys at all but about being thankful for what we have and for each day we are given. that is something everyone should do. thanks for the reminder! i needed it!

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  11. Congrats on the sale, and studio. This piece really represents those feelings. Happy Thanksgiving

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  12. gorgeous painting (love the blues of the shadows against the sand) and lovely message.

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  13. The image I drew for Illustration Friday has a similar idea, but mine is very amateurish, nobody would buy mine!

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  14. Very beautiful piece and poetic inspiration behind the concept! Oh... and beautiful area for artists! My wife and i were married in Carmel this past August and her favorite spot is lover's point.

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  15. Beautiful painting..congrats on the sale!

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  16. Really beautiful colors. Love the feel of unity between men and nature. You have such a cool studio too!! Ciao!

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  17. Very well done. A lot of your faith reflected there.

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  18. This is really lovely and so powerful! I feel that way about the ocean too (and about life) so I really appreciate the reminder--it's been too long since I've visted the ocean. Congratulations on your new studio and on selling your painting! And thanks for the comment on my site a couple weeks ago...I'm glad I finally got a chance to click over and visit yours. Your studio looks like a very happy place!

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  19. hehe...i had started on a turkey v. dinner theme, myself.

    i've been in a rotten mood for a couple of months. i can't say why, but there are just some issues i'm having to deal with, and it's easy to fall into the trap of feeling sorry for myself.

    i'm thankful for desert. almost anything i hate in my life can be made better with desert.

    thanks for stopping by.

    i love her outreached arms. it says so much.

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  20. Your work looks beautiful and peaceful; that's what I feel every time I approach the sea!
    Good luck with your new studio and commission work.
    Thanks for coming by.

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  21. Gorgeous! And I am so happy for you and your wonderful outlook on life and what really matters!
    Have a wonderful day today nad every day after. You are a gift!

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  22. beautiful!!! i like the way you use colours! it gave the right emotions to the painting! nice!!!!=D

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  23. Thank you for the nice comment on my IF illustration :-) ...naah Carl had a good life , you know with living on a nice farm and all that :-)


    Thx again.

    Tim

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  24. I know how you feel. Many people go through life growing increasingly embittered by each hardship they endure because they think that these experiences damage them irrepairably. However, I think that each time we are broken, we are given the choice to remake ourselves in stronger and more resilient stuff—even if we don't realize it until we're whole again. Congratulations on your studio and on the sale of this lovely painting =)

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  25. Love it, since Im from an small Northsea-Island, whos coastline looks the same in summer!

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