Do You Have H.O.P.E.?

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What is hope? The dictionary tell us that hope is an optimistic attitude of mind based on an expectation of positive outcomes related to events and circumstances in one’s life or the world at large. Yes, I’ve got some. I have hope for an America where all citizens are equal. I have hope for my health to continue to improve. I have hope for my autistic daughter, that she will continue to grow and find her way in the World. I have hope that my marriage will stay strong and filled with love all the way until the end. I have hope that my friends will find peace in their lives. I could go on…

Do you have hope?

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Words of W.I.S.D.O.M…

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An old favorite of mine written by Max Ehrmann in 1927.  I have combined the “Desiderata” with my “Peaceful Understanding” which seemed like a perfect combination.  The last two lines sum life up for me pretty well, “With all it’s sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.  Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”  Enjoy!

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A Tale Of Two K.O.I…

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I am often asked by people if I have prints of certain paintings in my archives.  So often, I do not.  Ten plus years ago when I started painting and selling my art for a career, I did not have a camera that could take pictures with high enough resolution to produce quality prints.  I am lucky to get small prints of some.  A few have been successfully digitally remastered as well.  But my “Koi” were a no go on both fronts.  The piece above has been very popular for me as a commission and I absolutely enjoy painting them!  However, I wanted to be able to create prints as well.  So I painted one specifically for this purpose.  Now this piece can be enjoyed in a massive size!  Enjoi the koi!

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S.U.M.M.E.R. Blues…

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I’ve got the Summer blues.  I am not talking about the sad kind.  I am referring to the azure skies and blue aqua tint of the ocean waves of Florida.  There is also the deeper blue gray of rain in the distance that tends to come around 5:00 pm each day.  I am in Venice right now enjoying the salty air and cooler breezes that provide the only reprieve from the stifling heat.  This morning we went out and swam in the choppy swells.  The temperature was perfect and the sun was hidden behind the clouds for a few hours.  I would apologize for my frequent absences from my blog, marketing and work in general.  But I am far from sorry.  I’ve worked hard for this and can finally live the life I’ve always envisioned.  I am spending as much time as possible at the beach this year. It’s just heavenly…

Let The M.U.S.I.C. Play…

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With the incredible success of my abstract guitars have come requests. Can you do a violin? A saxophone? A banjo? I created a beautiful violin two days ago and was inspired to keep going. The french horn is a work of art in and of itself. I love the circular patterns and detail. Music is as much an anchor in my life as artwork. I play tunes when I paint or create on the computer. Some days it might be rock and roll or country. 80’s music is also a favorite. But many days it is classical.  Just the sound of the musical instruments and nothing more…..

See ALL of my musical instruments here:

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-sharon-cummings.html?tab=artworkgalleries&artworkgalleryid=255306

P.E.A.C.O.C.K. Love!

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When I was a little girl growing up in Myakka City, FL, there was a neighbor just down the road who raised peacocks.  These creatures are surprisingly loud and when the wind was just right, our yard would be filled with their haunting cries.  I would sometimes take the back pastures over to their farm.  I had to go through a handful of barbed wire fences which is something I became an expert at.  I would greet  the cows being careful not to irritate any of the bulls.  I would inevitably pick some wild flowers, but it was the sight of of those brilliant feathers I was after.  The males with their jewel colored plumes always mesmerized me.  Once in awhile I would get lucky and one of the fowl would have strayed close to the fence and lost a feather.  This was the grand prize!

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The Wonder Years….

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Are you trying to hold on to your youth?  Your children?  A dysfunctional family?  A job that isn’t right for you?  A marriage that doesn’t work?  That D you got in trigonometry in high school?

So many of us cling tightly to what is familiar or comfortable.  Others bind themselves to the past and allow it to punish them for their entire lives. Change is scary.  Some just cannot picture a life different than the one they currently have.  I have learned that the harder you grasp something, the more it hurts when it slips away from you.  The secret to life is “letting go”.  Also known as acceptance.  This has nothing to do with giving up and everything to do with knowing when it is time to move on.

I had a few years of uncertainty and fear as I moved into middle age.  I was panicked at the thought of my little girl out in the big mean World all by herself. My marriage had a major hiccup one Summer and I was not sure we would make it.  I noticed that I was starting to lose the interest of men when I walked into a room.  My body and face were aging and I did not know how to handle it. I was also very confused about what I wanted to do with my business.  I considered shutting it down and taking a different path by getting back into Holistic Medicine.  I call those years “the worry years”.

Slowly I started to realize that I could not hold onto all of those things that I wanted to remain the same.  More importantly, I did not want to. I discovered it was safe to let go and just celebrate where I was headed.  I was not only physically different, I was also mentally and emotionally transformed.  At 45 I am now excited to watch my daughter leave for college and blossom into her own life.  I will not be keeping her bedroom as a shrine where I can focus on the past.  Instead it will be converted into a sanctuary for yoga and thinking. She will be welcome to visit anytime, but I will use that space for mediation.  I have learned to work “with” my partner instead of “against” him as we weather life’s bumps.  I am less selfish.  I have also decided that I will not be artificially preserving my youthful face.  It’s gone and no amount of face lifting, injecting or sand blasting is going to bring it back.  It’s o.k. to have wrinkles and fine lines.  In fact, if you allow yourself to let go of what society dictates is beautiful, you can actually admire them for what they really are: signs of a life that has endured numerous storms and celebrated many triumphs.

As for my career that is still being pondered.  I have a few new ideas about what direction I would like to move in. But whatever I decide, the process leading up to it will not be fraught with anxiety.  No, these are truly “the wonder years” for me.  The dictionary tells us that “wonder” means:  a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.  And that is exactly where I am.  Bring it on life!

Achieving Zen…

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Spring is in full swing here in Florida and I have been one busy bee!  I have been painting lots of commission work and my print sales are at an all time high.  I just spent a few days with my daughter in Sarasota for her Spring break which was fun and relaxing.  But today it is back to work for me. We’ve been cleaning and doing some upgrades in our home.  I do not comprehend the concept of “light” cleaning. It’s always “deep” cleaning because once I see funk or dirt, I MUST clean it!  I cannot turn a blind eye.

How does this tie into “zen”?  The urban dictionary says:

One way to think of zen is this: a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind. Zen is a way of being. It also is a state of mind. Zen involves dropping illusion and seeing things without distortion created by your own thoughts. “Sun is warm, grass is green.”

I have been experiencing the “zen” of cleaning.  My focus is intense and both my mind and body are fully together in my tasks.  There are no illusions here. Dirt and dog hair have infiltrated every pore of my home. “The house was dirty, the house is cleanish.” 🙂

Happy Spring Cleaning!

British Invasion!

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I am continuing to work on my map series and England is my next offering. Why not the United Kingdom?  The United Kingdom is not a country.  It is actually 4 countries grouped together (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).  Seems Scotland is working towards independence so who knows what that map will look like in the near future.  So I just chose England as a stand alone.  It’s a beautiful shape for an artist to work with and I am pleased with the finished image.

Some fun facts about England:

1. Big Ben does not refer to the clock, but actually the bell.
2. London has been called Londonium, Ludenwic, and Ludenburg in the past.
3. French was the official language for about 300 years
4. The shortest war against England was with Zanzibar in 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes.
5. There is nowhere in Britain that is more than 74.5 miles from the sea.
6. The first telephone directory published in England contained 25 names.
7. While the Great Fire of London was largely destructive, the casualty rate was just 8.
8. The first hot chocolate store opened in London.
9. There are over 300 languages spoken in England.
10. The English drink more tea than anyone else in the world.

Oh and how about a flag?  England has a fine flag with a red cross over a white background.  I have not done an image for that yet.  But I do love the United Kingdom’s flag for it’s bright contrasting colors and interesting design.  It’s so distinctive and eye catching. Another artist’s dream. 🙂

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The Birds And The Bees

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While I was working on my Three Birds piece yesterday the wheels started turning and I wondered if this could become a series.  Why yes it can!  More colorful Spring images on the way. 🙂  I created the hummingbird and hibiscus in this piece well over a year ago. People seem to like it with a white background, but I like the added interest the colors and patterns make.

I’ve got so many images to list right now it is crazy.  I still have a dozen pieces from my Transforming Energy series to get online plus another dozen or so maps.  And then there are photos!  If only one hour of sleep was enough!