Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The long cold dreaded grey days of winter.....


Ugh, Help! All I want to do is curl up in a ball under a big pile of warm blankets, close my eyes and sleep....and sleep..... and not wake up until spring is here. Hmmmmm, hibernating, I believe that's called.


The walls have been closing in on me this week, oh yes, ~ JANUARY, and cabin fever, but instead of feeling the need to get outside and walk or shop or just be around other living human beings, and the fact that it's way too darn cold to even go outside, please, just let me hibernate. So yesterday after lunch, feeling a nap coming on, I sat there for a few minutes and imagined things, like.......happy things, and my mind began to wander........green moss, and maybe making a winter terrarium, and painting with bright colors like purple and green...

well, you get the picture, so instead of taking a nap, I reluctantly dragged myself into the art room with my mug of hot coffee and sat down to paint. Would you believe I haven't picked up a paint brush since the end of November last year?

I looked around my art desk and saw the many projects which I started and never finished, a serving tray that needs painted, a marble chaser half painted, oh, and my mermaid that needs a coat of fresh paint.....I'll start with that...


I picked up my blue paint, the one that looks like the color of a beautiful blue sea, (oh, to be on a tropical island right now)....and painted my mermaid.

Ok, wonderful! The mermaid is finished and ready to go back outside.






I then mixed paint for a wooden egg that will be painted with a vintage Easter scene (which will go to the shop downtown in the gallery museum).





First coat done. Ok!

While that paint was drying, I started a new painting on canvas with the color purple.....





....and blue, and green.....






and here is the finished painting.





Seems appropriate for January somehow.....January blues.


In fact, I think that's what I'll call it.



january blues

8x10 acrylic on canvas board



Hopefully, now that I've pushed myself to start painting again, I'll continue, and maybe spring will be here before we know it.

18 comments:

Vintage Gal said...

Donna ~ You are an amazing artiste. I could only hope....alas I am not a painter (unless it's furniture and walls). Feel better, just remember ~ we need Winter in order for the flowers to bloom in the Spring. The flowers are getting their much needed rest so that they can perform for us ;-)
(((Hugs))) Marianne

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

IT is very hard to get motivated when it is soooo cold out. Your painting is just beautiful and warms my heart Donna.
Hugs,
Penny

Sherri said...

Donna, I love the January Blues painting. You are one talented lady! Your mermaid is cute too!

Butterfly Works said...

Oh I know what you mean....it's sooooo cold here...just like you I would love to crawl beneath the covers and stay for awhile.....but then I think of all the creative things I could be doing and I like you drag myself into my studio......

I love the picture you painted.....yep January Blues..good name....

Anonymous said...

You may have the blues, but that is a beautiful painting! I have been sewing and painting all day. I love being creative during the winter months but sometimes I take a nap ;-)

La Vie Quotidienne said...

What a wonderful way to cheer yourself up and it turned out to be so pretty. I have had a sketch for a painting sitting on my easel for over six months so your holiday hiatus isn't bad at all.(-:

Meggie said...

I certainly know what you mean about wanting to hibernate. That's why I exercise first thing in the morning...because the rest of the day I like to hibernate under an afghan on the couch. Your painting is lovely even if it symbolizes the January blues.

Peonies & Magnolias said...

I love your painting January Blues, it is gorgeous. We have had snow and snow flurries all week in TN and I am more than ready for some beautiful flowers and spring again.

Sandy

Jenny said...

I feel your pain Donna! My back has been aching from all the shoveling and its been a couple days of closing and delays - - the walls are snuggy tight around me LOL! I am pulling out the paints today for a painting that a customer is waiting on ... Perhaps, like you... once I start I'll feel better :)

LOVE LOVE LOVE your January Blues painting! And, the mermaid was a breath of fresh air to see :)

Thanks for the inspiration & lift!

Donna said...

I feel the Same way! Hibernation sounds Wonderful!!
Love the mermaid Miz Donna!
hughugs

Zuzana said...

Dear Dona, January is meant to be used for hibernation, so you do it very well. I love your painting, that purple and blue combination is stunning.;)
And not to worry, spring will be around before you know it.;))
xoxo

Beverly said...

The January Blues painting is so pretty. And, I hope we get to see the Easter Egg tray.

You're doing a great job shaking of the blues.

Mimi Sue said...

Beautiful Donna! Love the colors on this drab, gray day. Let's meet in Hawaii for a few weeks. That should cheer us up! Mimi

Ruth Welter said...

Very pretty painting Donna. I agree, it is hard to get motivated in any direction with the cold. Yesterday and today, I'm knitting instead of painting, a nice break from the brush and I can curl up in a warm cozy chair to do so.

I try to think of things that motivate me, like you, that is what gets me going again.

Stay warm.

Ruth

The Star Gal said...

Donna,

I love that name for that painting....January Blues!! You clever girl.

I have a trip planed to Isla Mujeres, Mexico in May with a couple of ladies that I work with. I'm am just hanging on to that to keep me sane thru all these gray days.

The Painted Garden said...

Hi Donna,

Yeah - you startesd painting again and what a beauty you painted. Love the colors and love your Mermaid.
Turn up your heater and keep painting as you are so talented and before you know it Spring will be here.
Have a wonderful day.
Blessings,
Erin

Angie said...

The painting is beautiful! Talk about cabin fever --- I've been in 'forced' hibernation---and I am like a groundhog---I can stay in FOREVER---UNLESS I know I CAN'T go anywhere, then I start feeling like the walls are closing in on me. I don't want human contact, so much, as just to KNOW that I can get in my CAR and go to other wide-open spaces IF I CHOOSE TO.........Blue pretty much sums up my mood right now (and I'm NOT normally a 'blue mood' person *s*)

The Summer Kitchen Girls said...

Well if that doesn't chase away winter blues....I don't know what would!!