Summer Sojourning

Summer is here,  a time of minimal online interaction because so much is calling me elsewhere. It is a time of external growth in the garden and internal slowing down long enough to allow new ideas to steer my direction. I have joined Cigdem Kobu’s Summer Sojourn, Slow Down and Get Spacious, a 21-day virtual retreat that guides you to slow down, feel grounded and recharge. Based on benefits from her  programs, like the Winter Joy Retreat and  as member of Progress Lounge, I look forward to allowing creativity to percolate in expanded ways.Summer Sojourn July 5 - 25

Towards the end of spring I felt so spent. May is always a favorite month of falling in love with nature again and also one of full time in the gardens, not much time for art making of the other sort. This year it was also a time of making everything cozy for our house sitters for our car trek across mid America to visit family in Colorado until mid June.

We chose to drive for two reasons. One, so we could take in some history on the way: Cahokia Mounds (wow),

Monks Mound at Cahokia Mounds complex, rising 100' covering an area of 14 acres

Monks Mound at Cahokia Mounds complex, rising 100′ covering an area of 14 acres

following the Great Rivers Road (flooding) and crossing the Mississippi in Hannibal, Missouri to absorb some Twain,

Tom Sawyer's Fence, Hannibal MO

Tom Sawyer’s Fence, Hannibal MO

crossing the Great Plains on the Pony Express (Hwy 36) and the Cherry Creek Encampment of the Cheyenne Survivors of the Sand Creek Massacre near St. Francis, Kansas.

Cherry Creek Encampment of Survivors of Sand Creek Massacre, looking north, with panel of all the names of the Cheyenne & Arapahoe survivors who found refuge on the flat plain beyond for 1 year

Cherry Creek Encampment of Survivors of Sand Creek Massacre, looking north, with panel of all the names of the Cheyenne & Arapahoe survivors who found refuge on the flat plain beyond for 1 year

Two, we drove so we could pack the car with art to share with the kids. Some of the art was large, framed with glass, which I dislike packing and shipping in the mail. Some was tiny, like the Metamorphosis series my daughter requested ages ago. They are each 3 x 4″ in frames my dad made. They are oil paintings from 1983, and I think what lead me to abandon this tiny brush style that contributed to carpal tunnel syndrome. I took a similar Summer Sojourn at that time and began a new style of larger skyscapes. It always amazes me how a chance to slow down and rejuvenate allows the next phase of our expression to evolve.

"Metamorphosis 1", oil by Kathleen O'Brien, 1983

“Metamorphosis 1”, oil by Kathleen O’Brien, 1983

"Metamorphosis 2", oil by Kathleen O'Brien, 1983

“Metamorphosis 2”, oil by Kathleen O’Brien, 1983

"Metamorphosis 3", oil by Kathleen O'Brien, 1983

“Metamorphosis 3”, oil by Kathleen O’Brien, 1983