Avoidance

It doesn't happen often but there are times when I avoid my studio...particularly when I feel stuck.  I find it doesn't happen as often when I'm working on several pieces at once, but currently I have only one canvas on the go and it has definitely given me pause - as, I guess, have most of the pieces in this new series.  So, instead I've been knitting dish cloths, cooking & baking (these wonderful Williams-Sonoma Country Rolls and Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookies and delicious macaroni with penne, fresh ham, peas and sauce made with asiago, romano and parmesa cheeses...mmmmmmm...) - and, of course, plenty of reading.  'The Night Circus' is quite beautiful and haunting and I recently completed 'The Birth House' by Amy McKay which was wonderfully written.  Plus I've listened to The Civil Wars over and over and over again.  Musical poetry.  So, last night I brought my canvas up from the studio and placed it on the hearth to look at throughout the evening.  I dreamt about the piece and felt drawn to paint early this morning - it is finally moving forward.  This painting includes a Haida war canoe along with pictographs of warriors and hunters.  Not sure where this will lead but I'm excited.   And now, back to painting so I'll leave you with my book review of 'The Birth House':

The Birth House
by Amy McKay

Though this novel was published a few years ago, and I held it in my hands many, many times, it took me this long to finally read it.  I'm always drawn to books with beautiful covers and this is definitely one of them.  Dora Rare is the protagonist in this one, born with a caul and then studying with an Acadian woman to be a healer and midwife in a time when it was frowned upon as witchcraft though all the towns people took advantage of these gifts.  The story takes place in Nova Scotia around the beginning of World War I when a doctor, backed by an insurance company, arrives to bring 'modern medicine' to the area.  McKay's writing is lyrical and she has certainly done her research on the medicine of the times.  At times funny and poignantly sad, it's a novel about human nature and relationships - I'm thinking I may have to add this one to my collection for a future re-read.

PostScript:  I'll be adding a few paintings in the WHISPERS series that where featured in Cloth, Paper, Scissors to the shop today.

PostPostScript:  I love eating by candlelight - particularly enjoy the scent of vanilla beeswax candles.