Best Day Ever

Nearing the end of 2024.  Some find comfort in that.  If you have had a year that needs ending, I completely understand.  I have had those.  We have had those. Imagining a fresh start on January 1st can be a relief when a year tipped over towards too many hard things without enough happy abundance.  

Tough year politically.  An election year of clashing cultural values where after the votes were tallied nearly half did NOT get what they wanted while barely more than half did. That means close to every other person holds an opposing perspective.  New houses, cars and trucks are mostly black or white too with just a few grey.  Another moniker of a societal stratification. 

“New houses, cars and trucks are mostly black or white too with just a few grey.  Another moniker of a societal stratification.” 

As an artist living to manifest peace, teasing out beauty with paintbrushes and words, this is painful to watch. Immersed in a spectrum of color, swimming deep into a sea of words my job is to connect.  All this contention is just baffling. Refusing to dive in I’d rather rebel choosing to simply stay curious.  Instead of opinions and media, I take in all the tiny gifts, our shared breath, sun blazing into morning, unfurling leaves green to gold before letting go to drop.  Impermanence is the way of an outdoor painter.  This too shall pass. Everything hard, everything priceless.

“Impermanence is the way of an outdoor painter.  This too shall pass. Everything hard, everything priceless.”

That may be why I count 2024 as a year to savor.  Indulging until the last chime at midnight.  

 “The Way We Were” a retro 70s film acted passionately by a handsome young Robert Redford and a feisty Barbara Streisand has floated up as I am writing. Best friends sailing on a sparkling sea recount memories of youth.  “Best day?” is asked, “Best year?”  A scene that has settled into my psyche. Perhaps I hoped I could answer those questions someday.  

January brought New Zealand/Australia, a terrifying 15 hour flight over and back across the Pacific totally worth the fright.  Adventures are a refueling time for me.  “Going somewhere different, meeting someone new” (from a friend in 2015) a good motto to embrace. Solo traveling is not for everyone but it has given me a sense of freedom and a love for humanity not attainable any other way.  

Creative stores filled, February-July were spent preparing a solo show in Colorado.  Not the largest body of work I have produced, though surely the best.  Nashville to the Rockies, 23 new paintings (including a 5’ x 5’ diptych) tucked into my new Mini finished the push.  Breckenridge Gallery pulled out it’s best hanging those and the few remaining pieces for the most beautiful show of my career.  

Good thing as family, collectors and friends travelled from Europe, Canada, Tennessee and all over Colorado to support a reception that opened August 3rd.  Celebrating took days.

In September, Vienna and the masterworks of Gustaf Klimt called, so I answered.  Met friends who led adventures around Slovenia, another place of such beauty in lakes, waterfalls, mountains and people.  On the way back, Oxford, England was a thrill and a tragedy as a sudden fall the day after a fascinating whirlwind tour of the spired city left a lasting impression.  

Though I stayed calm and carried on for four more days in the English countryside, I brought back a broken painting hand.  Losing two and half months of time at the easel did in no way dim my view of the year.  Thank you to all my patient collectors for the delays caused by my rush to not get wet on the way to the train station. 

During recovery new and old friends and family kept me sane.  Chicago, Arizona travel and a Thanksgiving feast for the books.  Thankfully I am back in the thick paint working to catch up.  A solid finish.  

Best day ever?  Hands down, the day my twin sons were born.  However, last August 3, 2024 rocks in at somewhat distant second.  Best year?  Seriously considering putting 2024 up for that while eyeing 2025 as a future contender. Chasing that future version of life.  Stay tuned.

“Chasing that future version of life.  Stay tuned.”

Wherever you are, whatever you believe, go do something good with the energy you have.  Keep moving.  Stay connected to those you love.  Always find grateful.  Thank you for following my journey.  Your support continues to be truly life saving and full of meaning.  Happy New Year to all of us!