Painting in the garden

I paint with oils over dry pencil drawings on canvas.  Flower and Herb Gardens are particularly interesting subjects for realistic or abstract art.  Though most of my art is done outdoors, I often take photos and compose imagery in my studio, "La Marguerite Blanche" or "the white daisy".  My work place is filled with recycled bottles and cans holding paint brushes and boxes of oil paints.  It's named after the field of daisies near my studio window.  The studio overlooks a garden with blossoming cherry trees, lilacs, and jasmine in early spring, lavender, morning glories, and wild flowers through summer, giant sunflowers in late summer, pomegranates, plums, pears, apples, and grapes at Harvest time, Jack-O-lantern pumpkins in fall, and red roses in winter.  I collect leaves, petals, and seeds for art and decor ideas frequently; these specimen along with jars of flower arrangements sit on my studio desks all year.  From time to time, a butterfly flutters by.

The melodies and tunes sung by birds, complements my atmosphere, adding to the fairy garden effect.  Choosing this sort of art creates the enchanting mood of the garden through different seasons inside the house or office.

Lavender

The right time came to harvest lavender.  Under the warmest early summer sun, we spent a few hours clipping lavender stems.  Some of the flowers had dried naturally.  We had to collect the violet and purple flowers in our baskets before spreading them on white cloths.  Next, lavender was packed in glass jars for culinary use.  

The little note to being happy

It was inspiring to hear many young people speak to "Voice of America".  On the issue of hopelessness and how it causes young people to feel depressed often, especially in areas of the globe where inflation and poverty are topics of everyday life, I have to say, it's a trap of the mind.

Confidence, self assurance, and the sense of overall creative expression can help with these feelings tremendously.  I would rely on the experts' advice and the importance of therapy, exercise, and yoga, only to add the exercise of art, music, literature, entertainment, and dance.  These acts cheer up the spirit, lift up the body and mind, and gather one's whole being around the warmth of life.  

To keep the mind away from upsetting thoughts, I would offer whimsical services such as reading to kids, doing art with them, face painting, finger art, and simply listening to soothing music while doing activities.  In the spring and summer, you can have chalk on pavement, clay, and mural painting outdoors, while in fall and winter, you get to make crafts and collect treasured gifts with beads, yarn, and paper.  Having room for creative arts, can surely improve one's life.