show – Kay Foley

This morning, after months of painting and planning, I hung my show. Ahh.

I woke at 3:30 this morning, dozed fitfully for an hour. Finally I just gave up and got up at 4:30. So many things on my mind–family coming from West and East coasts for my big little event; others coming in for other reasons; the reception; Thanksgiving; this, that, and the other needing to be done and made ready. So very many things to think about and do. My checklists have been completed and replaced day after day.

My energetic, ever-helpful friend and I arrived at the bank, paintings in hand, to find a Christmas tree in one corner of the space. Hmm. Seemed to be a problem. But the wonderful, all-knowing Executive Director of the Columbia Art League, Kelsey, suggested a change of layout that might accommodate both the tree and the paintings. We switched out two large paintings for these two small ones, one of which could be seen as a snowy landscape and the other looking bright and festive. We hung one on either side of the tree. Voila! She was right. It’s perfect.

So with the help of these two great gals, my solo show has been hung and we had fun doing it. All of it, really, has been happy work–the painting itself, the planning, and all the doing, so very much doing, more doing than I had imagined. Well, most of the doing was fun. The framing fiasco? Not fun. Cards have gone out, wine has been bought, the Art League is promoting the heck out of it, and all is well. I am happy. Whatever happens from here on out, I’m happy.

I am grateful to so many people for their help! I will be especially thankful this Thanksgiving Day for all the people in my life who make my world a better place. As the effervescent Bonnie likes to say, “I’m livin’ the dream.”

“Have the wisdom to perceive all there is to be thankful for, and then be thankful for the wisdom to perceive things so clearly.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons

“Today I focus my thoughts on the wonderful things that are. I focus my heart on the full-filling things that will be . . . and I give thanks.” ― Angie Karan

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” – Maya Angelou

If you’re looking for my paintings, go here. If you want cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

Third Place in Non-Professional Painting

This past Saturday I won an award in painting and sold several small paintings, all in one day! Whoa. I cannot say how thrilling this is, how it makes me feel like I’m on my right path, etc. Painting, which I once found somehow terrifying, is now a thing that I love. It’s just a little over a year since I took a course called “Find Your Joy” with Louise Fletcher. And I really did find it. I found my joy. That, in and of itself, is a beautiful thing. But one cannot deny that awards can be lovely, too.

Louise always says that other people’s opinions should not matter. The joy is in doing what you love. Yeah, sure. I cannot argue with that. Very very true. But still! An award!! And many sales!! In painting–a thing I never thought I could do and have been working very hard at all through this last year.

I’ve been a collage artist, writer, and card maker for so many years. I’ve won awards in mixed media at art festivals, even 2D Best of Show one time, but it’s been awhile. Every year prior to this I’ve entered collages of one kind or another into a local art show that I particularly love, a show that people in the community can enter free of charge, with no risk of being juried out. I adore this. It means that I’ll walk through the show and see that Who’s It paints! So & So does pastels! What’s His Name makes beautiful sculptures! So fun! And prizes are awarded.

This year, having found my joy, I entered a large-ish painting, without fear of ridicule, embarrassment, or loss of limb. I had zero expectations. I had never won a prize in mixed media at this particular show, although some years I thought I had a shot. Never. Never, for years. But now I have, in a medium that I once found so intimidating.

Over the moon I went. Right over it. I zoomed right over it. A banner day, a banner weekend. I could not wait to tell everyone. A freaking award in painting!! Have I mentioned that I went right over the moon? I so did. I am still there, still someplace way beyond the moon. The thing that gives me joy also gave someone else joy, and thus gained me a ribbon. So, okay, the joy really is more important. But I’m pretty sure it’s the joy spilling out all over the place that won me the award. Yeah.

“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.” ― Tom Bodett

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” ― Rumi

“Comparison is the death of joy.” ― Mark Twain

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

Tag: show

Much Ado About Something

An Award in Painting!