watercolor painting of squash by emily weil

daily painting | september squash

First topic — Bonnie Raitt concert at the Fox. Wow. I’ve long been a fan, and her songs have been a bit of a life soundtrack for me. A couple of her tunes made my cheeks wet, and her emotional connection to the audience was moving and magical. Though I’ve loved her music for decades it was my first time seeing her live, and she was magnificent. It’s her heart — her lyrics come from an authentic place inside her as she sings of life, of love, of loss. Of being messily human.

The next day my inner abuser criticized me for being emotional and skinless (still feeling it the following day). “Get over it! Jeez!” or “You’re on the pity pot!”

So I told the caustic critic between my ears to eff-off. I still feel like raw hamburger but I won’t fight it. Tears are OK. Let ’em rip. “I relinquish all resistance to the present moment” is my mantra. So be it. Today I am not ashamed to be cooking up some comfort food — cheesy melty treats with guacamole (since I buy bags of avocados and hardly know what do with them all when they ripen at the same time). Soothing deliciousness. Bring on the Tums®.

[Did this quick painting in my Brushes by the Bay group on Saturday]

5″ x 7″ watercolor, ink on paper

 

 

 

watercolor abstract by emily weil

daily painting | red horizon

Every morning I meditate and pray for guidance for my day and ask Great Spirit to walk with me. Today I am reminded to practice self-compassion, as I woke up with deep sadness. I find it’s possible to hold a handful of emotions simultaneously — sadness, grief, thankfulness, exhilaration. Yesterday when I returned from my studio, after working on a large painting, I felt joy and gratitude. I am human. Emotions that are sometimes jumbled are part of this wild, breathtaking ride.

If I am conscious at the end of my life and capable of reflection, I will give thanks for dog-paddling in the middle of the river with all its wild currents, even if I do feel like I swam upstream most of the time. Woof.

6″ x 6″ watercolor, acrylic on paper = $50