Compare and Contrast

I've been having a hard time getting things down on paper lately, been difficult to sort through it all.  It was so beautiful out last weekend that I had to move outside and paint.

My safari adventure has been on my mind.  Maybe because it is so different from what I'm experiencing now.  Every second of my time in Tanzania was magical. When I compare that to Michigan, it seems painfully ordinary.  It has been hard to find magic in everyday things.

So painting one of my Tanzanian memories in the sun was a kind of therapy, a way of sorting through it all.

A storm came through, as if some sort of symbolism or something.  Or maybe it was just Michigan weather, but I had to move inside.

I noticed my gazelle looked a lot like that goat in my sketchbook.  Whatever, I like that goat!

It turned out ok.  I enjoyed the process, and look forward to doing it again soon.  My take away form this........plan another adventure....soon!

Restless.......

This was my space in Germany.  I loved it. 

This is my space in Michigan.  I nothing it.

Been struggling with being back in this space in Michigan.  I've been back now for about 6mos, everything has been unpacked for awhile now, just doesn't feel right.  The size of this world has been making me restless.  Nothing fits, or feels right.

It's the same table and tools that I've always had, but something is different.  Not an easy thing to get out on paper. Maybe it's my head and not the space.

owl puppy

Last year I was fortunate enough to travel to Tanzania with a really great group of folks.  That's me at the entrance to the Serengeti.  It was a dream come true for me.  The colors, the smells, the air felt different, the light looked different and the number of critters that I got to see was unreal.  I still can't believe I was there and I ache to go back.

While there, I saw a young owl on the ground.  It's eyes were inky black and it was still fuzzy in areas so I don't think it was able to fly yet.  Imagine if it couldn't fly that it soon became an ex-owl.

Some owl sketches.

This blog stuff is harder than I thought it would be.  I admire the folks who keep it up regularly.  I will try to do better.  No promises.