THREE THINGS Issue 04

THING ONE
 

Thirty years ago Julia Cameron wrote “The Artist’s Way” which has become a foundational book on the subject of creativity.  One of her very good ideas was that we should take ourselves on a regular artist date.  It could be to a gallery, a museum, a cliff at sunset, a music store (is there such a thing anymore?), a concert or even a junk store – whatever you think has the ability to fill you up creatively.   Cameron writes that to be able to create, we have to draw from our artistic reservoir and to keep this reservoir in balance we need to be filling the well.  She encourages us to replenish by giving ourselves the gift of an artist date.  Consider treating yourself in this way soon and read THING TWO below to hear about my latest artist date.

THING TWO

 
I recently walked into the lovely Peninsula Gallery in Sidney, BC.  There I came across the work of local BC artist Josephine Fletcher and enjoyed some time taking it all in.  The gallery was spotlighting her work and I got chatting with Vivian (staff? owner?) who told me a delightful story about seeing a painting of Josephine’s online but not being able to find any way to contact her.  Eventually after much searching and a little luck she found her living a quiet, island life with her elderly mom. Vivian had a few more tales about Josephine and I found that knowing a bit of the artist’s story seem to make her artwork even more appealing.  Josephine’s work (I know, I sound like I know her😊) seems to go with her simple lifestyle in the gulf islands as she depicts common, community scenes in a colourful manner. It was a delightful way to spend an afternoon and was just the artist date I needed. 

THING THREE
 

Loveliest of Trees
A. E. Housman (1859-1936)

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.

This poem is in the public domain.

Unlike the poet, I have far less than 50 springs left to revel in the blossoms.  Regardless of the number of flowering seasons remaining for you, be sure to get out and savour them while they’re here.

Happy Spring!
Glenna