18 Comments
User's avatar
Becky Curran's avatar

I love the cityscape! I can’t wait to see the finished product. My creativity remains largely focused in knitting (and designing) though I’m about to tackle a large cross stitch project. I’m also planning to pull out my sewing machine. Watching my niece use a tv tray to hold her sewing machine has convinced me that I don’t need a perfect setup in order to sew (though I will not be using a tv tray).

Jo's avatar

Hello kindred spirit, thanks for commenting. I am at peace with being scattered across all these hobbies, i used to feel guilty. But as I age, I realize using my hands in so many different ways prevents my fingers getting too stiff from spending hours doing one thing.

Glo's avatar

Well I’m so glad to hear your cardiology results were good! And the cancer news being positive is a blessing. Good for you on the therapy process. I did it years ago and with my mixed bag of childhood traumas it ended up dragging up more that I had already healed from than helped to deal with current life stresses. Most therapists start with your history and with facts being difficult facts, they like to dig in there not believing you’ve dealt with it. I hope you benefit from yours.

Now that my hand has healed from surgery and the physical therapy is good for me, I’ve been pursuing more tactile arts also. Crocheting and some bead weaving jewelry. I decided to continue my quest to “use” my stash of yarn and beads while I can still see to do the fine work I enjoy doing. Between eye injections every 8 weeks I am also doing some Van camping trying to get one more trip in next week cause the temps are going to be cooler. So maybe some Plein air sketching too.

Leonora Ross's avatar

I love the moodiness of the storm, and all your other work, too. You have wonderful skill with watercolours!

Jo's avatar

Thank you Leonora.Watercolor is such a tough medium to master, but I am making good progress.

Ginger Stockwell's avatar

Jo, the ship in the storm is absolutely eye catching. Beautiful work. I love the magenta lines on the boat against the teal water.

Jo's avatar

Thanks Ginger!

Jo's avatar

I think the green was mostly daniel smith amazonite, maybe a little viridian.

Negar Kamali's avatar

What a lovely quilt! I'm sure the end version will be a work of art, because you're a capable artist, Jo. Let me say that this summer for me is cut to two parts: art and German (I'm restudying for my German B2 exam. I failed the one in I had in April). For my new artworks, I wanna experiment more with colour theory.

Jo's avatar

Thanks Negar! I pray you will do well on the test this time. Working with color, just experimenting with it (I love to make color combination grids) is so therapeutic.

Negar Kamali's avatar

Thanks for encouraging me, Jo (I'm sure I'll do better this time). I've no idea how my experiments with colour would turn out, but I know that would be a great learning experience for me.

Eva Baker's avatar

Love the paintings! I like the idea of transitional breathing, too. Are you finding it helpful?

Eva Baker's avatar

I get that. These ideas seem so simple, but it’s hard to change the habits of a lifetime. Hopefully it gets easier with practice 😍

Jo's avatar

Ashamed to say, I am not remembering it in the day to day around the house mode yet so I am not sure.

Janet Asante Sullivan's avatar

The storm painting feels so real. Kudos to being curious and open to therapy, not many people past a certain age would be open to new ways of seeing and being.

Jo's avatar
May 28Edited

Thanks Janet! Boomers grew up with no mental health awareness. Our parents framed it as something shameful, like it was a bad life choice.

H.Mac's avatar

Beautiful artwork and I love your quilt! I am still experimenting with watercolour and trying to push outside my comfort zone! Sending you my best wishes, Helen.