"Listening to the Sea"

When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me that is bewildered and confused. - Rainer Maria Rilke

Like all of us, I've watched the disaster in the gulf unfold these past weeks in absolute, utter heartbreak - and more than a touch of anger. Having spent much of my adult life in a southern California beach town, I have a deep love and respect for the ocean, and the incredible, magical creatures who inhabit her. To see them dying as a result of man's greed and shortsightedness is almost unbearable.

I suppose it's natural the sea would make it's way into my work of late, a sort of catharsis I guess. I'm not sure how effective raging against injustice with a paintbrush is, but I know I'm in good company, and for whatever it's worth at the end of the auction, 20% of the sale price will be donated to the Nature Conservancy.

I wish it would be more, I wish it could be the entire thing, but we do what we can. :)

If you go to the eBay auction, there's a description of this piece, which I've titled "Listening to the Sea".

I've painted two others as well; tiny trinket boxes, a sea turtle...

and a dolphin....

It was such a blessing to paint these pieces, and I should add there's one more in the works I hope to share early in the week.

In other news, we're wading through the massive red tape insurance bureaucracy in the the hope John can begin treatment soon (details in this post). In the meantime, we're remaining optimistic, and very, very thankful for friends and family who've been so supportive and encouraging. We love you all, and I'll post updates here as they happen. :)

That's about it for now, except to show you a peek at the amazing world of possibilities my very talented woodworker delivered this past Wednesday....

TeeHee! Just like Christmas (or maybe HALLOWEEN?!) ;)

Many of these pieces are earmarked for commissions and the incredible Ghoultide Gathering show, but some will also make their way to eBay, Etsy, The EHAG Emporium and the PFATT Marketplace, so stay tuned.

I'm off now to put my feet up, call an end to this 15 hour Saturday, and enjoy what I think is a well deserved glass of 15 year old single malt (thanks, Kim, hehe!)

Back much sooner next time, I promise....

♥ Carolee
PS - If you like raucous gypsy music, check out this band I just discovered (although friends tell me they've been around for awhile) - love, love, love it!