Art can tell us a story about life.

This last February I moved onto five acres in a rural area. Somehow I found myself with six feral cats, four large dogs and six Nigerian Dwarf goats. Two of my goats were female milking goats and within a month of getting one female she ended up dying in my arms. I had read a comment about a man who had moved to a farm and that he observed that you learn about death on a farm. I had contemplated that statement and I now understand what he meant. I lost four of my feral cats (coyotes got them most likely), and my milking goat died. I find other dead animals on my property on a regular basis most of them have been killed by one of my dogs or cats or the weather. One of the Barn Owl babies fell out of our owl house this winter and died during the rains. We found his body under some large trash cans where he had hidden. That was sad. Anyhow, on a farm you experience death more regularly and accept it as a part of nature.

I was devastated by the passing of my goat Hope. I lost Hope and the analogy fits because I grieved. I lost Hope for awhile. Goats are like dogs in that they are affectionate and look at you as if you are their whole world. Hope stared at me before she passed with her head on my knee and with those golden brown eyes, she looked at me then looked away and died. I believe she was born with a condition that caused her death. At first I blamed myself and thought I had done something wrong because I don't know goats. Now I realize it was not my fault. Hope had something going on inside of her that she was born with. I was not responsible for her death. I still have five living goats and I have fallen in love with all of them.

Art is a reflection of life. Art tells us our story of what we see and experience in our lives. My art tells the viewer my story. My art shows the viewer how I see the world. I see such beauty in nature and I want to share that beauty with the viewer. I want my viewer to see the beauty that I see.

I live on a farm. My art now reflects that. This is my experience and how I see and experience the world. If I can express my experiences in my art then I will be successful. I recently discovered that when I stop painting I become grumpy and unhappy. I took some time off to remodel my new home and become familiar with the five acre property. However, I became very frustrated and I did not know what was wrong. I began setting up my paints and canvas and easel and began painting. I immediately became happy! I now understand what it means when an artist says they have to paint. I have to paint in order to feel balanced and happy. I can never stop. I know that now. Art is my therapy. Art is my zen. Art makes me happy.