In the Zone

Reflecting on comfort zones tonight; I had never considered mine until an ex boss pulled me up for not wanting to step outside mine; I was hurt, affronted...I didn't know I had one.

Of course I did and he was perfectly correct; my painting 'Suki's Rubicon is about stepping over that line; her Haiku is:

The line in the sand;

One toe over and all is

Irreversible

(I do like to try and fit a five syllable word as the last line, I have to confess) But anyway; so much of this year has been about stepping over lines and seeing where it leads, to the degree that I have more on my schedules of a week than at any other time since I left college, and then everything on the schedule revolved around social drinking activity and Neighbours, so it hardly counts. If I had to list the things I have achieved in the last year or so that I would have not considered in the year before, it would be quite long; there is an element of the forty-turner about it all, but it is more than that. Once you find the edge of your comfort zone it is amazing how shiny and exciting everything looks on the other side and how you want to keep popping over. I love the bit in the Lord of the Rings when one of the hobbits stops at a certain point in a field and announces that this is the furthest he has ever been away from home - then steps over it and on into who knows what. Courage has something to do with it but not as much as realising that nothing will happen if you don't take the step; sure, you might win the lottery and George Clooney might take it into his head to visit your street and happen to pop in for a cup of sugar, but as likely as not you will stay at square zero. I love my comfort zone as much as anyone; right now I am in my 'comfies' -slippers and dressing gown - hair up, make-up off, cup of tea in had, cats at feet. What I like now is the move I can make away from it to new experiences and discoveries, while still returning to base camp; I am not one of the round-the-world-canoeist types and never will be, but at least now I question my motives when the answer to an invitation is an automatic 'no'. (Having said that, I have also realised the power of judicious use of the word 'no', but that's another story...)

Two opportunities have knocked today, and in some ways they are conflicting; one is not art related and will not further my painting but may help my sanity. The other will help my painting but may make me tired. It's not really a choice is it? As long as the two are not

mutually exclusive its a no brainer; tiredness I can deal with after Twig the wonder kit's insomnia last year.

Figured out a small breakthrough in the potato printing world today in time honoured fashion; saw a print on someone's dress that was based on circle motifs that were decorated in the round like a paper snowflake. Tonight I cut a segment of potato that will produce a circular repeat pattern, using similar leaf and circle motifs from my 'big potato' and 'bunny flower' print. (They all have names, for no other reason than my own amusement.)

Decided to relegate two pictures onto the reserve bench for the Angels show as well, so I am going to get some more board cut and do at least a couple more; presumably along the lines of my fractious fairies as that is what is in my head just now. Buying potatoes is quite funny as I am fussy as to size and shape depending on the print I am thinking of, but it makes me look like the pickiest cook imaginable...

The picture is not 'Suki's Rubicon' but my newest one; 'Harrison Summer' - the companion piece to the first angel I painted, 'Archie's Park', which is the same park, different season. Maybe have to do winter and autumn now...