Nicely balanced....

Sorry I've not said hello lately, its been a busy few weeks, I've been locked in my studio preparing and posting paintings and print orders (and arty tea towels) for customers and galleries, also doing a few pet commissions - and new paintings.

Oh I received a lovely surprise the other week, one of my regular customers sent me a wonderful gift box of honey, it never ceases to amaze me how fantastic and kind my customers are, oh I'll have to make some honey cake now, YUM!, and how did they know I'm cake obsessed (dribbling now).

The last couple of years (in general) have been slightly quieter than all of my previous (crazy busy) years, art wise, but I don't mind that as I get older, it gives me a rare and wonderful opportunity to spend more time with friends, and with my husband, we enjoy going for long hearty treks the countryside together and resting afterwards in local cafes for cappuccinos and leisurely chats, pure bliss.

I'll always love painting and being in my studio (that'll never change), but having some time away during the festive period is important, for me personally christmas should be a time for family & friends, and I never want to overlook that, the years roll by so quickly don't they!. 

Nowadays I'm delighted to have finally found the key to a happy work/life balance, essentially two years ago I just forced myself to slow down, its only taken me 20 years to master the art of pacing myself and fathom that out 🙈, but I now know that if I don't drag myself away from painting occasionally I'll end up obsessed with it again, I love it so much that I end up wanting to be in my studio every hour of the day seven days a week, and do nothing else!, not a healthy way to live.

Fresh air ( in my humble opinion ) is the key to good mental health and the secret to a great life, for me anyway. Hence nowadays I try very hard to step away from my studio half of the week in order to spend time painting outdoors, or to enjoy time spent with family/friends.

But back to the art ( heh heh )...

I'm really looking forward to unveiling my new collection of paintings for next year, something I've been working on recently for next spring, but more about that later...... In the meantime I do hope you are all enjoying a wonderful advent (whatever you're getting up to), I'll definitely be doing some cake making :)

L J

X