Calendars for 2016 - "Remains of the Day" - Favorites of the Year

Time....we all have the same amount. Some times we waste it, we all spend it, we'd like a bit more of it...and lots/most of us try to plan it.  Hence, the calendar. 

Especially in December, it's easy to feel a bit frayed at the edges with all the "busy-to-do-ness" of the month. 

Take a deep breath, remind yourself it's okay to say "No" to some things. 

Turn it around and remind yourself of the blessing of having 'bounteous' things to do, so much that you could actually refuse some of it .....and then find a way to do just that, there are some things that just don't need your presence to be there, but it's sure nice to know we're not lonely, not lacking for engaging opportunities. 

And if you do find yourself in a lonely spot...well, this is the month perhaps to say, "Yes, I will".  Find a volunteer opportunity, say yes to the party invite, or the open door of a church or community organization. There are a lot of ways to become more engaged in your community if that is what you are seeking.  

My wish for you is to feel loved, not just this 'holiday season', but always. 

Well, here it is, the annual favorite...with everyone's favorites! The basic way of marking time, planning your days, fitting in what's important to YOU, dear friend! 

Here's the pics - so you'll know what you'll be seeing as you go through next year! They are available on my website, still at $20 + $4.95 shipping.

Greatest joys and sorrows, all sandwiched around the best of painting times...

Coming Home 

16"x20"x1" framed in gold

oil on gallery wrapped stretched canvas

Purchase information here

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Workshops 

Dare I say painting time is some of my most fulfilling time. I was just talking with another artist about this. Life goes on for artists though, just like anyone else. Our family has experienced some of it's greatest joys and deepest sorrows this summer, and they just happened to bookend some wonderful painting time for me.  

Earlier this summer, on the last day I was teaching painting in Ireland, my mother-in-law passed away in Atlanta.  My fellow painters were so supportive, and I am so grateful for those heartfelt emotions.  I flew home as planned, but immediately continued my way down to Atlanta for a funeral. 

Mid-summer brought a wonderful new experience for me, an opportunity for which I'm so grateful for. I was an "artist-in-residence" at the CT Audubon Society's Trail Wood property in Hampton, CT for an entire week. I did a collaboration with my writer friend Judy Benson, who is a journalist for The Day paper in New London, CT.  It was an intense week of painting, and much discussion in the evenings about what we both had discovered about Edwin and Nellie Teale (and ourselves in relationship to all that).  We came away with so much more than we had anticipated. What an amazing gift this couple of naturalists left to humanity through sharing this property with the world.

Early September brought one of the happiest times, my daughter Chelsea married her fiance' Ryan in a wonderful ceremony in Virginia. I'm still over the moon about that! Thrilled to have a son in my family now!

The last weekend in September, the volunteers for Trail Wood hosted the "Harvest Moon Festival" on the property to a great crowd.  Four of us presented our work that we did during our residencies - one painter (me), a photographer, and two writers. Since I've only shared these on Facebook, I'll share them here with you now. I'm excited to share the beauty of each day there!! It was so wonderful to rise early each morning, and head right out to paint as the sun crested the trees. Or as the day progressed....and the only interruption was a chipmunk or groundhog to cross my path. Birds would flutter by, or a humming bird zip by to check out who this person was. Any of my hiker friends will totally understand that wonderful feeling of being out in nature...just BE-ing. Listening to the rustle of the trees, the soft breeze blowing tall grasses, the light moving across tree tops in the morning...the clouds changing shapes. Ah, the intense wonder of it all! 

"6PM Glow Under the Catalpa Tree"

12"x12" framed in black with a gold inset, oil on archival panel

Purchase Information  

So - the house above is Trail Wood, the home where Edwin & Nellie Teale lived for the last half of their lives. He was a naturalist and writer of many books, his Pulitzer Prize winning book "Wandering Through Winter" being one of them. This couple endured the loss of their only son, (aged 19) to World War II. It was two years before they finally discovered what had happened to him, and where he was. They moved from Long Island to this place out in the country. Rather than become embittered with their loss, they remained connected to the world, protected and nurtured it and their relationships. Finally willing this property to the CT Audubon Society for the use of others to enjoy. I feel so lucky to have experienced this time, painting and exploring here; staying in their home, and using his personal library for reference material. 

I highly recommend the residency to other artists and writers, as well as a wonderful place to go for a day hike to all my friends! During all seasons this is a great place to go explore!

I'll share some more about this in the coming days. It was an incredibly productive time, completing 13 paintings while I was there. Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend spending some time in nature!! 

 

New Calendar for 2013 - Remains of the Day 2013

I've been away traveling down to Virginia Beach, VA for PleinAir 757 - more about that in tomorrow's post. I came home just in time to greet Hurricane Sandy - and proceed to lose power! We are still without power, and now that it's the third day of this mess, I've begun to locate places that DO have power and internet to get some blogging done! But the best news - my 2013 calendars are ready to ship to you, in plenty of time for Christmas, OR that gift to yourself- Just $20 for a YEAR's worth of art to enjoy! And, my gift to you is FREE shipping through December. Click through to my website to see a preview of each calendar page, and to place your order!

Remains Of The Day- 2012 Calendar- A Year of Paintings by Roxanne Steed

I've been wanting to do this for the last several years! A wonderfully affordable gift- with lots of paintings, printed on premium glossy card stock! My 2012 Calendar, "Remains Of The Day- A Year Of Painting With Roxanne Steed" is available for purchase and will be ready to ship next week!

Here's the link to purchase.