Kate, Author at The Rest of my Time

Toes in the Grass, or the sand, or . . .

September, 2023

This summer I’ve finally re-explored the delights of meditating in nature. If you heard where I lived, in a downtown high-rise, you’d assume that wasn’t on the menu. I’m lucky because right across the street I have not only a park, but a sandy beach as well. I’ve explored my toes in the grass, in the dirt, and in the sand, and I love it all. Even in the middle of the city, the breeze and the birds and the sounds of waves add a rhythm that I can just sink in to. Highly recommend, weather permitting, and I think any little patch of the outdoors you can find might give you the same.

My Type of People

August, 2023

I’ve written before about Meredith Hite-Estevez, who leads an online cohort through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, is a mom, professional oboist, a coach for artists and creatives and about to be a published author. AND a podcaster. This summer, Meredith decided to devote a series of podcast episodes to each of the enneagram numbers and how they impact creative processes and lives. She asked for volunteers, and I thought I would give it a go.

I recently listened to the episode I was on, with some trepidation. I wasn’t sure during our interview if I was making any sense, was rambling – it was a masterpiece of the overthinking that characterizes an Enneagram 6, but I said I would, so Loyalist that I am, I did. And then I was sure that everyone else would sound so much more profound.

And they were profound, and vulnerable, and wonderful. It would be amazing if any of my words made someone feel seen and KNOWN, the way their words made me feel that way.

If you want to listen, check out the Artists for Joy podcast and if you want to join the next Artist Way cohort (it’s free), sign up at www.artistsforjoy.org.

Working toward Resolution

August, 2023

So I made a little reel and posted it on Instagram, showing the lead up to a series of 10 paintings I working on right now – six out of ten finished, I think. The project started years ago as the last assignment in my Composition class, just before I moved from Atlanta to Chicago, and languished for quite some time

I joined the Creative Strength Training this year, and also one of the focus groups focused on creating in a series, and it finally pushed me to get the original sketches transferred to paper and then to get to painting.

They won’t be perfect, of course, but working through the puzzle that is resolving a painting is a frustrating joy, and since “resolve” was my word of the year, it’s appropriate that they will finally, literally, come out of the closet.

Here, take a look, I start with the “still life”, which I made 30 drawings of , each 20 x 30, from different angles. Those were layered over one another, three at a time, rotated and flipped until I got a composition I liked. Then, I was inspired by the color palette of our favorite Italian villa, which led to the mess of paint tubes and pots full of mixtures – now I’m fully in to the mixed media layers of it all!

Thankful Thursday – Lucie Duclos

August, 2023

Time for #ThankfulThursday again, and a shout-out to another one of the artists that the COVID crisis brought in to my life. Thanks to @lucieduclos who, through the @winslowartcenter led the #paperpalscollageclub, inspiring and challenging us every month with examples and prompts. When you check out Lucie’s work (photo is my work, not hers), and I hope you do, you’ll see a really distinctive and memorable style that is instantly recognizable as hers, something I aspire to someday – I think.

Meditation on the Road

August, 2023

As attached as I might be to my little nest at home, one of the great things about having a regular meditation practice is that you can take it with you anywhere. Having travelled quite a lot in my life, it’s nice to have a practice that really doesn’t need any special surroundings or any special equipment.

I’ve meditated on airplanes, often during the time between takeoff and when they make that “10,000 feet clear” announcement. Clearly these days, there is plenty of reason to seek some internal peace if you find yourself in travel chaos. I’ve meditated in more hotel rooms than I can count. In fact, I’ve just finished a nice little sit in a hotel in Lexington, Kentucky.

Wherever I am, there I am.