New Painting - Print Available Now!

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Opening Reception

Two of my paintings, including Always on My Mind , are included in the exhibit "Art of Darkness: Inspired by the Paranormal" at Banfill- Locke Center for the Arts

Opening reception is on Saturday, September 6th, from 6-9 PM

Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts

An Ordinary Life

The whole world is a series of miracles, but we're so used to seeing them that we call them ordinary things.

 Hans Christian Anderson

I spend a lot of time observing nature at Crow River North and the surrounding

lakes and rivers.  I find the time spent to be calming and balancing in an otherwise busy life. Today was no exception. 

I had just arrived at my local library when one of my daughters called.  Rather than go inside, I sat on some steps that lead down to the shoreline of Buffalo Lake. We chatted for awhile and I enjoyed both the conversation and the breeze blowing off the lake.  Shortly after ending our conversation, an eagle worked its way toward shore. I hadn't ever seen an eagle swimming, so I lingered by to watch. It raised its wings, and with each stroke drew closer to the shore.  Upon reaching the shore, it stepped out of the water carrying a large fish in one talon.  It carefully carried its prey a little further up the shoreline. It wasn't an extraordinary event, like seeing a UFO, or watching your favorite team win a championship, instead it was a bird catching a fish,  a tiny spark, a daily reminder, of all that is beautiful, and ordinary, in life

Last evening, shortly before the sunset, I watched a doe, or as I would rather call her, Mama Dear, cross the field in front of my windows, with her two growing fawns.  I've been watching the trio since the fawns could barely stand. They have grown throughout the summer but still have remaining spots on their coats. They graze, and then look up, to observe me, observing them. 

Earlier in the day, a gang of turkeys grazed in front of my deck  - there were probably five or six adults and many young ones - eating and following one another across the grassy area.  Another ordinary day for them.

The cycle of life continues for many creatures, while I observe. There are the ducklings in the pond, swimming close to their mother - always one, moving a little too far away. 

There is the bee going about the business of pollination or whatever it is that bees do, while I silently observe.

I left another career to live and work at Crow River North, knowing that I needed to change my life. I chose to pursue a life in art. I have found art in life.

Wishing you all that is good,

L

When an ordinary man attains knowledge, he is a sage; when a sage attains understanding, he is an ordinary man. 

- A Zen Saying- 

Failure

I failed. There, I said it.


A few weeks ago I fired a load of ceramics that not only warped, but had glaze failures. I was, of course, disgusted. Weeks of hard work were destroyed. I looked up every reason that the failure could have occurred; too low of outdoor temperature (it was below 20 degrees), clay body failure (I used clay that had been sitting around forever), too fast, too slow, too something in the firing schedule. In the end, I suppose it was a combination of things, as is often the case when something goes awry. I had not had an entire load failure in all the years that I have fired ceramics. I dropped each piece on the concrete floor and broke each into bits.

 I had another load to fire, and more importantly, I had two large pieces of sculpture that I had worked on for a very long time. The work is still sitting on a table, waiting for me to lick my wounds, get off my butt, and try again.

Instead, I turned my attention back to my easel and started painting. Now, I seriously needed to do so, as painting is my primary medium. Still. It was a classic move - avoidance of conflict, confrontation, recognition of failure, and fear of recurrence.

Michael Jordan has remarked," I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

I have always believed that life experiences, good or bad, are teaching points. If we look at our successes and failures, we can learn so much about what works and what does not. Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work". Perhaps I believe in experiential learning because I have had so many losses in my life, failures of most every sort, and disappointment in myself and others. Regardless, I have found that if I think on what has happened, try to learn from it, and then move forward in a meaningful way, I can let go of the past events and live purposely in today.

So, when the time avails, I will fire again, and see what happens. I will experiment with other materials; challenge myself to try again and again. I may even take that bucket of broken bits and fashion them into mosaics on the sides of some pots and plant some flowers. Those bits just might see their way into something new and beautiful.

Here is hoping that you keep blooming, keep learning, and keep loving. Never, ever, give up.

Wishing you all that is good,

L

April 16

I just posted this photo online with the caption, " So much for dinner on the deck". It is still blowing and snowing with a couple more inches predicted before it ends . Is it fair to say I've had enough? I have to admit it is pretty now that I am safe at home. 

Wishing you all a lovely, safe evening, and all that is good,

L

Alpaca Expo

What a fun weekend! I met such nice people (and alpaca) at the Alpaca Expo. I had the opportunity to talk with people about raising alpaca and was able to purchase some beautiful fiber for use in my art projects.

 I need to find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow , so that I can build a barn and buy a herd! 

In Pursuit of Spring

Yesterday another snowstorm blew across Minnesota and for a time it felt like winter would never come to an end. Today, the temperature is rising, and soon the new 9-12 inches of snow will be puddles and streams. I was inspired to think about the bright freshness of spring and of blooming trees and flowers. I created a new art work as I waited for the weather to clear. Called  In Pursuit of Spring, the work is acrylic, acrylic glazing,and tissue paper on canvas. It is available on my website: lindabrobeck.com or prints are available at: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/in-pursuit-of-spring-linda-l-brobeck.html

Here's hoping that your day is bright and your weekend is grand!

Wishing you all that is good, 

L