Acrylic on 9x12 canvas sheet
Available through DPW gallery/auction
It has been an interesting year, thankfully. Because I find boring years, well, just that - boring.
Boring years are the years where I did nothing new, conquered no fears, never ventured outside my comfort zone, and accomplished little, if anything. I have had those years in the past. But now that I am older, I know that a lifetime is made up of moments in time - and that we can choose how to fill those moments, and also what to fill them with.
Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans. I don't think any other quote has touched me so deeply. It is more than a statement - it is an observation and a part of my reality. But it is how we choose to let these moments in life affect us that directly creates our reality, which directly affects our personal lives. If we take the pain, the anger or the fear of a past event - and carry it with us in our present day, then we hold onto the past as it colors our present and clouds our future.
Denial of these past events is impossible, as they did occur and simply can not be denied. We could try to lie to ourselves, tell ourselves that they did not occur… "I don't want to talk about it…" That is just a lie, an untruth we adopt to get through the day. But getting through the day is not really living - in closing off a past event, we close more than just the event. We also close off the growth we can achieve from this event.
I have come to understand that all that I have encountered in my life, both the good and the bad events -- AND how I react & choose to accept/endure these events -- is what creates me. No simplier way to say it, I am my own creation. I can not change the events, but I can change the way I look at them. And in doing so, I change who I am and my present day world.
The year of 2011 had many events, some great, some not so good. And one physical situation will follow me into the new year - not because I want to carry it forward, but simply because I could not schedule the solution before January. However, I intend to make this event a catalyst for change and use it to spring forward.
On a more specific reflection, the year of 2011 has been a wonderful beginning of my art career. Besides having a blog that I've written to and posted art to, I have also started to sell some of my artwork through the internet. This is something I will carry into the new year and plan to enhance & grow further, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to do so.
But I know that I could not have done this art journey alone. Without the feedback, comments, & encouragement of the art blog community, I would not be writing this blog post at all. Without the readers and the replies, nothing would have meaning - and for this, my dear art friends, I thank you.
I have gone back through my blog for 2011 and tallied the comments from the past year. A few quick statistics - I have had 85 different users who have posted on my blog. And those 85 users have left a total of 590 posts on my art. I find these numbers amazing and I say thank you from my heart to each & every one of you.
In fact, I'd like to go one step further with my gratitude by doing a give-away. I've decided that a piece of art, of the users choice, will be given to the top 2 commenters on my blog for the past year. This is a gift and my thank-you for your help, support and camaraderie.
The top 2 commenters are:
Sherry Massey
aka: conservatelybohemian/crimsonleaves -- 136 posts
Virginia Floyd -- 54 posts
Both Sherry & Virginia, please take a look through my gallery on Daily Paintworks (link on top right). You can each select 1 painting from anything posted there that is not marked as Sold. (Sherry does have first choice as she has the most posts). Email me directly at nurciuoli@aol.com with your choice (do not hit "buy" on DPW), and I will seal, package & send it out to you via USPS.
Again, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read and/or commment on my blog this past year. I don't know if you are aware, but the simpliest feedback or comment on a piece of work can turn a person's day around.
I wish you all a Happy, Healthy New Year - and may all your dreams & desires be created in 2012.
4 comments:
Bravo, Nancie!It's such a very good idea of you, congratulations!and Happy New Year!
Hallo Nan: I wish you and your family a happy 2012! And I like your painting!
Nancie you are such a sweetie. Thank you for all your posts and for stepping outside of your comfort zone. I've so enjoyed your blog, your art especially, and your thoughts. These posted today are so full of wisdom, so full of truth that would hurt none of us to take to heart. I so hope your surgery is successful and that you come through stronger, healthier, and feeling so much better. Thank you for your amazing gift! I'm off to "shop."
Wow, Nancie! I am thrilled with the honor! I love your blog and your paintings! I too love the community of artists who post and encourage each other on line. Now I wish I had commented more!
Your post today touched me a lot. I like that..."I am my own creation." One of my favorite sayings to my family is, "It's not what happens to you, it's how you react to it." Every day I get to choose my attitude. It's not always easy to be positive, but the results lead to a much happier life!
I wish you all the best in the coming year. Whatever it is you are facing physically, I hope the outcome is exactly what you would wish. Here's to continued sales, great paintings, and happiness for you in 2012!
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