Snow Steps

I really had trouble deciding on a steps piece.  I had so many pictures of all sorts of "steps".  I finally narrowed it down to the salmon steps that I did, but I had also started on this piece.  The centre is a photo that I had taken this past winter (oh it's so nice to say past), while I was out cross country skiing.  I printed it onto fabric and then placed it on a piece that I had dyed with indigo.  I'm quite pleased with how all the dye lines and photo lines complemented each other.  It's now glued down onto a stretched canvas that I painted.  And that's another wee accomplishment - getting the colour I wanted with only primaries and black and white to work with.

Baby Steps

Baby Steps

It can be inspirational to observe the natural learning process, most easily recognized in kids of all ages when they have happened on to something that really motivates them. In this mindset, they will practice tirelessly as if some longer term influence has taken hold, driving a particular need to practice the steps over and over, building on the knowledge that brings it to a new level of understanding. You notice this in kids learning to walk, talk or skate; a teenage girl trying to master a jump or twirl. There is an undeniable mind body joyfulness endlessly spurring on that one more lap to feel the legs or one more round, to understand the flow, building up both the physical and mental memory. I was most keenly aware of this phenomenon in a dear friend last summer, when during the last few months of her sadly shortened life, she was most determined to reestablish her ability to walk. And she did! Her efforts were very rewarding, to her especially and for this and throughout her life she was and is an inspiration to all who knew her. More recently, I was fortunate to spend an intense and wonderful 2 weeks with my 1.5 and 3 year old grandchildren. It was a real treat to watch their non-stop trial and error learning, savouring each step, and exploring at play, each possibilitiy with carefree abandon . That "bring it on" mindset and curiosity for understanding continues to teach me to value those" baby steps "of learning, for a lifetime.