Wednesday 6 January 2010

An expedition into new territory

Jamie Ridler's Wishcasting Wednesday prompts us with the word 'explore'. What do I wish to explore? Well, this could be a long post... how long have you got?

Oh the joy of exploring a new place - especially when you arrive at a holiday destination. It doesn't matter how tired I might be from the journey, I just want to get out there...

I remember a short break in Nice with my husband as he was then. I'd booked us a ridiculously early flight out and had been so excited the night before that I don't recall actually sleeping. We arrived on fresh July morning greeted by the scents of baking croissants and hot coffee. What happened next is perhaps indicative of why he is now my ex-husband. While he slept behind blackout curtains I explored, ventured, tasted, tested, climbed, watched, drank, smelt and revelled! Best bit of the holiday for me - always that first explore! How can you possibly want to sleep when so many treasures await discovery outside? So, naturally it goes without saying that I wish to explore more places - from Italian cities to Maharajah palaces, Grand Canyons and wild mountainscapes and tropical paradises. Yup, they're all on the list...

Of course, I could just stop this post there, but where's the fun in that when the world and life offers up so much to us? How could I not but put passion to paper and dream of running amok amongst my creative potential. What alleys and vistas lie in wait for me there I wonder? What exactly is my potential anyway? Have I found it all yet? I don't believe I have, so frankly it's about time I got on and did don't you think?

There is a lot of me waiting to be discovered and unlocked. I fear I may not like all that I find (since it was me that hid it away so successfully and I no doubt had good reason for doing so) but since when was life ever easy? If there's one thing I've learnt over the years, it's that you really must face your problems head on. Locking them away under the floorboards doesn't help because sooner or later you'll need to open up that little 'treasure' chest and deal with its contents.

Finally, I'm rather looking forward to exploring the winter wonderland that greeted me this morning. A couple of inches of soft powder snow and more falling as I write!

I have been experiencing a great deal of coincidence this week (perhaps I should explore why this is so!). The latest is this (unfinished) piece (above) I've been working on just yesterday. I was trying to capture, would you believe, something of that wonderful feeling of holiday magic. It is by no means finished, but the background is trying to represent a sky blue shutter with the sun blistering back the layers of paint, I'm not sure where the picture is from but it looks like a Mediterranean resort, fragments of maps speak of journeys past and future. If I have time I'll try and finish today and repost it.
Postscript: finished version now on show and available for purchase in my Etsy shop!

21 comments:

  1. All of your wishes sound lovely! I too have a strong desire to get out and explore the world. There is so much to do and see beyond the walls we live in every day. As you wish for yourself, I lovingly wish for you too.

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  2. You are a lot more adventurous than I am. I am content puttering around the house, or exploring the world through books. Maybe some of you will rub off on me...across the sea :)
    I loved the little story about your Angel Boy!
    Children are the best thing, aren't they?
    xoxo

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  3. ~as Wrightstuff wishes to explore the world far and wide embarking on new and exciting holidays so i wish you many happy travels...and as for your treasure chest awaiting to be opened may it be a journey that frees you from your past...brightest blessings~

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  4. You are so lucky to be relatively close to all the wonderful places in Europe and beyond! I have explored many places in the US, but would just LOVE to venture across the sea. Seems so far away though...I also have a fear of airplanes lol!

    I'm halfway between you and priti.lisa ~ I love to read and putter around the house too, but am so happy when I visit a new place.

    I love the piece you are working on. Feels like a hot summer day, which I can only dream about now, since we are surrounded by about a foot of snow.

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  5. wow!! this piece is GORGEOUS!!!! when i thought i've seen the best of you ... you come and make my jaw drop off again!

    my... i didn't know you were that adventurous :) but you know what ... i agree with exploring when you're at a new place. sucking in the sights and sounds, the culture and the art and everything! that's why we go places in the first place, to see them :)) i hope i'll be back in europe within this 10 years ... i really wish :))

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  6. What beautiful pictures you paint with your words and you art. As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also.

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  7. As Lisa wishes for herself, so I wish for her to explore the places she desires....

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  8. I concur w the others--that piece is gorgeous--and even if it is undone, it does speak volumes.

    As you wish for yourself, Lisa, I so wish for you as well.

    Brightest blessings.

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  9. as you wish for yourself dear one I so lovingly wish for you also!!!

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  10. Time for adventure:) I thoroughly enjoyed you post.

    As Lisa wishes for herself, so I wish also.

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  11. Lisa, this is a profound wish. I think you've even inspired a theme of my next novel, when you said we have to face our problems head-on, or else they come back to us later. It's still in the early planning stages, but this theme brings the two major story lines together. Thank you so much for the inspiration.

    As Lisa herself wishes, so I wish with her also.

    -TimK

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  12. What happened next is perhaps indicative of why he is now my ex-husband.

    I thought that was good line and link.

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  13. You sound so enthusiastic, like a child, anxious to have an adventure...what a great outlook.

    As you wish for yourself I wish for you. Maybe you need to explore the Mediterranean.

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  14. As Lisa wishes for herself, so I wish also.
    Oh hon...I can't tell you how your post made me feel!! I love travel and the newness of places to me. Walking and exploring shops and gardens! Your beautiful new artwork reminded me of New Orleans..which I love! Wonderful wishes hon!! Sarah

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  15. Love, love, love your wishes!

    As Lisa wishes for herself, so I wish for her also! :)

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  16. Hi Lisa! Thanks so much for your sweet visit! I've enjoyed viewing your fabulous art & blog! Your list of awaiting travels are all magical!

    As Lisa wishes for herself, so I wish for her also! :)

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  17. You have so many beautiful pieces.
    I love this just the way it is.

    As Lisa wishes for herself, so I wish for her also

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  18. You have certainly let a little Mediterranean sunshine into this chilly evening, Jill

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  19. Love the tone of this post, you sound so excited as you describe your explorations.
    As Lisa wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.

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  20. As Lisa wishes for herself, so I wish for her also. :) BTW, love the color scheme of the artwork ...

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  21. Hi Lisa, Wonderful post!

    my fav lines: there is a lot of me waiting to be discovered and unlocked. I fear I may not like all that I find ...

    What's most wonderful about us can also be what's most annoying about us. It's part of the deal. We need to learn to love all of us!

    I wish for you to continue your journeys, the ones outside and inside of yourself!

    happy 2010. Giulietta

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Thank you for your comments - I always love to hear what you think :)

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