Hello friends and welcome back to my blog. Thanks so much for your support and for following my blog. This has been a rough month both personally and artistically.

As artists and humans we all have our down days. I think it’s important to recognize this fact. Too often we are so caught up in our positivity that we can make those around us feel like their “down day” isn’t important or should be overlooked. The result is that people often feel that way, side-stepped or overlooked.

Well, it’s been one of those months. A lot of us have suffered from the loss of electricity in our homes or, even worse, evacuation or loss due to the fires. For each of us, this has caused challenge, suffering, and even the blues. It’s okay to say so, to admit our struggle, to admit our need.

I want to be sure to say that if you have suffered loss or struggled due to the fires here in California, my heart goes out to you. I’m sending you a virtual hug. That said, your loss may have nothing to do with our crisis here in California. I am most likely totally unaware of your suffering, so here’s a hug for you as well.

This has been a challenging month for me artistically as well. I just happened to stumble on this painting I did some time ago that I’ve captioned “Sunflower Market.” I’ve chosen it for this month’s blog because it is full of cheer, good will, and symbolizes the community spirit.

The only thing I’ll say about my artistic challenges is that things don’t always go as expected. I’ve had some artistic disappointments this month. Things that should have brought joy and satisfaction didn’t. LOL. The result is a “live and learn” situation, and it’s all good. Experience is a good teacher.

In the words of Henri Matisse, “Creativity takes courage.” Maybe your creativity is blocked. Maybe your spirit has been depleted and you feel like your muse has left you for good. I just want to encourage you to not despair. These times are part of being an artist. The term “artist’s block” exists for a reason.

I want to encourage you to never give up. You may have to set your paints aside, or your pen or whatever your creative expression is, and let your spirit rest for a while. I can guarantee you that your creativity will revive, your spirit will renew, you will survive this current slow period.

I love this photo I took of the nasturtium leaves poking their heads through this crack. To me this symbolizes regrowth, renewal. Notice, too, that there are some dead or dying leaves amongst the new growth. This is important to reflect on as well because it is part of the story. The negative is part of the positive. Both are part of our spirit experience.

These are the words of Sylvia Plath, a gifted and troubled poet. She struggled with depression and mental illness and tried to ultimately commit suicide by taking an overdose of sleeping pills. Vincent Van Gogh, a famous post-impressionist painter whose paintings are known by virtually everyone alive, sold only one painting in his lifetime and struggled with depression and ultimately committed suicide. These are only a couple of examples of the struggling artist.

So how do we pull our boots on and get going once again creatively or not? This photo of a message board in Mendocino, California, is a hint. Community, life, the sun rising, a new day dawning, Community. I’ve been so very touched by how the community has rallied during our tough week here in Fort Bragg without power.

No electricity means life very quickly returns to primitive ways and means: no hot showers (although incredibly grateful we’ve had water), no phone-charging capabilities, no lights in our homes, no stoves to cook our meals, no services of many kinds, loss of work, stores closed or operating at half capacity. But through it all, people have found a way. The human spirit is a beautiful thing. Laughter could still be heard on the streets.

And the slowing down of our lives has brought out some old-fashioned ways of doing things that actually has enhanced our living: Sitting together and eating our simple food around a candle without our phones to distract us has brought conversations that wouldn’t have been had. People helping people has become apparent in the streets. Hanging out laundry gets you outside enjoying the gorgeous sunshine.

And Farmers Market seems to be the heartbeat of our community. Here we mingle together in laughter, searching for the perfect apple or tomato to fill our bellies. Here we meet and greet our neighbors and appreciate their efforts to bring their produce to market. Here we exchange pleasantries and relish the beauty of nature and the bounty of the earth. Here we celebrate community.

Today is Halloween. This unique holiday brings laughter and cheer. There is a dark side that can present itself, just like there is a dark side to our community experience this week. Our choice is there to be made: darkness or light.

I want to encourage you to reach for the light. Allow your spirit time to recover, to rest, to restore. Then you will be able to create once again.

I hope my cheerful “Sunflower Market” painting helps restore you today. The beauty of nature and community is all around you. There is so much to be grateful for today. Life is good. Each moment is precious. The earth continues to sustain us with its goodness.