The Real Artist Emerges From Vickieville

 Every so often, the "Lady With The Agate Eye" has to remind me who the real artist is around here (hint: It ain't me!).

Along with the rest of the world, we are coping with the isolation and myriad other effects of the covid situation. And while we haven't had any cases in our area, we dearly miss seeing family, friends and...tourist customers! Empathetic, logical people feel it worse than others and Vickie is such a person. So a while back I suggested she "retreat" to a place of her making and we decided to call it "Vickieville". She, of course, is the mayor but I got to be Director of Sanitation! The theory is to create an environment where you, not the government bureaucrats, call the shots. And it seems to be working because after months of artistic ennui, she is back at her passion. Here is the first result.

It is different in many ways from her previous work and that is understandable since an abstract artist like Vickie paints her feelings and mood at the moment.

This piece, entitled "The View From Vickieville" is large (30"X40") and shows a new, simpler colour palate but a sense of confidence not shown recently. It is a reflection of a lot of practical changes such as giving away massive amounts of art materials, clothes and household items and making a practical assessment of our situation and how to maximize it for our physical and emotional well being. We are both eating better and exercising a bit and losing weight. We have more energy.

If you are not coping well, I suggest you give this idea a try. True, everyone has a different set of circumstances but remember, if you don't feel good about yourself, you can't have a very positive effect on those around you. We don't look upon this as ignoring reality. It's still there. But this creates a bit of a mental and emotional "buffer zone" that is helping us to have a more positive outlook.

We fear that this covid cloud is going to be with us for a long time- possibly the rest of our lives- and I can tell you that life is pretty good in Vickieville these days!

I'd love to get your thoughts.

Cheers and stay healthy and sane.