August…often called the dog days of summer…and in most places in the US, it has been a hellish summer of storms and sweltering heat. Not so much here in the Pacific Northwest…which is fine by me. But the slower, lazier pace of summer still stretches out…giving us a chance to catch our breath and remind us to stop a moment and look around.

As some of you know, I’ve been laid up with a bad back that I injured 3 months ago. And though it has literally been a pain, its also been a blessing. I’ve been forced to stop, rest, look around at my surroundings…and think about what’s going on in my life and what the next steps might be. Since I have limited energy, I’ve become a master of what to focus on since I can’t do it all in any one day…prioritizing is key.

Since I still have my creative itch to scratch, I’ve been spending time noticing the small details of everyday life in and around my home and immediate neighborhood.

It can be the simplest of things…a random arrangement of vintage cubes, the play of light in the kitchen, the details of flowers in the garden…

Every day for the month of August, I’m participating in an Instagram creative exercise called the August Break. In the words of instigator Susannah Conway, “The idea is to pause…look around you…and take a picture of what you see. Live inside each moment; pay attention to what’s there.” I encourage you to play along with me - details came be found on Susannah Conway’s IG feed. Let me know if you decide to hop in - I’d love to see what you post!

Also to let you know…I won’t be staying home all month…my favorite show of the summer, Fresh Paint, will be happening August 17-18 at the Everett Marina. Not only is it a great event filled with fab art, but every artist has to be demonstrating some aspect of their art in their booth so it’s a wonderful chance to see artists in action. I’m in Booth #76. Get all the details at the Schack Art Center site. I hope you’ll stop by…