“Spring Forest” ©Ruth Armitage 2013, Oil on Panel 11″x9″
This is another plein air sketch from Boskey Dell Nursery last month. Our weather here has rapidly progressed to summer, and I’m missing the crispness of spring! Getting out and painting with friends is one of my favorite ways to spend a day. This quotation sums it up for me:
In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. -Albert Schweitzer
My ‘Spark Session’ last weekend was just that… a rekindling of spirit, for myself and my students! We enjoyed painting together, looking at great art, and even snuck in some time sharing the nearby labyrinth. I’ve walked them alone before, but this was my first time sharing the experience with others. What a joy!
Judy and Shawn on the Labyrinth
The other Judy, working!
Our instigator, Jennifer
The other friends I’ve been spending time with lately are books. My book club has recently chosen some new reads, and I am eating them up like candy. Here we are at our 20th anniversary meeting! These women have become some of my closest friends, and I look forward to our gathering each month for a wonderful meal and meaningful discussions.
First Tuesday Literary Society
Here are some links to my recent reads. I’m warning you though, they are addictive! I think I read each of them in 48 hours or less! Happy reading. The first and second are moving portraits of friendship. Click on the book images to go to the Amazon.com page for each book, or check them out from your local library.
The book club here at the ranch just discussed “The Snow Child” in April. I loved it! There was also a display of 50 quilts made by a challenge group in Bend, responding to that book. The display was wonderful, so creative and so imaginative. It was held at the Quilt Works in Bend.
Did your group do paintings in response to the book?
“Shantaram” is our next book.
Hi Jansi,
Thanka for recommending The Snow Child! I chose it for our book club based on your recommendation. I am the only artist in our group, so we don’t do projects with our books. We do have some wonderful meals each time we meet though!