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What in the world?! Just when you think you've got everything under control, tax returns are coming due again. A hundred things get pushed to 2025 because, surprise, they didn't get done. And all I want to do is nothing. Winter Blues? Overwhelmed? Chaos (check spelling of chaos)? Sometimes it's okay to hit Snooze.

I recently had the pleasure of dining with a fantastic bunch of friends who've been in my life for what feels like an eternity. We raised our kids together, cheered them on at soccer games, endured school concerts and plays (may I say, without bias my daughter could captivate an audience with her awesome talent and charm ;)). We laugh, reminisce (check spelling of reminisce), and catch up. Like with all good friends it feels like no time has passed when we're together. Conversations are easy and within minutes we're diving into matters of the heart. During this visit as I listened to my friends (who BTW are ALL retired) plan their days, I found myself pondering retirement. What does that even look like?
Will there be more travel? Creating the next masterpiece? Pickleball?? A cat???

Okay Byeeeee....

Right, that may take some planning. But the truth is, we are here for a finite amount of time and the days can slip away, and before you know it another year goes by and our dreams of what the future might be still haven't come to fruition.

I'm not saying my life is filled with unrealized dreams, because I'm actually living a happy and meaningful life. I suppose standing at a precipice (seriously, who invented that word?), of which there are many in our lives, I'm actually getting giddy about what is possible for the many years to come. It's a blank canvas, waiting for fresh strokes of colour that are the new experiences and memories. See what I did there?

What dreams do you have and are you making them come true?


My wish for you is a life full of love, hope and realized dreams.

All the very, very best for 2025!
Sheila

If we didnt have an actual day to stop and give thanks, would we pause to do so? I believe yes!

The thankfulness is in those moments we see our kids happy, or having family together, walking alone, or our favourite Donna Summer song on the radio (😉).
Is that just me? Goosebump moments.
Besides the love of dancing, I'm grateful for little bits of time to do ALL the things I love. Spending time with my daughter, my mom, family, friends and of course time to paint.

This Thanksgiving, I hope that you are doing the things you love or are with the ones you love....maybe it's all the same ❤️

...always comes complete with beautiful, warm sunshine (and rain) with lots to fill our schedules, over a short period of time. It goes soooo fast and seems like, as Cousin Vinny said, the laws of physics cease to exist in summer.

Minimalism is the trend these days. Keeping life simple, easy-wear fashion, less makeup (thank goodness) and the same with decor and art. I love it! Finding the joy in simplicity is not hard to do and I think we all find it a welcomed change. We've been changed and I hope we hold onto the simpler things.

Time spent painting is so limited during the summer and so the minimalist style suits my schedule lol. Putting aside an hour is much easier than a whole day or even afternoon. That's funny eh, scheduling creativity. Any artists out there would probably understand that it goes that way sometimes.

This funny little guy is one of my joyful paintings, even though this poor flower seems to be wilting and and maybe dying, it brings a thread of quirky life. Normal. Human.

Not just a regular spring, but one with a rare total solar eclipse. If you ask me, it has felt like we've been in an eclipse since September!

Will you be outside watching the eclipse? Will you travel to Niagara to get the best view? Not to get political, but "state of emergency"??

We're so overprotected aren't we? Remember when we were kids and we ate food we dropped on the street? Or only washed our hands at dinnertime because mom said we had to?

(is this blog only going to be questions?)

What do you call it when you fall in love on April 8, 2024?

A total eclipse of the heart!

Okay, enough. What I'd really like to say is that I wish you a skip in your step and warmth in your smile as we rise from our gloomy winter caves and back to life with clear sunny skies and green lush nature. Which is always an inspiration ;)
Happy Spring everyone!
Sheila

Welcome 2024
Well, here we are....saying GOOD-BYE to 2023! Don't let the door hit you on the way out!!

I'm not saying it wasn't a good one. It was filled with discovery, adventure, hope and love! That's a good thing and a wonderful way to start the New Year!
Also something interesting....2024 is the year of the wood dragon which represents fortune and success. We could all use a good dose of those two things after the last few years of uncertainty, and angst (hence the greying).
If we turn inward, can we change the outside world? It has always felt possible that focusing on creative avenues in our own lives, somehow permeates out and inspires change around us.
I hope I've brought some inspiration over the last year and look forward to creating more and more!

My New Year's wish for you is to be fortunate in love and successful in everything you do.
:)
Sheila

PS - How many surrealist artists does it take to change a light bulb? A FISH

It's not quite the end of the year, but a perfect time to reflect.

The one thing most of us love is this change of season. I've often wondered about what it is that
makes us so happy. I mean, summer is over and only approximately 6 months of winter ahead. But yet, we feel so joyful looking at the changing landscape, the fresher air, the bluer skies. Sweater weather....it's a thing!
It's always been said that in April at 20 degrees, we bring out the shorts and t-shirts. In September at 20 degrees, we're pulling out our coats. Funny eh?
But I do love this time of year and even the thoughts of snow. Nature gives us hope since it's the one thing we can depend on when other parts of our lives may be a little upside down.
Wishing you and yours a very Cozy & Happy Thanksgiving!

Do you remember my confusion with NFTs?? Well, I found out that this is basically another platform, with a different currency. At least that's what I know up to now. One can post any type of one-of-a-kind asset, apply a crypto-value on it and see what happens...https://opensea.io/SheilaRomard (lol - called Open Sea...good name)
There is much to learn, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

There's a lot of tension created when you step out of your comfort zone and I'd like to think that I live uncomfortably at least a little every day. Creating art has it's own tensions and evolving as an artist can be daunting. Will I achieve the emotion I hope? Will the results be according to plan (make no plans)? Will it be valued? Will my followers think I'm crazy? Will I think I'm crazy?? (I already know the answer to that one).

But it's a love affair between us and our adventures and no matter what anyone else feels or thinks, it's only you and me that gain from going through the discomfort to arrive at the new discovery.
I'm a little crazy about this new painting and could easily find a cave (and by cave, I mean an incredible studio with awesome natural light, tall ceilings, and endless wall space ) and just create!

Call me crazy, but anything's possible with a little love!!!

Have an adventurous and love-filled summer :)

Spring is considered by many as the beginning of the new year.
That makes sense to me, since it's the time to shake off the dirt from the entry mat, start paintings with a new palette, make amazing new plans to be more active.....and of course a lighter, brighter wardrobe (this may be the most important element ;) ).
This year in particular is incredibly energized, with a new purpose. If we all remember back to last year at this time, we (and by we, I mean me) were still very weary about getting out into the world, making plans or being involved. I hated it. But this year has been much fuller, more active and lots to do....as it should be!
Now that spring is here, I have an incredible desire to cast my net further and take on more and more. Inspired by not only my beautiful daughter, who is so brave, hard working and adventurous, but also all the women over 50 ...okay over 60, who are crushing it!!!
I'm wishing everyone a Happy "New Year" and wonderful new beginnings with less fear and more success for many years to come!

Be kind and have fun!!

Sheila

2022 has not been as robust as predicted, mostly because we're still feeling a little cautious about how much we travel, or mingle. Maybe we're forever changed, and feel better about having and doing a little less. Spending more of our precious time with loved ones and not so much with things that have become less important. I know that has become very true for me.
I love what I do and the people in my life (including all of you wonderful people!!) and have been enjoying all the beautiful Christmas Season has to offer and especially looking forward to all that is coming in the new year!
And what's to come is more ART!!! of course - what else?? heehee

for a little jolly...
What's Santa's favorite type of music?
Wrap

ARTIST: I'd like your opinion on my work
CRITIC: It's worthless
ARTIST: I know, but I'd like it anyway

See y'all on the flip side, with wishes for a wonderful holiday season and all the very best for 2023

We're still intoxicated from the hazy lazy daze of summer, and then ragweed so rudely sheds its pollen into the wind and BAM, eyes and noses are reminded of the change. Suddenly there's so much to do and the calendar is full into November. November's the month to pause before the Christmas Season....good lord...sorry, I'll get back to fall, even though it's still summer. Summer's busy, but busy with FUN.
Other signs of fall....Leaves starting to change colour, fall fashion on display and summer bits and bobs go on sale, back to school excitement and most importantly - Pumpkin Spice lattes are now available!!!
As soon as leaves start changing, so does art. Artists get inspired by the changing landscapes. I think we all look forward to renewed energy that comes with each new season. We love the layering of sweaters, and fashion scarves, without being bogged down by winter coats. The cooler, fresher autumnal air without the frigid snow. And here in Ontario, Canada, we have the most incredible landscapes in the fall! The mass of green turns into an incredible kaleidoscope of colour. There are WOW moments everywhere you look.
We're hopefully past the worst of COVID and happy to be focusing on the small joys that come with changing seasons and looking forward to fall - maybe even getting started on Christmas shopping (stop me).

Have a great last daze of summer!
Sheila