96 degrees AND rainy?!?

I know, it's been too long since I've updated. I've been pretty busy lately, have submitted applications to 2 shows so far this past month, and possibly have an upcoming application to put together by the end of June, along with work to mat and frame for these upcoming shows. I don't want to get into specific details, because I don't want to "jinx" anything (the whole "counting your chickens before they hatch" thing). One show is way South of town, one in town, and the third a bit north of town. The painting for my office is 'on hold' at the moment, since I'm focusing on creating work for the shows rather than for myself.

Weather has been a bit crazy, it's been in the high 80's/low 90's, with flash flood style rains in between. I was out on the bike last week, and got caught in one of these downpours, couldn't see at all, got completely drenched, my shoes were wet for two days. I've gotten up to 12 miles at a time, and have biked 9 miles on my Monon route, so am just about at where I need to be for bike commuting to work. Here's my current setup:

My bike computer's odometer reads 97 miles so far this season (bought it in Spring)!

The vegetables in the garden are relishing all the rainfall, we have our first ripe Cherry tomato, with others on the way. I can start to see some green peppers, and our big tomato plants are bending under their own height/weight. I'm working on some outdoors stuff when it's not too hot, have mulched around the pond, and will probably put some annual flowers/plants in the front. Just yesterday I cleaned out the tree saplings that had taken root in our gutter (!). Roy (our kitten) is doing well, growing quickly. He's probably doubled in size since he first came home, and is still as rambunctious as ever.

Lately, I've brought out my watercolors again, because I think that they will work better than acrylics for some of the compositions I've got in mind. Also, they seem to lend themselves more to the frequency and method that I work. I can spend time slowing working the painting, when with acrylics I tend to feel rushed, fighting the quick drying times. There are 'slowing agents' that can be used, but they seem to not work as predictably. Plus, watercolors are more portable, so I can do more sketching/quick work with them.

In addition to biking more in the summer, I'm just in general trying to become more physically and mentally healthy. Eating right, exercising, meditation, thinking positively, reading more, etc. I think that this will help creatively, as sometimes artists get stuck in a "mental block." With the change in my mood and thoughts, my art is also evolving.

-Joe