Wednesday 31 August 2022

What's most important is that you're here. 
A million times less important is what you do here, when, where and with whom. 
Figuring out why you're here is also not nearly as important as just honoring 
that it was a phenomenally good idea.
- Mike Dooley (www.tut.com)

Friday 26 August 2022

Lighthouses don't go running all over an island
 looking for boats to save; 
they just stand there shining. 
 - Anne Lamott

Wednesday 24 August 2022

Don’t forget that maybe you are the lighthouse
 in someone’s storm. 
 - Unknown

Friday 19 August 2022

August 19, 2022 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

   August has been a ridiculously busy month, and looks like it will continue to be right to the end.

   The month started with the end of my art show in Donalda.  It was a great experience, and I’m so glad I said Yes to it.  I especially enjoyed sharing my artist journey and art process with the people who attended the Meet and Greet on July 23rd.

   Of course, the garden is producing.  I didn’t get many raspberries this year, as about half rotted before I could pick them as I ended up sick in bed the last week of July (when we had the extreme heat and humidity).  My poor crabapple tree - which honestly we thought was dead a handful of years ago - produced a bumper crop this year (I’m not sure how exactly!), but I had to pick the crabapples early as the tree is rotting from the bottom so has to come down (actually it should be down by the time you read this) - it’s bittersweet as that is the last of the trees that my parents planted in the yard when we first moved to Mirror in 1979.  Needless to say, I’ll be processing a LOT of crabapples in the coming days.  And I’ve had two large pickings of rhubarb that I turned into juice.  There is nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than a cold glass of rhubarb juice.  I also had enough tomatoes to make some tomato soup - I tried that last year for the first time, and it worked so well, I had to make more this year.

   Also this month, we are working on the edits for my 10 songs for my music album.  Hard to believe that the 4 month program will be wrapping up the first week in September!  I have trusted friends reviewing my songs and giving feedback, which has been very helpful.  At this point, my album release is set for October, but there is a tiny possibility that it could be released sooner.  Part of that timeline is dependent on whether or not I have my book - based on the artist journey structure I used for my art show in Donalda - ready to be printed/published in September.

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iqx6DVaqqZTi0ohU5XZtDNIiGeGitBKb/view?usp=sharing

   Whether you've enjoyed reading The Chautauqua from the first issue 20 years ago, are a brand new reader, or somewhere in between, I sincerely hope that The Chautauqua has enriched your life, as much as it has enriched mine publishing it.  If you would like to help ensure it continues to enrich others like yourself, I ask you to please consider making a donation to The Chautauqua. There are three methods available: 

Mail a cheque or money order (made out to Beth Richardson – Chautauqua) to Box 261 Mirror, AB T0B 3C0 

E-transfer to thechautauqua@gmail.com 

PayPal at https://paypal.me/thechautauqua (note: you will need to sign into PayPal first, and then specify the amount) 

   Your support and kindness is always greatly appreciated, and I look forward to continuing to bring joy and inspiration to you with each issue. Thank you so much and have a marvellous day!

And, if you are looking for a unique gift idea, please visit: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html

Contact The Chautauqua via email: thechautauqua@gmail.com or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChautauqua    

Wednesday 17 August 2022

Be mindful of measuring yourself 
by how much you do for other people.  
It’s not your job to be a savior. 
 - Mecca Woods

Friday 12 August 2022

My Artist Voice #4 August 12, 2022

   Welcome to my fourth Artist Newsletter.  Thank you so much to everyone who has subscribed to date.  If you would like to receive this newsletter via email subscription, please contact thechautauqua@gmail.com and ask to be added to the mailing list.  Feel free to share this with friends who may also be interested.  Thank you so much for your support.  

   My second solo art show recently ran from July 19 - August 2, 2022, at the Donalda Gallery for the Arts.  This was a different experience from my exhibition earlier in the year.  My first one was an exhibition only, and highlighted the variety of my daily practices.  This art show allowed me to sell my artwork and featured canvases, and more, that highlighted my journey over the past 5 years as I explored different mediums and what it means to call myself an artist.  

   In addition, there was a hosted Meet & Greet on July 23rd which was a lot of fun as I answered questions about my art, and a solo Meet & Greet on July 27th.  I had hoped to do two more Meet & Greets but my health did not cooperate, and I had to cancel them.

   A HUGE thank you to everyone who saw it in person, attended the July 23rd Meet and Greet, purchased decks, and offered encouragement via Facebook.  Also, a special thank you to Marlene Conibear for inviting me to exhibit and for hosting the Meet & Greet, and to Zoe DeCnodder for all her assistance.  

   If you weren't able to see the exhibit in person, you can view it here: https://www.facebook.com/beth.richardson.10/videos/726948365275943.  This was a fabulous experience and I'm so glad I said Yes.

Celebrations

- my 3rd recording session was Friday, July 8th.  The practice recordings I did during the week of my final 4 songs were good enough that I didn't have to record anything new, so we had initial tracks recorded for all 10 songs!!!  
   TJ started sending me the edited tracks back and I decided what I liked and didn't like - an interesting process, but not always an easy one!
   For my 4th recording session on Friday, July 22nd, we took some "behind the scenes" pictures in my "closet recording studio" and we edited 5 of the 6 songs, plus we figured out two more, which just left 2 songs still untouched.  We also started a tentative list of the order of the songs on the album.  

Recently Completed:

Since the last newsletter, I've completed...
(L-R top) "Comfort Food" (8x10 acrylics), iPad mandala representing my gallery show, iPad mandala exploration, Watercolour play (9x12 mixed media paper)

(L-R middle) iPad mandala exploration, "Baked with Love" (8x10 acrylics), 2 more iPad mandala explorations

(L-R bottom) Watercolour play (9x12 mixed media paper), Heart/Body/Mind/Spirit iPad mandala, 5 Inner Circle wisdom stones, Watercolour play (9x12 mixed media paper) 

   As well, I made 6 pints (plus 3/4C) of rhubarb juice, 2 pints of apple juice (from old apples that needed dealt with), and I experimented with making quack grass juice and got 5 cups - the jury is still out on that one, and I want to try again using a different method.

Works in progress:

Currently, I'm working on... 

- a 9x12 page of watercolour play 
- an 8x10 acrylic painting + 16x20 acrylic Inner Circle Muse painting 
- crochet chocolates and candy for my crochet food project [temporarily on hold]
- In Voice of the Muse, we're working on the final 2 songs, edits for the other tracks, and the order of the songs

Upcoming Projects

- My 10-song music album (final title still to be determined) is expected to be released/available in October (or maybe even sooner!)

- as I had created the journey idea for my Donalda gallery show, I decided to expand on it and turn it into a 40-page chapbook, which I hope (fingers crossed) will be ready to be printed in September or October.

Thanks for reading,
Beth 

~~~~~~~~

As a life-long creative, and recently self-taught artist, I endeavour to weave my varied interests and wisdom together in an enlightening and entertaining manner, to make people think, but above all else, bring a smile to their faces and hearts, as my style is almost childlike in its simplicity and playfulness.  While bedridden for much of 2017, I developed 5 – 10 minute practices which allowed me to commit to them daily. I’ve been called the “Queen of Small Steps” because my simple practices – though they may seem small individually – have added up to quite a body of work in a relatively short time period. 

~~~~~~~~

Thank you so much for your support, and again, if you would like to receive this newsletter directly via email please email: thechautauqua@gmail.com and ask to be added to the mailing list.  Thank you!

Back issues of this newsletter can be found here: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/  under the category "Artist Newsletter"

If you would like to support my artistic journey, please consider purchasing my artwork, select items available online https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html or in person at 4910-47 St, Mirror, AB

or by making a donation via
Mail a cheque or money order (made out to Beth Richardson – Chautauqua) to Box 261 Mirror, AB T0B 3C0 

E-transfer to thechautauqua@gmail.com 

PayPal at https://paypal.me/thechautauqua (note: you will need to sign into PayPal first, and then specify the amount) 

   Your support and kindness are always greatly appreciated, and I look forward to continuing to bring joy and inspiration! Thank you so much and have a marvellous day!

Wednesday 10 August 2022

It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts 
when eating a homegrown tomato.
  - Lewis Grizzard

Friday 5 August 2022

August 5, 2022 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

   Ever stop doing something that you’ve always done, or at least done for years, and then after a period of time not doing it, thought that there was no way you could get back to it because you’d be starting right back at square one, and that feels like just too much effort, so why bother?

   I’m sure there are countless different activities, or habits, that you can think of where this has been the case.  I know I have a few.

   I recently heard Caylee Grey, from the Get Messy podcast, mention this, but how she framed it, changed my perspective.

   When we return to a task after a long absence, Caylee pointed out that we aren’t starting from scratch, but we are “starting from experience.”

   And, that is so true.  No matter how much time has passed between when you stopped and when you start up again, you aren’t starting the second time as a complete beginner.  Even if you need a refresher and have to relearn some steps, you’ll pick them up considerably faster than you did the first time because you already know them.

   Also, because you already have experience, you know what your pitfalls are (ie what caused you to stop in the first place) and how to make the process work for you so you can keep going again.

   When I first started doing yoga, I was told that even if you stop doing yoga for years, when you get back to it, your body will remember, and after some initial stiffness, it will quickly get back to the level you were at before you stopped.  Just like riding a bicycle - you never really forget how to ride even if you are a bit rusty the first time out again.

   While we tend to think of summer as a time to ditch routines and just play and have fun (and it certainly is that), summer is also a really good time to revisit some of the tasks, skills, and practices we used to do, because we don’t have our usual routines as an excuse to stop us, and the free time to spend revisiting the activities.

   And now that you know it will be easier to get back into the groove than you “thought” it would be, you have nothing to lose.

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rBBmsn8gETnjAI7h5cgfei8MhE8XFtHb/view?usp=sharing

   Whether you've enjoyed reading The Chautauqua from the first issue 20 years ago, are a brand new reader, or somewhere in between, I sincerely hope that The Chautauqua has enriched your life, as much as it has enriched mine publishing it.  If you would like to help ensure it continues to enrich others like yourself, I ask you to please consider making a donation to The Chautauqua. There are three methods available: 

Mail a cheque or money order (made out to Beth Richardson – Chautauqua) to Box 261 Mirror, AB T0B 3C0 

E-transfer to thechautauqua@gmail.com 

PayPal at https://paypal.me/thechautauqua (note: you will need to sign into PayPal first, and then specify the amount) 

   Your support and kindness is always greatly appreciated, and I look forward to continuing to bring joy and inspiration to you with each issue. Thank you so much and have a marvellous day!

And, if you are looking for a unique gift idea, please visit: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html

Contact The Chautauqua via email: thechautauqua@gmail.com or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChautauqua    

Wednesday 3 August 2022

Tea has remedies for all difficulties, 
and iced tea has answers for all problems 
and the summer heat. 
- Unknown