DECEMBER 5

Amazing morning at the Bay. Cloudy with mist, calm sea with chattering birds feeding at the water’s edge. My friend Ann, in reflecting about her visit here, sent me this statement from Irish poet John O’Donohue:

Well, I think it makes a huge difference, when you wake in the morning and come out of your house, whether you believe you are walking into a dead geographical location, which is used to get to a destination, or whether you are emerging out into a landscape that is just as much, if not more, alive as you but in a totally different form, and if you go towards it with an open heart and a real, watchful reverence, that you will be absolutely amazed at what it will reveal to you.

This just makes me weep. The ancient Celts in Ireland honored the force of nature -every mountain, river, spring, marsh, tree, and rocky outcrop -possess a spiritual essence. Poets such as John O’Donohue and all other Irish poets, remind us of this spirit. Its hard for me to find those words, I am just so thankful to be here.

After some sketches - and the sighting of a loon- I packed up and headed back to the studio. We (artists) headed over to visit the studio of Keith Wilson. Thoughtful, lovely work of his garden and the Irish landscape.

Back in the studio in the afternoon. “Line” was on my mind today. Spend some time doing transfer drawings of The Burren. Seeing this landscape - meditative and haunting - in line. Feel like I am standing on the edge of a diving board with this direction. I just hope there is some water in the pool.

Another outing for the “Art Club” tonight. We all had dinner with the greatest couple, Clay and Sandra, the dogsitters on the Sea Road. Clay is from Georgia and Sandra is from Kildaire. This group of artists has been so social - dinners, outings and we plan to have a holiday dinner at Mary’s Cottage in a few days. And tomorrow, studio visits.