dear darlington: Words.

"Take off against the wind,

resistance helps you fly"

"change your circumstances by aligning your thoughts & actions with what you want"

Matt found a bird's nest,

I drew it.

first big snowfall of the year

big boots stomping through

cleaning out the closet (you don't need much to get by)

shedding autumn skin

chai shakes

sunlight pouring in...

sidewalk obstacles on the way to work

a lava lamp in a store window

a lucky penny...almost

walking in the moonlight

"I forgot yesterday, today it rained"

-Robert Redford, Three Days of the Condor

childhood nursery rhymes

back to the grind

the promise of snow

a candle-lit glow

putting more art on other people's walls

talking about documentaries

"the jar king"

car ride conversation

time in the sun in a hammock

an afternoon at the dog park

card games

sitting on the beach after a run-

wind blowing & radiohead humming against my eardrums

fort clinch-sailboats in the water & stone spiral staircase

loose change

playing guitar & having a space to really belt it out (unheard)

wise words & good advice from mom

the breeze through an open window

black friday & yet the skies are blue

long drives & canoe rides

a treebranch to the face-

bruised & beaten and yet, still here.

forgotten days-

an unwinding, an unraveling

the wind has blown, you've felt the breeze & have been affected.

morning rides to the ocean and back

(with gusto)

Lydia Davis-a beautiful collection of short stories

trips into town

other people's closets

sitting outside with the sun shining down in November

the sunny side of the street

letting someone else speak

filling up a sketchbook

(with words instead of pictures)

sharp pencils

just the right ball of yarn.

morning light reaching through the blinds

a grey day highlighted with the light of a storm

reunited with old friends & forgotten artwork

packing up a short work week

-shirt untucked.

sometimes it's hard to see clearly through the rain

socks

giant tables

walks with hands slung deeply into pockets

rest

small fires

lullabies late into the night & early into the morning

the strum strum strumming of the guitar

"We the willing

led by the unknowing

are doing the impossible

for the ungrateful.

we have done so much

for so long with so little;

we are now qualified

to do anything with nothing"

-sign at Antiques on 2nd.

shaky bus ride handwriting

three floors of antiques & busted chins

the girl next to me singing along to her Ipod, seemingly unaware that she's gone from inside her head to singing outloud

artists to take another look at:

Ron Mueck & Herakut

vintage-inspired figure drawing

people trading he-said she-said conversations into their telephones

seeing my art on the walls of a gallery while walking to work

(I stuck my face against the glass to see into the still-dark space)

breakfast of champions

little brother on a train

all this, and it's not even noon yet

"hey buddy, could you spare some change?"

tired eyes & magic games

art opening tomorrow night = jangled, dancing nerves

inspired to draw, but what?

things you find in the mirror

(but not literally)

I'd love to find a peaceful tree to sit under

making it through the night

a long work day with a break for a nap

trivia night

the american troubador

an unexpected urge to paint

a truce

forgiveness...or maybe it's acceptance...or maybe it's all the same

fast-paced fly-by workdays

bookstores

new books & old books

shelves full of books

a really good first page

dinner with a friend

mashed red potatoes

the soft hum of other people's conversations

poor thanksgiving, everyone's always forgetting it's name & calling it "christmas"

sleeping in my love

relaxing

drawing ink

lazy quiet mornings

whereever you go-there you are

"I want to see movies of my dreams"

full cupboards

brown berets & numbers

sunny Sunday afternoons

& really good italian food

waking up to the sound of rain falling

lazy, cozy Saturdays

afternoon movie dates

getting things done

a heart filled to the brim & overflowing

grey days & the hushed tones of traffic

sleeping in

"darling"

new art supplies

hugs & high fives

worn out in a well-deserved kind of way

good-catch-yourself-in-a-window-reflection-hair-days

sunshine & warm weather

punching out early

date nights

quiet morning air

money in the drawer

arting & crafting

cuddly nights of heavy, welcomed sleep

the moon-big enough & bright enough for a broadway stage

late night motorcycle rides to the comic shop

walking up hills for better views