The pure pleasure of touch
..and fully experiencing our senses
Today I wasn’t prepared to write about touch or pleasure. I know that all of our senses contribute to our well being as humans. Yet.. Sometimes I am not paying attention to the subtle gifts they offer..
On my morning walk with Gracie the hound a few days ago the birds were filling the sky with a symphony of song . After long months of quiet and grey skies this cacophony of bird song could not be ignored . I looked up in the treetop and saw a handsome cardinal engaged in melody..and witnessed others swooping and diving through the trees. As I am an early riser I believe these are the best moments of the day. Their singing was strikingly sensual to my ears-elevating my mood several notches.
Hearing is something else that makes our world richer..from birdsong to classical music to the chirpy voices of children at play. To listen in on a conversation between strangers .. This morning there was also the rat a tat tat sound of a woodpecker hard at work.
The sun streaming through the pines felt soothing .. Lighting up the dirt road and surrounding forest with speckled bits of golden light .
I inhaled deeply the smell of the musky outdoors as I walked . The frost is starting to break and the loamy scent of composting winter leaves and soil surfaces.. At times I forget to breathe in that deep diaphragm expanding way that sends lovely sensations through my body and slows it all down-but not today
Gracie takes in huge whiffs of the “posts” left by other dogs and creatures -and a sort of rapture takes over her expression in the process..
Memories of scents..Recalling one of my first double dates at 15 years of age with a marathon kissing session in a dark room . He wore patchouli and to this day a whiff of that oil sends me back to that pleasure infused moment in time.
The lilac tree and its splendid Spring perfume ..Cut stems overflowing in a glass vase .. filling the room . Inhaling a dried lavender sprig reminds me of the mother’s day bouquet gifted to me from my dear daughter before she fastened her wings to fly across the sea.
Using my eyes I focus on the enduring tall trees , ..especially as vision is so necessary for an artist -and I do take them for granted at times...
The wonder of tasting things from chocolate to a fresh crunchy apple. Then there is the sense of smell..and touch.
Touch..Massaging your own feet,fingers and toes.. stroking that purring cat in your lap .
Sometimes touch is a little more few and far between as we grow older.
I attend a -part exercise,stretch-breathing class. Today we received a short personal temple and neck massage with the addition of a heavenly scented balm offered from our instructor. Frankincense, peppermint oil and more. How is it possible that something so simple as a kind touch can turn a day around?
The intensity of how divine this simple act was had ripple effects throughout my day.
Sometimes I neglect some of my senses. (I spend a lot of time in my head . )
I have discovered the pure joy of creating is often jump started by sensory experiences . Paying attention to all the senses we have been gifted as humans .
Serendipitously I was reading a review of a sweet film called perfect days in the Guardian and this quote resonated for me :
There is a Japanese word, “komorebi”, which was the original title of the film. Literally translated, it means “sunlight leaking through trees”, but there’s more to it than that. It speaks of a profound connection with nature, and the necessity to pause, to take the time to absorb and appreciate the perfection of tiny, seemingly insignificant details.
What have your senses told you lately? is there a sense in particular that you need to pay more attention to ? How do your sensory experiences relate to your art making ?
What I have been up to lately..
A wonderful sketch session with our local Bruce Grey sketchers at our local Art gallery
It’s always special and invigorating to draw in the company of other creatives in person! it’s also such good practise to draw what is in front of us!
my sketch spread on Tom Thomson (namesake of our Tom Thomson Art gallery )
interpreted from photos in the gallery
Good news for our Mixed Media Portrait class group on Facebook ! The wonderful artist Janice Hardacre Janice's flickr page has volunteered to co - monitor and manage the group with me so we will keep it going for as long as people are interested in participating !
I am so cheered to report that we raised 340 dollars for UNRWA charity to aid the people of Gaza through my art fundraiser ! Thank you to everyone who contributed by buying art for this cause! :-)
I am back to making some art ..and setting up my new shop for original art has given me a nudge to get back to the drafting table ! The sunny March day written about above also motivated me to do a little more of what I love!
There are a few paintings available to view currently -but they will go live-and be available for sale on Sunday March17 th at 2pm EST
Thank you so much for reading Ageless Artist
What a beautiful post! I step out almost every morning whilst the kettle is on the hob to sniff deeply of the fresh crisp air, and almost every night before going to bed. A good way to start and end the day. I wear patchouli everyday, and have since I was 15 as well - it was the smell of our teen years wasn't it? I have had complete strangers cross a room to tell me how much they love that scent and how in a moment they were thrown back to their youth. Somehow that brings me joy!
Oh, I re-read your post several times Heather. So, so lovely! You brought your outside world alive on the page with your obvious love of nature! I try to walk each day through our semi-rural small neighbourhood, breathing in the scent of the dormant trees, just melting dirt and often stop and listen to the crows who make such incredible sounds. I also sometimes pick what my daughter refers to as "ditch posies", small branches of dried weeds and flowers. They bring me joy in winter!