The Muse

A poet is a nightingale, who sits in darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds.

~ Percy Bysshe Shelley

If you follow this post through it's windy path of word, I promise there's a little surprise in store for you!
 
I follow lots of blogs.  I mean LOTS of blogs.  I'm always over my limit of  the 300 blogs that Blogger allows on my dashboard (not quite sure how I manage to sneak a few extras in.)  I guess I really just love bearing witness to the creative process of other people.  Following an art blog is different than seeing the canvas in an art show as it allows me to see the artist within the canvas itself.
 
With a bit of a heavy heart I had to clear out a large number of blogs from my follow list.  I really was sad about it.  Most were abandoned blogs... not posted on for a year or more.  I said a little prayer for each of those artists, a hope that they are blessed with an active creative life that has moved them into a different endeavour than art blogging, or a plea that if that is not the case, they find their creative source again.  I remember when I first started art blogging a few years ago, in the middle of one of the most challenging times in my life...  I remember building up the list of artists I follow.  Their creative energy, their wisdom, their joy, and sometimes even their friendship was daily bread to me. 
 
At the same time I was sad at the many little goodbye's I had to say last night in order to make room for new relationships, I was also given pause to think how absolutely amazing it is the number of people out there, so dedicated to their art and to their creative process and the process of sharing it with others through blogs.  Some of the artists I follow are absolutely amazing... have been blogging for years and may only have 30 followers but still post regularly!  Other artists may be beginning to explore their creative expression and are so open about showing their pitfalls and difficulties. Their humanness and "imperfection" is a breath of fresh air!
 
So I awaken this morning, not sure where my muse is taking me, and hop onto the Paint Party Friday site and see a poll about ice cream of all things... which leads me to look up quotes about "sweet"... which leads me to the above quote... which leads me to all this fabulous information from Wiki about how the nightingale has a long history of being a symbol for the poet and the muse.... which reminds me that Inspiration Avenue's theme this week is poetry!  Haha! 
 
So as I painted this little piece I prayed for all my fellow artists... that we are able to find comfort through our brushes, our pens,  our words, and our visions.  And I prayed for those needing that comfort and hope that they may find it.
 
Now here's the surprise... along with the painting above, I painted this little bookmark that I am giving away. 

 
 
A name will be drawn from those who comment on this post (please be sure your email contact is available in your profile and if you are commenting anonymously, feel free to email your contact info to cori-lynn@msn.com.)  The drawing will take place one week from today, Friday July 15 at 8 am CST time.    If you post this giveaway on your own blog,
 
To comment, please answer the following question...
 

How has art served you?

 

 

 

 

The painting at the top is available for purchase for $30 by emailing me at the address above.  It is 6" x 6" and comes with a wooden easel stand.