To A Kiss

By Robert Burns


Humid seal of soft affections,
Tend'rest pledge of future bliss,
Dearest tie of young connections,
Love's first snow-drop, virgin kiss.


Speaking silence, dumb confession,
Passion's birth, and infants' play,
Dove-like fondness, chaste concession,
Glowing dawn of brighter day.


Sorrowing joy, adieu's last action,
Ling'ring lips, -- no more to join!
What words can ever speak affection
Thrilling and sincere as thine!



I love this poem...

Tonight we ate, drank, danced and were merry in honour of the great romantic and Scottish Nationalist, Robbie Burns. It was a jolly-good time and even topped last year's celebration. Robbie Burns' Day is officially on the 25th (my sister shares his birthday), but we celebrated tonight at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 31. As my grandfather served in WW2 and is a member of branch 75, we decided the beer is cheap and the company is gold - sooooooo we applied as his grandchildren to become members ourselves. Oooo, they have darts, and snooker although I'm not to keen on that one.

Here's to many more memorable nights at the legion! CHEERS!

Commissioned

Well, 2010, you're off to a good start. Still, I can't believe it is the 12th day into this new year already. Only next month we will be celebrating our little girl's second birthday, and our third wedding anniversary. Winter won't relent for some time, though. It always takes longer than I expect to see flowers in people's gardens.

The new year has ushered in some new opportunities. I am thrilled to be working on not one but TWO commissioned paintings this week. One is for close friends in England, and the other for some friends right here in Toronto - well, down at Harbourfront to be exact. I always feel like I'm on holiday down there by the lake, don't you?

Although I love painting for fun and feel as though my artwork is always meaningful/purposed, it is refreshing to be given some guidance and boundaries along the way. Feels a little like when I was at OCAD, but without the critiques and grades. Deadlines are my friend :)

So, I thought I'd stop to pass on this update as I am googling images to inspire me while Addie sleeps - this will be my first time creating a representation of poppies on canvas.
2010 will be a year of many things, and creative adventure seems to be one of them!

Seeing the Invisible

Check out this proposed bill which is likely to be passed in France:
Psychological Violence
Do you think this will, in fact, help to stop physical violence against women in the home?