All Manner Of Things

One of my grandfather's most repeated phrases was - " Be Still ."  He was an orderly man, adamantine in his approach to his daily structure. I always noticed the manner in which he would grab his pants at the crease just above his knees and slightly raise them as he sat down.Toast and marmalade in the morning, soft butter. Newspaper, hat and scarf .Vests. Long periods of silence and a novelist's eye for a yarn .

     
There is a point we seldom recognize in our own fast flying days, when our own routine and perculiarities become the framework of daily living. In approaching painting, I am not always certain if this is a good thing . Repeating oneself, or relying on the comfortable and familiar will eventually extinguish. There but for the grace of God go I . . .

Off to Addis Ababa this week, sketchbooks in tow. Unless the powers that be at customs decide they want to retain some drawings for themselves, I will post some sketchbook pages upon returning.