Getting Going Again

Two Turtle Day 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas

  It's been months since my husband went in to Seattle Cancer Care Aliance for a stem cell transplant to treat Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the bones and blood.  I became his care giver, and set aside everything else.   It was important to let go of art because when I paint, I get forgetful...loose track of time...get absorbed in the process.  Michael needed me to be fully present, so I set aside painting and teaching.

  

We moved to the Pete Gross House in Seattle near Lake Union to be closer to the clinic, and set about to go step by step to save Michael's  life.

 

Living a short walk from the lake allowed me to meet several of the residents.   I counted how nice the weather was by how many turtles lined up on logs.  A "two turtle day" showed promise, a "ten turtle day" was the nicest day of the year.  My other favorite resident of the lake was a gorgeous great blue heron who was so engrossed in fishing that he completely ignored my presence.  On lovely days between cancer treatment appointments, my husband and I would stroll down to the lake and watch  sea planes , sail boats, kids splashing in the water, and the heron in his slow motion fishing beneath the watchful eye of the Space Needle  amidst the roar of urban traffic.

On Stilts  24" x 12" acrylic on hardboard

Patient Fisher 24" x 12" acrylic on hardboard

So here we are two months post transplant...home on Camano Island.  Cancer is in remission.   Now I am beginning to paint  again.  My classes are scheduled to begin soon, and I can't stay out of the studio.  Right now I am painting the images from South Lake Union that kept me refreshed during a stressful time. Thankful and blessed that my husband received wonderful medical care, and that we are home again, putting our lives back together.

 

 

For a list of my upcoming classes and workshops click here.

 

 

 

 

A Safe Place

East of the Pass 24" x 30" acrylic Dianna Shyne

Looking for Light 24" x 18" acrylic

In my childhood games of chase, there was always "Home Base", a place where you were safe and no one could get you.

Right now, my home and studio feels like "base". A safe place in a uncertain time.

This summer, my wonderful husband of three years, Michael Gotz, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer affecting the bone marrow and blood.  Suddenly, our wonderful, blissful life of making art and music  has changed.  Stress and uncertainties loom.  Battles with the insurance provider are ramping up over what services they will and will not provide.

Michael is great.  He keeps writing music and going to gigs.  He is constantly cracking me up with his jokes, and caring for his wild birds out the window. He will play his guitar until he drops.




Walk in the Wild 16" x 20"

 

Mother of the Field 24" x 30"

One Small Gift 20" x 16"

 As I look over the work I've done in the last few months, I can see the arc of feeling and emotion...it's almost like a personal journal...The protective mother under a scorching sun, the uncertain watcher looking for hope, a bend in the river, a creator of small gifts, a blissful cat on a crooked porch.

Painting has always been the way I find joy, work through problems, work off excess energy, cope with stress, express my emotions... deal with uncertainty.  I think I'll get off the computer and go paint.

Porch Cat 16" x 20"