In today’s post for Tilted Windmills, I write about how my experience as a disabled person has given me greater insight into when it’s best to write your own story around what is “normal.”
tiltedwindmills.substack.com/p/the-perils...
Norms can be a tricky business. In some cases, they can be a positive force, helping to foster shared values, compassion, and connection. In other instances, however, they can seed unhelpful feelings of shame, burnout, and disconnection from others. 👇🏼🧵
She’s been doing well. Lucy’s always been sensitive to the health issues of her pack—both myself and Lola. When Lola’s health took a turn for the worse, that was hard on Lucy and we could see she was trying to comfort Lola as best she could. After Lola passed, Lucy seemed much less stressed.
Freshly groomed Lucy the Border terrier sitting pretty with her new cowboy boot toy.
Stampede puppy is ready to party! 🤠🐶 #Calgary #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky
This is the tale of Norman, the title character from one of my favourite childhood picture books, which had a significant influence on me as an artist and newly minted picture book illustrator.
Read all about it in my latest art newsletter.
athenacreative.substack.com/p/i-am-norma...
An artist with a day job decides to take a big risk to share their art with the world.
No, this isn’t my story — although it could be. 🧵👇
#Illustration #KidLit #KidLitArt #ChildrensBooks
Unfinished paint by number of a goldfish in a sunlit fish bowl
Absolutely loving this paint-by-number that I’ve been chipping away at between other art projects for months. It’ll probably take me until the end of the year to finish, but it’s so going to be worth it. 🎨🥰 #Painting #PaintByNumber
That’s them! I now have 4 pairs of Billy’s as they’ve been the easiest shoes to put on post hospital.
This is my other jazzy pair.
billyfootwear.ca/collections/...
Billy’s for the win! Sadly that pattern seems to be reserved for kids, but I really like their easy side zipper designs.
billyfootwear.ca
Lucy the Border sitting at attention with my splatter paint shoes on the wheelchair’s footrest.
Lucy was looking especially adorable on our walk tonight. Must’ve been the cheese. 🥹🧀 #BTposse #TerrierTuesday #DogsOfBluesky
When I started my newsletter/blog three years ago, it was born out of my sense of frustration and outrage at feeling leashed to the social media behemoth.
You can read how my relationship to social media has evolved in the 89th edition of Athena's Art Newsletter.
How considerate. 😂
Lucy licking my husband’s closed eyes as he drinks his morning coffee.
Lucy is very conscientious about making sure we’re all properly groomed. 😅 #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky
And now for your listening pleasure, the musical stylings of Lucy playing her squeaky ball. 🐶🎶 #BTposse #TerrierTuesday #DogsOfBluesky
Happy early birthday. 🥳
I will say that my 40s have been very good to me.
Partially finished paint-by-number of a goldfish in a sunlit fish bowl.
All work and no paint-by-number makes Athena a dull gal. 😅 #Painting #PaintByNumber
Not yet. I’ve been picking away at it between other projects, but I plan to take my time with it.
Sunsetting behind the clouds over the Bow River
Sunsetting behind the clouds over the Bow River
Sunsetting behind the clouds over the Bow River
A few snapshots from our walk along the Bow River with the pup last night. I think one of these is going to end up as a painting someday. 🥰🌅 #Calgary #PaintingInspiration
Lucy the Border Terrier stretched out on her back with her belly exposed for rubs. She lays beside my iPad on the beige striped comforter on the bed.
Me: Lucy, I'm trying to work on the picture book here.
Lucy: But... belly rubs? 🥺🐶 #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky
Athena seated in her power wheelchair outside a building with a mural being worked up by folks elevated in a scissor lift platform. The partially completed mural shows a giant, futuristic face with an exposed brain and the building’s windows appearing as the face’s futuristic visor.
CUPS mural with two hands outstretched releasing a white dove.
We stopped in to visit some folks I know who are working on a new mural just across from the Telus Convention Centre downtown. They’ll also be touching up the CUPS mural on the side of the same building. Doug was the original artist behind that one too—30 years ago! 😳🕊️ #Calgary #MuralArt
😳
Lucy the Border Terrier sniffing the grass under a tree with a magpie standing right behind her about to tweak her tail.
Poor Lucy. 😅 The pup was minding her own business when this magpie came by and began trying to tweak the tip of her tail! It wasn’t like it was attacking her and just seemed to want to tease her no matter how often Lucy chased the bird off. #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky
Actually I’m using another company now called CopyRepro. They’re within motoring distance of my apartment and the fellow who runs the company is great.
copyrepro.ca
Thanks so much for the shoutout, Glenda! They’re even printed right here in Calgary too. 😁🇨🇦
My world looks very different when compared to where I was this time last year—and not just because I was in the midst of my lengthy hospital stay. While I might look fully recovered now, there have been significant changes. Read more in my newsletter.
athenacreative.substack.com/p/what-recov...
While I've been doing a great deal of digital painting of late for the picture book, there's still something about good old-fashioned brushes and paint that persistently calls to me.
Learn how this acrylic painter is dipping her toe into the world of oil painting.
#Art #Painting #OilPainting
Detail view of an unfinished paint-by-number showing a goldfish in a fish bowl.
Unfinished paint-by-number showing a goldfish in a fish bowl.
Unwinding this evening with my latest paint-by-number after a full day of iPad digital painting work on the picture book.
Phew… sometimes I really just need to paint with real paint. 🎨 😮💨 #PaintByNumber #Painting
Athena, her husband and Lola, a Pomeranian / Jack Russell Terrier, smiling joyously from her over-the-shoulder carrier.
Lucy, the Border Terrier giving Lola gentle licks on her face as she sits in her carrier.
A little over a month ago we had to say goodbye to our sweet senior pup, Lola. She lived 15.5yrs and brought her light to everyone who met her.
She passed peacefully on our bed surrounded by her family—myself, my husband and young Lucy all by her side.
#BTPosse #DogsOfBluesky #RescueDog #SeniorDog
Yep! Just haven’t been on BlueSky in awhile. 😅
