Sea Lions and meditations

March 18, 2013 in animals, art, New York City, paintings, watercolor | Tags: Galapagos Islands, galapagos trip, meditation, mental-health, power naps, sea lion, sea lion in watercolor, Tibet House, watercolor rocks, watercolor sand

Sandy sea lion – Galapagos on 140# Arches coldpress SOLD

My niece called me last week and asked me if I wanted to go to a meditation class. Of course I said yes. I need me some meditation to get over my anxiety. So we went to Tibet House on W. 15th Street in Manhattan. The woman leading the class had studied meditation in India since the mid-70’s. As she talked I was relaxed and started to nod off a little since this was a weeknight. Finally she said we would start the meditation and to close our eyes and focus on our breath. THE SECOND the meditation started, I couldn’t sit still. My ankle hurt. My shoulder hurt, my arms wanted to flail about. I was as wiggly in my seat as a little kid in church. I opened my eyes and looked around. Everyone seemed so serene. I wanted to stand up and run around. After it was over I asked my niece how she did. She was ok, but instead of focusing on her breath she was focused on her heart pounding from the 4 pm medium coffee she had. We did a second meditation and I was a little better. My favorite part of the leader’s talk was when she spoke about the benefits of meditation. And how Americans always want to know what is the shortest amount of time one needs to meditate to get the maximum benefit. It’s approximately 20 minutes a day.

Now as you all know, I have had the title of THE TIREDEST PERSON WHO EVER LIVED for many years. My husband marvels at my 4 hour-long power-naps. I remember John who was on our Galapagos trip. That man had more energy in his little finger than I have ever had in my whole life. I wonder why? Maybe I’ll go meditate on it. Right after my nap.

The sea-lion is coming along but I want to do a little more to him. He needs his whiskers. I masked out the sea-lion and rocks and flicked white gouache with a tooth-brush to make the sand. I went back with some Payne’s gray and other blues and a bit of raw sienna and flicked that on top of the white. I was going to try salt for the texture, but forgot to buy it. Maybe next time.

21 comments

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March 18, 2013 at 10:27 am

Jim

That is stunning– I love the expression on his face, and the flicked sand gives it an almost 3-D effect. Wonderful!

March 18, 2013 at 8:42 pm

Carol King

Thanks Jim!

March 18, 2013 at 10:37 am

Patricia

I think you might do better with a little MediCation! LOL!

The sea lion looks fabulous! I want to take lessons from you!

March 18, 2013 at 8:44 pm

Carol King

Funny Patricia…I’m sure I could use both.

March 18, 2013 at 10:49 am

nic mclean

Carol,your tales crack me up! I can just picture you wriggling around while everyone else was meditating! I think I would be the same as i don’t know how to ’empty my mind’. Don’t get me wrong, I can quite easily (and frequently do) fall asleep 20 mins from the end of a movie or tv show but ask me to sit and think of nothing and there’s nothing I won’t think of!
Your sealion is brilliant. Great idea with the toothbrush – i wondered how you got that effect!

March 18, 2013 at 8:56 pm

Carol King

Hey Nic! I’m with you…trying to sit and think of nothing there’s nothing I won’t think of. I was please with the toothbrush effect. Make sure you use an old one. 🙂

March 18, 2013 at 2:06 pm

June Malone

I imagine sitting on a hot beach when stressed…now I will add this gorgeous little seal to my imaginings.

March 18, 2013 at 8:56 pm

Carol King

Aw, thanks June.

March 18, 2013 at 2:09 pm

RHCarpenter

The sand and the sea lion’s belly are super! No need to do more, I think. As for meditation? ha ha Yes, you experienced what we all experience at times, especially when we’re new to it or going back to it after a time away. Just remember, you can meditate in bed or at the kitchen sink or anywhere – just focus on your breath and try to stop all the thinking thinking thinking that always runs in our heads like a non-stop action movie. I would suggest you close your eyes, too, but that may be hazardous to your health if you’re on the subway in NY!

March 18, 2013 at 8:57 pm

Carol King

Thanks for the comments Rhonda. I am still going to give meditation a go. And you know what, sometimes I do close my eyes on the subway. But only during rush hour and only if I have a seat and only if I’m still aware of my surroundings. On second thought, I’ll meditate at home.

March 18, 2013 at 6:13 pm

Aubrey Cotton-Stapleton

I have just discovered your blog and love it. Have just finished reading your ‘voice’ to my husband as he ate breakfast and we were both laughing at your descriptions, especially of the new TV! I sympathise with you as my daughter has just got something very complicated at her house and I can’t turn the TV on, I have to get my grandson to do so! Your descriptions and photos of the Galápagos Islands were wonderful and as we have been watching David Attenborough’s series about them it has all fitted in. We live in Australia on a farm in the south, quite different to your surroundings .we are just going into Autumn, I am so loving the thought as I hate the heat so also understand your image of human sacrifices being to get out of the heat! I love your sense of humour and yes, I am enjoying your painting too!! Have a happy day, Mrs A

March 18, 2013 at 8:58 pm

Carol King

Dear Mrs. A. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I’m so happy you enjoyed the blog and the paintings. Although I do expect that while reading it to your husband in “my voice” you used a New York accent!

March 19, 2013 at 10:34 am

Beth Parker

I enjoyed readying the comments almost as much as the post. I especially like what you wrote about meditating on the subway. That does sound like a pretty bad plan. My brain is always racing, so if I tried meditation, I would probably be pretty fidgety. That all seems weird, since I can fall asleep watching tv, without hesitation. Maybe my thoughts have more juice than some actor’s lines. he he

Love the sea lions. Your sandy sea lion looks downright huggable. 🙂

March 19, 2013 at 5:51 pm

joantav

I LOVE how this is coming out!!! The splattering really added detail to the sea lion and the sand.

I’ve never officially tried meditation. I think I have too much bouncing around in my mind to focus for too long. lol

March 20, 2013 at 2:13 am

Padmaja

Beautiful splattering done here, that has added an extra interest to the composition, look forward to the finished piece Carol!
Enjoyed reading about your meditation experience. Artists have an extra advantage , when they are at their easel, I am sure no thoughts seep in, that is what is meditation is all about, being in the present moment.

March 20, 2013 at 10:46 pm

Jana Bouc

I think the painting is wonderful as is. I love the expression on his face! With his slightly closed eyes, maybe he is meditating on the funny tourists. I really enjoy meditation but have a really hard time slowing down enough to do it.

March 21, 2013 at 4:02 pm

hannekekoop

Carol, he (or she 🙂 ) is gorgeous. So pure and friendly. 🙂

March 24, 2013 at 6:04 am

Linda Halcomb

Carol, I have had various periods of success with meditation but I normally can’t make it more than 10 minutes and, as soon as I start, I ache and itch and twitch. I think its because I’m told I can’t! Love the sea lion – is he meditating? I can feel the texture in the sand.

March 25, 2013 at 12:28 am

napabelle