"Bouquet By Window" Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Bouquet By Window"

© Nora Kasten

Oil painting on gallery wrapped canvas  (48"x24") From the archives

"Tonight I'm at a Fairfield Inn in Orange Park, FL, fifteen minutes from The Corse Gallery in Jacksonville where I'll be attending Barbara Flowers' "Lunch & Learn" session all day tomorrow. 


Last night I was so exhausted that I didn't share with you about the wonderful article to appear in The Naples Daily News paper about me along with photos of my paintings.  A very good writer/author from the Naples Baptist Church submitted the article to our newspaper to appear in yesterday's edition, advertising for last night's big Art Show and sale.  Other artists were written about too but I was featured in a very special way. . . . every artist's hopeful wish.


Well,  IT DIDN'T HAPPEN . . .  .  a glitch happened and the article never went to print.  First thought was "OH MY, WHY" and then the Spirit within accepting that God didn't want that article printed or it would have been.  Who knows why but I do know that I will continue to listen and follow this Inner Voice.  It has never let me down and always leads to true success with great peace and contentment.  I believe there is something of significance I am being taught here and about life on this path.  The word "ego" comes to mind.

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"Clementine In A Glass" Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Clementine In A Glass"

© Nora Kasten

Oil painting on canvas  (8"x10")  SOLD  last week at The Naples Art Museum fundraiser, "Incognito"

"Am I Blue"

© Nora Kasten
Oil painting on gallery wrapped canvas  (30"x30"x1.5")

"Tonight was the "An Evening of the Arts" fundraiser for the Baptist Church of Naples and I'm happy to report that two of my paintings sold.  I entered ten paintings in the Show after all, not five.  And, the most wonderful surprise . . .  "Am I Blue" was awarded the "Best Of Show" ribbon.  It was a delightful evening.

Tomorrow, Friday, I'm driving over to Jacksonville, Florida to attend Barbara Flowers "Lunch and Learn" all day event on Saturday at the Corse Gallery.  


Today has been such a good day but very busy and I'm almost too sleepy now to type.   Good night and Blessings to you all.   I love to view each of the wonderful works of Art on your blogs."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"Brass & Tangerine" Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Brass & Tangerine"

© Nora Kasten

Oil painting on linen  (16"x12")  From the archives

A Page From "Healing After Loss" by Martha Whitmore Hickman

"In the midst of winter I discovered that there was in me an invincible summer."

                                                                                                                    Albert Camus

"It surprises us.  We know it's a fluke.  We know it won't last.  Happiness?  Contentment?  Joy?

      And not jut a quick flash of joy, of contentment - as when we are lifted up on wings of song - or by prayer - or by a spectacular sky - or because of a daisy blooming in some field.  But a sense that in some way we are going to be able, after all this, to be happy?  Whoever would have thought it?

      That assurance, too, may slip away.  But it will come back.  Perhaps each time it will seem less like an astonishing stranger, someone come to visit us in disguise.  No, it is real - this fecundity, this extended daylight, this warmth, this beauty of a summer evening.  Even in the wintry distress of our pain, we will believe in summer.

      Summer has it's storms too.  But they will pass.  Maybe they will clear the air and bring the world fresh and clean to our attention once more.  It is Life calling to us."

Today's affirmation

"In the midst of winter I will entertain the possibility that summer will come."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"Mixed Roses" Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Mixed Roses"

© Nora Kasten

Oil painting on linen on board  (15"x30")  From archives

"Mixed Roses" is one of five paintings I'm offering in the Naples Baptist Church "An Evening of the Arts" show and fundraiser.  It will take place April 14, 2011, at the church."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"Old Fashion Roses" Pastel Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Old Fashion Roses"

© Nora Kasten

Pastel painting on sanded paper on board  (24"x24")  From Archives

"This pastel painting is one of five paintings that I'm offering to the Naples Baptist Church "An Evening of the Arts" being held on April 14, 2011."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"A Grand Bouquet" Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

 "A Grand Bouquet"

© Nora Kasten

Oil Painting on linen on board  (30"x30")  From archives

"This is one of five paintings I'm offering to "An Evening of the Arts" being held at Naples Baptist Church on Thursday, April 14, 2011.  It is a lovely painting but somehow I couldn't get a good photo."

Below is a page from "Healing After Loss" by Martha Whitmore Hickman

"Dying is a wild night and a new road."  -  Emily Dickinson

      "One of the things so astonishing and costly about losing a loved one is that, while the sun continues to rise and set, newspapers continue to be delivered, traffic lights still change from red to green and back again, our whole life is turned around, turned upside down.

      Is it any wonder we feel disoriented, confused?  Yet the people we pass on the street are going about their business as though the earth has not opened and swallowed us up, dropped us into a world of insecurity and change.

      It is, as Emily Dickinson says, "a new road" - for us as surely as for the one we have lost.  It will take us time to learn to walk that road.  Time, and a lot of help, so we don't stumble and fall irretrievably.  Those who have had their own experiences of loss will probably be our most helpful guides - knowing when to say the right word, when to be silent and walk beside us, when to reach out and take our hand.  In time, we  will be helpers for others."

Today's Affirmation

      "I have entered a new country.  I will be patient with myself.  I will look for companions of the way."

      NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"ROSES, RED ROSES" Oil Painting by Artist NORA KASTEN

"Roses, Red Roses"

© Nora Kasten

Oil painting on linen on board  (24"x36")  From archives

"This is another one of five paintings I'm submitting to the Naples Baptist Church art show and fundraiser being held April 14, 2011."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"Pink & White Bouquet" Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Pink & White Bouquet"

© Nora Kasten

Oil painting on linen on board  (24"x30") From archives

This is one of the five paintings I'll be submitting to the Baptist church Art Show / fundraiser on April 14, 2011, here in Naples.

Below is a page from the book "Healing After Loss" by Martha Whitmore Hickman.

"Whereas previously our moods seemed simply sad with occasional patches of light, now we may find an unsettling variety in our feelings, as happy times seem engrossing and satisfying, and then we are plunged into sadness again.  Perhaps we can learn to accept these mood swings, recognizing the reality of each, knowing light gives way to darkness and darkness to light."

                                                                                              --Martha Whitmore Hickman

     "When we begin to feel better we enter a new range of feelings, maybe even some guilt - How could I feel good when the one I loved is gone?  But even when we succeed in putting that false monster aside, the mood fluctuation can be unsettling.  We'll be having a genuinely wonderful time, freed at last from that continual background music of sadness.  Then we remember, and it feels like dropping through a trapdoor - a much more sudden and upsetting shift than when sadness was our prevailing mood.

     This is all part of our healing process.  Just as a physical wound has it's painful and pain-free moments, so does this wound of loss.  At least we know we're moving in the right direction."

Today's Affirmation

"I will revel in the times I can be happy - which is what my loved one would want for me."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"Mixed Roses" Oil Painting by Artist, Nora Kasten

"Mixed Roses"

Oil painting on linen on board  (15"x30")  From the archives, 2010

"I skipped the grief support group last night and believe it was the right thing to do.  The first thing to come to mind this morning was that it's time now for me to maybe do some volunteering or find a place that I can be of help to others again.  I'm reminded of the scripture "To whom much is given, much is required".   My dear Karl is no longer with me but he enriched my life so very much for a good number of years and I'm eager to share my blessings.

Then, later this morning I received an e-mail from friend and great artist, Joyce Norwood, asking me to participate with her and other artists in a large Art Show & Fundraiser for a Baptist church here in Naples.  It will be Thursday, April 14, 2011 and I am so glad to have this opportunity to share some of my blessings.

Last Sunday I delivered the painting "Fresh Cut Roses" to The Sheldon Fine Art Gallery here in Naples.  It was the first painting delivered to them since many months before Karl died and how I hope it sells.  The good people at Sheldon Fine Art have been very patient with me through this season of grief."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"Gold Earrings" Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Gold Earrings"

© Nora Kasten

Self Portrait oil painting on linen on board  (20"x16")   March 19, 2011

"Another day and another self portrait practice.  I was fitted for new contact lens on Thursday and it sure feels good not to have the glasses on my nose."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE