Saturday, July 19, 2008

live simply . . . carefree

i spent most of the day today in the art room finishing up a few projects, sketching some new ideas, working on a commission and having so much fun. part of the time i listened to music, often singing along to some of my favorites. other times i enjoyed the quiet letting my thoughts run free. during one of those reflective moments i was thinking about a post that steviewren wrote a few days ago. it was about clotheslines being banned in many towns as they are viewed as an eye sore. i thought back to all the time i spent at the clothesline growing up, hanging up the family wash and then enjoying the wonderful smell when it was time to take everything down. it wasn't until i moved to ohio ten years ago that i quit hanging clothes out to dry. i miss it so much! so the above piece is my little tribute to the iconic american clothesline and my belief that a simple life is happier and much more carefree! thanks, steviewren, for the inspiration!

18 comments:

steviewren said...

Oh, I love your cute tribute to a simpler way of life. I am glad that I got you thinking about this. Sometimes blogging helps me get in touch with forgotten memories. I need to make some art to visualize those memories too. Thanks for the mention.

Dragana Savkov - Bajić said...

This is so nice, Julie. I notice that I like your choice of colours, and in this case, the colours are just perfect. The picture is warm and sweet. I like it! :)

S. Collier said...

lovely, and reflective. sometimes those times seem if not easier, more straightforeward.

Terri Stegmiller said...

Love this piece. I find it hard to believe that laundry hanging outside is an eyesore. I still hang mine out.

Cindy said...

love your ode to the clothesline and love clotheslines. what can be bad about clean laundry being hung outside to dry? nothing smells better. i miss my mom's that's for sure.

NANCY LEFKO said...

this is beautiful....and I share your sentiments about clotheslines...they are Americana at its simplest....and have a beauty all their own.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I read in the newspaper yesterday about a lady looking for a house in a large Southern city. She asked her realtor to find her a new home where she could hang her clothes on a clothesline if she wanted to. The realtor found only 12 locations in the entire city where the lady would be "allowed" to do so. Scheesh.

Betsy Brock said...

This is cute...and such wise words!

Tess Kincaid said...

This piece is really charming, Julie! Don't you love the inspiration from our little bloggyhood? It has enriched my life as well.

Strider said...

My mind was spinning with all the "spiritual" applications of your title and picture.....summed up in a simple phrase - "live simply and carefree". Thanks so much.

Donna said...

Hi Julie,
I love your artwork! What a nice tribute to the days of hanging wash out to dry on the washline. I can remember those days from my grandmother, my mother and myself. I miss it too.

Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving such a sweet comment. I've been scrolling down your blog as well, and I will be back again.

Your artwork is beautiful.

Hugs,
Donna

Megan Coyle said...

This is wonderful! Have you ever illustrated a children's book? Your style would be perfect for that--your work is so fun and interesting to look at.

julie king said...

thanks, everyone! your "validation" of my creative projects keeps the wind flowing under my wings!!

Auburn Kat said...

Oh wow! I absolutely love that!

noodle and lou said...

ooooh this is fabulous Julie!!
Clotheslines are some of the very first things I used to paint (on everything:):))...I adore them!!! Yay for the simpler life:) xox...jenn

Mmm said...

Lovely sketch.

On the rare occasion we could hang up our clothes to dry, I loved it--the smell was intoxicating in a good way--so fresh. And as you mentioned, I rarely see clothes hanging to dry anywhere now.

SarahJB said...

Hello Julie,
que vos collages sont rigolo et agreables. J'apprecie tout particulierement ceux qui ont comme fond des partitions de musique...d'ailleurs je me demande comment vous pouvez en placer autant, et de toutes sortes.
bravo encore
sarah-coincidence

Deb Neerman said...

I can totally relate to your sentiments here! I haven't had a clothes line in years; I miss that!!

The piece is gorgeous ... warm, cheerful, sun-kissed! Just beautiful, Julie!

~Huglettes!