Welcome to Poetry Friday, this week hosted by Jan at Birdseed Studio HERE. Thank you, Jan, for hosting! I look forward to what she will share today.
I hope everyone had a peaceful Fourth of July. My celebration was meditating on how much I appreciate the U.S. Constitution.
First, a book recommendation. I’ve been reading novels in verse and discovered the middle grade novel AWAY by author Megan Freeman. It’s a suspenseful and fast read, about a government conspiracy, a crime, that is revealed by a few smart kids. I love how the author keeps the reader reading!
I’m still taking photos and practicing painting with watercolor. This is a photo at Green Lakes State Park near where I live.
I used to run and know that runners, have to keep their mind focused on what’s just ahead. That’s what makes running meditative, being in the moment.
Like most beginning painters, I am learning to focus on the lights and darks, to understand how lights and darks help make a painting three dimensional.
A RUNNER NOTICES
light and dark shadows
sloping hills and forest floor
rocks and sudden tree roots.
©Janice Scully 2026
We teach our kids to live their lives with their eyes open, like a runner in a forest, and like the kids in the novel, AWAY.
I wish all of you a restful summer and if you live in the North, enjoy the warm weather!
Janice, such a knock-out woods meditation your painting is. Appreciations for the book recommendation & thoughts of Democracy.
Janice, such a knock-out woods meditation your painting is. Appreciations for the book recommendation & thoughts of Democracy.
Ooooooh, I love learning from your learning. You seem to be gaining skill intuitively here in your watercolor and in your writing. That’s beautiful.
Hi Janice, thanks for the advice about keeping eyes open, and love the painting that so beautifully shows you “are” keeping your eyes open! Enjoy the rest of July!
Beautiful post, Janice! I love how you connect what you’re reading, what you’re learning/painting, and what runners notice.
Gorgeous watercolor Janice , love the light you captured, and pairs so well with your poem and reading, thanks Michelle!
Another note of appreciation for both your poetry and painting! It is inspiring to watch your watercolor skills progress!
Thank you. Mary Lee I tried to comment on your post but had trouble with my wordpress password. Anyway, I love your ink and wash pictures and I hope I will see more of them. I also am grateful for my thumbs!
Janice, I love your watercolor style. I’ve taken a few classes, but I feel like I need to practice to discover my own style. My husband has been a runner and is now having hip pain. Living without running has been hard on him. The in the moment meditative time has been important to his mental health as well as his physical health.
I haven’t run in quite a while. I hope your husband gets better or finds something else he likes. It’s a challenge getting older. Watercolor takes time and I have probably more than you. I don’t think I’ve done it enough to say I have a unique style. But it’s interesting to see different painters on Youtube and how they paint. I like to paint local familiar scenes.
That looks like an awesome park! (And your artwork is delightful)
Thanks, Marcie. I’m looking forward to your next book.
Yes! I read AWAY and love Megan Freeman’s other books, too. Janice, I continue to be in awe of your watercolors. So beautiful!