Dianna Cates Dunn » Blog

For the past 10 years my personal level of contentment has been at its highest when I am at home. Like wise, for the past 10 years I have worked at home from a small second bedroom that I converted into my studio. My days are spent, like many visual artists, seeking and then coraling my own creative vices. My dog and two cats supply me with many interruptions and diversions to pull me from my easel as does the siren call of my garden. I am fortunate to have my son renting my basement, so I do have momentary contact with a human most days. (Somehow, when I do cook, he always seems to magically appear. Funny that.) But other than his flash appearances, most of my days - even before the coronavirus - were spent with me, myself and I. Happily, I might add.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, my life has not always flowed in this seamling hermit-like pattern. You see, I used to be quite the extrovert. From school, to work, to boards, to social engagements my life was kept buzzing in a most satisfactory way.  I was the counselor, confidant and advisor many sought out. Social gatherings were my thing and I loved being with my friends and my family a lot. Hey, the Meyer Briggs tests I took back then will back me up!

So what changed?

It would be impossible to pin to one event, or even one time period as I think. More likely it's easier to view it as a very long mathematical equation that slowly evolved on my blackboard of life over many, many years. Who knew that doing X would result in Y, so on and so forth? As I matured (a nice way of saying aged) and I became more aware of what I really wanted out of life. And because of that awareness, a natural, normal and unremarkable series of events led me to where I am. Today, I believe is that if I were take the Meyers-Brigg test, I would probably come up as a complete introvert. The perfect candidate to be happy with being told I need to keep to myself to avoid the spread of this rotten and dangerous virus. No sweat, so to speak for me, right?

Wrong.

You see, I am a gregarious loner ! A term I first heard used - if my memory serves me correctly - by Dan Fogelberg when being interviewed on a radio program.  Wisewebwoman.blogspot.com defines the term it in this way:

       "Gregarius, to me, means one who is friendly and fairly social but, on her terms, and nothing to do with noise and small talk of         awful cocktail parties. One who the likes company of her own choosing but abhors the mean, the small, and class structures. But places a lot of importance on solitude in her 'loner' status."

That's me!!! To a T!! I need infusions of human contact just as much as I need my creative solace. I need to hear, to resonate with conscious, thoughtful individuals who speak with care about their truths. I don't need or care about what motivates a mass frenzy, nor do I care to listen to a rehash of any networks news. I want and care about what a tuned-in and thoughtful person thinks of the worlds goings on as it pertains to them. In other words, I want a the pickings from a select few who I value, not the reactionary outpourings of many. My mind, it seems just can't handle that anymore. Does this resonate at all with you during this time of unknown outcomes? Let me know your thoughts and know that if  you are reading this that me, myself, and I value your thoughts. Thanks for reading and breath, ok?

Drum Roll, Please......

Tula and I have been very busy women! Over the past few month, in conjunction with author Karen Stuth, a delightfully new 44 card deck has been developed with Tula at its core. Each of the 44 cards have an individual Tula image while the backs of the cards feature the image The Cosmos According to Tula. (see image above)

The Wisdom of Tula card deck offers exceptionally lovely wisdom cards based on unique Tula paintings. Along with a guidebook, written by Karen, this deck brings forward the positivity, purpose, and promise that is infused in each image, offering the user a brightly-lit path of ideas and themes for living a joyous and abundant life.

When you work with the ideas in the guidebook and the visual cues contained in the art, you will experience the magic and wisdom of Tula, who will infuse your days and years with her inner beauty, offering a luminous beacon of love and hope for every one of us. This is a card deck I know

you'll enjoy again and again for a lifetime. It is an ideal deck for anyone who loves the beauty of art and the inspiration of meaningful worlds.

With that said, I would like to share with you how you can get an introductory price on this deck through the Kickstarter Campaign that will start in just two days! By clicking on this link on https://bit.ly/2VOwEZ Wednesday, March 3rd, you will taken to the Kickstarter page where you can pre-order your deck! (The campaign won't be online until Wednesday, so clicking on it now will not work for you.) Is this a teaser? Well, yes it is. But as you have always been such a wonderful supporter of me, I do want you to have the first opportunity to have the new deck at a great deal. (I know, I just made a pun!)

Know that I do value and appreciate all the support you have given me over the years by receiving my newsletter, buying my paintings and prints and by staying aware of the work I am creating. (Remember, without a viewer, a painting doesn't really exist!)