Do you know what? 2013 hasn't been the easiest of New Years for Leon and I so far. On January 1st, we heard the very sad news that one of his close friends, the writer Simon Lane, had sadly died between Christmas and New Year. Leon has also been ill himself since December 27th. He had a strange cold virus with swollen glands before I arrived in Paris on the 18th, but seemed to get over it. However, on the evening of 27th, he came down with a fever and a very painful gland on the left side of his neck, which swelled over the following days and became enormous - we're talking tennis-ball-size kind of enormous - and he was also exhausted, had aching joints and so on. To cut a (very) long story short, we are now at the stage where, two weeks later - with a misdiagnosis, countless trips to various doctors, clinics and specialists, a course of antibiotics, and finally a definitive diagnosis of an infected lymph node stemming from a virus - he now has to go into hospital tomorrow to be put on an antibiotic IV drip for a few days to cure this thing once and for all. We're really sad about this, but glad he'll be getting some proper treatment. So I will be all alone in the apartment for a few days, but I'm going to try to immerse myself in my work and hope the time goes by quickly.
Unsurprisingly, with all of this going on, I haven't been able to complete much work over the past couple of weeks, but I do have a few new watercolour paintings to show you. Two of these have already sold (the bird was a commission), but Night Rain is currently available in the shop. I also have an exciting new year-long project for 2013 lined up - I'll tell you more about it in the next post. I'm looking forward to sharing details about that!
Night Rain
© Natasha Newton 2012
Available here. (Update: SOLD)
Imaginary Star Chart 4
© Natasha Newton 2013
SOLD
Akemi Bird (Meaning: 'Bright Beauty')
© Natasha Newton 2012
SOLD
Sorry to hear about Leon & the infected lymph node...been there, sort off, with a sinus infection that drained into a node...but he wins, size wise. It's the whole John Lennon thing, ain't it, life happens while you're making other plans? And can identify...drama & all it's many guises can derail creativity in a heartbeat (gotta a little ex-GF drama going on :{). Hope Leon recovers quickly & you can focus on artistic things...that's what's next for me today. I wish us both luck.
Posted by: Evan | January 09, 2013 at 05:45 PM
I love them! Wish I could admire them in person.
Best wishes to Leon.
Posted by: athena | January 10, 2013 at 03:29 PM
Oooh, sorry to hear about the ex-girlfriend drama, Evan! Hope that resolves soon... ;)
Natasha
x
Posted by: The Blackbird Sings | January 10, 2013 at 04:49 PM
Thanks Athena. I'll pass your best wishes on to Leon. :)
Natasha
x
Posted by: The Blackbird Sings | January 10, 2013 at 04:50 PM
Hope Leon can soon get on top of this Natasha. Seems the new year has got off to a tough start for many people. Here Tasmania has been in the midst of bush fires ... many people have lost everything or almost everything ... homes, farms, vineyards, livelihood and businesses. Despite a couple of days of smoke and ash alerts personally we have been safe but one feels for those affected ... and so early in the summer one cannot help but wonder what the next (hotter) months will bring. On the positive side of things though so many ordinary people have stepped up to do wonderful things to help ... despite the chaos and oftentimes confusion (made worse by all communications being cut in some areas) one only has to look at the stories on "Tassie Fires ... we can help" facebook page to see the extraordinary kindness of ordinary people.
Hope 2013 improves soon for both of you,
Dorothy
Posted by: Dorothy | January 10, 2013 at 10:32 PM
Hi Dorothy,
I heard about some of this on the news - it's terrible. I'm glad to hear that you're ok though, and I hope both you and your husband are well. 2013 hasn't started off in the best of ways, has it?
Take care and stay safe.
Natasha
xo
Posted by: The Blackbird Sings | January 11, 2013 at 04:09 PM
Love your new pieces Natasha and the idea of your new blog. Where do you get all your energy from? Send my best wishes for a speedy recovery to Leon...
Posted by: Jane Hinchliffe | January 11, 2013 at 06:50 PM
Thanks Jane - I'm not sure about the 'energy' thing; I always feel as if I should/could do much more!
I'll pass your best wishes on to Leon, thank you. :)
Natasha
x
Posted by: The Blackbird Sings | January 13, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Oh dear this sounds really awful-poor Leon and poor you!! Hope things are better now. Xxoo Jules
Posted by: Jules Means | January 14, 2013 at 06:55 AM