• Karensamenow
      • hello Karen Samenow
      • Username: Karensamenow
      • In response to: "What's the one thing you're never gonna give up?" art
  • Karensamenow's latest answers
    • Change the way you think, & the way you think....

      • ...will change your life!
        Agree, or disagree, that is the question?
        For many years my philosophy has been.....maintain inner peace, treat others like I want to be treated, keep a smile on my face, even if I don't feel very smiley, & always know I am blessed in many ways. I've learned that life has a way of making us stronger.
        With that in mind, I truly believe each day is a gift! I've learned that everything happens in perfect time, & when one door closes a new door opens up.
        Too zen for you? That's ok too!
        I don't spend much, if any time around people who don't exube positive energy, & "always, always, my glass is half full!"
        Maybe this way of living comes from living life, & realizing negativity is self defeating, with only unfavorable results.
        Oh yes, I have learned the hard way. But, I've changed my eval ways, A hundred years ago. I've learned that rolling with the punches lengthens my life. I still take stands, & as my husband says, "Karen carries her soapbox everywhere she goes!" My beliefs are strong, I'll take a stand! I love life, love my friends, & love my family. I eat new foods, try new things, & love learning.
        But, no matter what is happening in my life, The glass is always half full!

      • answered by Karensamenow on 05/14/2013
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    • Early bird or night owl?

      • One might say both!
        Like most artists, I too have trouble sleeping. If I can get to sleep at all, it's for about two hours. Then my eyelids fly open like window shades from the 1950's! And... with a snap! Sometimes I won't even fall asleep at all! Lying awake for hours, tossing, & turning all night until three, or four in the morning, only getting a couple hours sleep. My eyes will again fly open like I'm late for a board meeting. Believe me, I'm not! This can go on for days, until out of sheer exhaustion, I finally sleep fairly well for a night, or two. Then the whole thing starts again!
        "What could I possibly be thinking about," you say?
        Art, how to create, what to create, composition, line, shapes, ideas. It goes on, & on getting crazier by the hour. When I do get up, I either don't remember what I was thinking, or it doesn't make any sense at all.
        I'm not much good in the evening given the previous night, & since its dark outside, I'm ready to relax. Oh sure, there is the occasional burst of creativity, & energy at the same time in evenings, but few, & far between.
        My creativity arrives early in the morning! Somewhere between getting up, & a cup of tea. If I can go into my studio first thing...
        That's my lucky day! Sometimes painting well into the afternoon.
        So you see why I can't decide exactly what I am? A night owl, or an early bird!

      • answered by Karensamenow on 05/10/2013
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    • Funny, we were just talking about that!

      • Last night I was fortunate enough to have a "girls night out!" Oh, this wasn't the normal girls night. Not even close! (It never is.)
        One of my "Art Sisters," & I decided to check out some art after dinner, we both got spiffed up, & off we went! (Spiffing takes more time these days!). On the way, while in the car, the discussion was about lifestyles, & how all of us have our differences, our particular religions, political beliefs, & ways of expressing ourselves!
        For both of us, it doesn't matter what makes a person tick, what color they are, or even the huge differences in our beliefs. If we like them, or their art, it's all good!
        It's the differences that make life fun! I've said it before, "wouldn't it be extremely boring if we were all alike?" Our conversations would be so dull, our art would all look alike, we would all dress alike, eat the same food, have spouses that looked alike, & worst of all, the kids would all have runny noses at the same time! Just shoot me now!
        I love diversity! The different languages, the colors, the music, the art, beliefs, & lifestyles! I don't always understand someone's choices, but I certainly believe we should all be able to make them for ourselves, without anyone telling us we can't do this, or can't believe that way. One might say, we should all be allowed "Human Rights!"
        With this in mind.....I buy art because it speaks to me, the same reason I create art...it speaks to me! It doesn't matter if the artist has a lifestyle, or belief I don't like, or understand.
        I'm after art I love. Artists, & forward thinkers are like that. Yep, they are!

      • answered by Karensamenow on 05/09/2013
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    • Second, third, or fourth time around?

      • Did you ever read a book that spoke to you, I mean really, really spoke to you? Well I have, & it was "Eat, Pray, Love!" I've read it several times, & then I had to see the movie. The movie, although never is as good as the book, also speaks to me. If I don't feel good, or it's a lazy or rainy day, it works every time!
        I've spent hours over the years watching this movie again, & again. Each time, its the same thing. Its a fantasy, an adventure, a love story, & what woman wouldn't want to live that experience? It just makes me feel good. I can relate to the story, & would love to have been able to travel like that at times in my own life.
        But........
        It wouldn't have been easy to travel with three little kids. Just think of all those whiney faces wanting to get off the mary-go-round, or to get off the plain, or they were tired, & didn't want any more Italian food. Or.....wanted pizza, & we were in Bali. It's hard to find yourself with all that baggage trailing behind.
        There have been many books over the years that have spoken to me, but Eat, Pray Love is my feel good book of all time!

      • answered by Karensamenow on 05/08/2013
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    • I simply can't resist

      • Over the years my greatest weaknesses have changed. I won't go into what they have been at times, but if you look back on your life with that in mind, well....you get the idea.
        Recently I learned about coconuts! It turns out that what I thought was a "great coconut" was only a so so coconut. This came about only by accident.
        When I purchased the first four a couple months ago, the choice was; a brown coconut with we'll call it fur, or a golden colored one with fur. My determination was that the lighter colored coconut was better.
        But then what I thought was the best of the best, still was only so so!
        The final story...
        A friend opened a coconut, & poured me some of the water to drink. I couldn't believe the "Heavenly taste!"
        What kind of coconut was this? I had never tasted anything like this before. Not in my childhood, not lately, not in all my life! This was something entirely different, a very light almost white coconut, no fur, all wrapped in clear wrap, in the cold section with refrigerated produce. WOW! I love this water!
        Now I have a complete, & utter obsession for coconut water, coconut meat, coconut oil, spread, butter, anything coconut that I can get my hands on! I've been using it to revitalize my hair, rub into my hands, & body after a shower, cook with it, spread it on toast, & anything else I can figure out to do with this glorious fruit!
        And then.....
        I started researching the benefits of coconut. Did you know they are antiviral, antibacterial, & have benefits that would take me all day to write about. They do, just google them, & take a peak!
        And that is my story, you now know my weakness!

      • answered by Karensamenow on 05/01/2013
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