Art is therapeutic and colour heals - bringing home an original painting by Belinda will light up your living space with a daily explosion of life & happiness. Belinda Fireman's colourful, inspiring art is guaranteed to lift the spirits, generate positive reflection and make you smile.
People who have bought Belinda's paintings say they can't stop looking at them, that they derive joy from them each day. Her paintings make wonderful, enduring and meaningful gifts.
Aw, don’t we look so cute here? This was taken almost exactly a year before we had our first two beautiful children! Fashion of the times: tortoiseshell glasses and denim overalls.
From the CD vault: “With You” by Linkin Park. This is a live version, since I couldn’t find a real video – pretty decent for live. I expected them to be completely out of tune. It kind of cuts out at the end, though.
Playing mini-golf at Centre Island in Toronto. I like this one because it’s the age my daughters are now (photo of them included for comparison). Fashion of the times: pastels, high-waisted frilly shorts (OMG), long hair (this is the longest hair I ever had) parted down the centre, with wispy bangs.
Me at age 10:
My daughters at age 10:
From the cassette vault: “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell. There were so many other good choices, once again. The 80’s rocked.
My mom bought me this album that year. Have you seen the cover?? The album is called “Non-stop Erotic Cabaret”, with “Girls girls girls” and “XXX” on the back. Pretty racy stuff for a 10-year old. But just before you think I am making a statement on my mom’s parenting (I’m not), let me tell you that this was all completely over my head. Even though I knew the words to all the songs, including my favourite, “Sex Dwarf” (I know… right?!), I simply had no clue. I’m not sure when I finally figured out what they were singing about, but it could have been in my twenties. I’m not saying, though.
Little known embarrassing fact: I used to sing this song to a picture of someone I had a crush on. OMG. Even more embarrassing fact – this video. I’ve never seen it before. I’m surprised, yet thankful.
Back in 1979, I was a shy girl, and approaching a stranger, even a Disney character, was totally embarrassing for me. It certainly shows here, given my awkward pose! Fashion of the times: one-piece (too)short-suit with halter top and white piping, knee highs, and Adidas (all-day-I-dream-about-sex is apparently what that stands for, or at least it did in 1979).
From the cassette vault (I am cheating a bit. I actually owned this one on vinyl): “Atomic” by Blondie. This was a tough choice! If you go check out the top songs from 1979, you’ll see it was a really good year for music. I could also have included “Cars” by Gary Numan, “The Logical Song” by Supertramp, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen, or “Don’t Bring Me Down” by E.L.O. (that one is for my brother) or “Boys Don’t Cry” by the Cure (but that would have been cheating since I didn’t really hear it until the late 80’s), and others! I loved Blondie. Still do.
Back in October, 1992, I met the love of my life. I knew he was for me the moment I saw him. Somehow I knew that we would end up together that night – just ask my mom if you don’t believe me; I called her right away to tell her so! I can hardly believe that we have known each other almost 20 years. I’ve almost known J.P. (I call him by his last name, though) longer than I haven’t known him!
Happy Birthday to the man who makes me laugh, really listens to me, knows me better than anyone, is the best father three kids could ask for, is patient, kind, gorgeous, loving, fun, funny, and my partner-for-life.
So in honour of his birthday today, I am bringing you a photo from when we first met. Fashion of the times: dark tortoiseshell glasses, layered haircut with bangs.
From the cassette vault: the Waterboys! JP and I used to listen to this album (plus Sarah McLachlan) over and over again, during our endless hours staring at each other.
Here I am, on the right, at National Music Camp/Interlochen Arts Camp (I can’t remember when they changed the name, but this is the same camp I wrote about yesterday), with some of my cabin-mates. Fashion of the times: big glasses, button-down shirt, high-waist, tight-fitting jeans, penny loafer-ish shoes.
From the cassette vault ..Ministry. This was what I used to listen to when I was pissed off about something!
Gotta love the hair! This is from my mom and step-dad’s wedding. I remember feeling really stylish. Hee hee! Fashion of the times: pastel satins, big, unnecessarily permed hair, Swatch watch to match the outfit!
From the cassette vault: Pet Shop Boys. I’m pretty sure I made up a dance to this song with one of my friends. I’m also pretty sure it sucked.
I’ve got to add a little Stephen TinTin Duffy to this, too. I listened to his album over and over on my Sony Walkman that year!
Man, I’m looking young in this photo! I’m with my Ma! Fashion of the times: faded jean jacket, Doc Martens, high hair, and lip gloss.
From the cassette vault (actually, I’m cheating a bit on this one- I never owned this song, but I have always liked it):
Some figure drawing from my “unclassified year at U.B.C. I was taking a year of arts courses (after completing a chemistry degree), so that I could get into the art conservation program at Queen’s:
Me and one of my many self-portraits of 1990-91. This was at an exhibition of Grade 13’s art at the U. of Waterloo, I think (maybe Ang can help me out on this one!). I was so proud of this painting. It became toast, quite literally, when my mom and step-dad’s house burned in 1998. Fashion of the times: high-waisted jeans and a silk shirt!
This song reminds me of my time spent as a counselor and assistant painting instructor at Camp Manitou-wabing, in Parry Sound, Ontario. It was one of my first jobs, and I hated it, with a passion. I couldn’t wait to leave, but I stuck it out, remember, Ma? Seal takes me right back, but not in a bad way. It was one of the good things to come out of that summer – a discovery I was happy to make. The song I picked (especially the lyric about “angel”) reminds me of my BFF Angela, who visited me that summer, making my stay a little more manageable.
From the cassette vault: