I hope to be settled in my new place within the next few weeks. Lot's more reno work involved than I had anticipated!
For now everything with the exception of a couple of pens and pencils are packed away.
So here is a simple pencil sketch I doodled over coffee. No time or materials for much else :-(

Volare

Just when I start to think...what does it all mean? What's it all about?? Why??? For what purpose???? Something... always something, whether it be a small gesture, a kind word, a thought, a memory......always ~grace~ happens.
Then, for a split second, there is complete understanding. This instantaneous journey to a realm where everything, good or bad is revered, benevolent, important. I become grateful, joyful.
And the world is beautiful and perfect all over again.
And again, and again.

tagged

I've been tagged by Wanda, and I must tell at least 10 things about myself that most people don't know.
Here goes......

1. My favorite place to be is in the mountains of North Carolina, no matter what the season is.
2. I can cry at the sight of fireflies twinkling at night-from the sheer awe of it.
3. A child's laughter is my favorite sound.
4. I don't really enjoy eating out, especially at snobby, trendy restaurants.
5. Puppy breath is my favorite scent. I wish they bottled it.
6. I love to drive....FAST!!! Especially while listening to very good, very loud music.
7. I want an RV.
8. Yes...I am a barefoot gypsy at heART.
9. I cut my own hair.
10. I prefer going to the beach at sunset, but again...give me the mountains anytime.

inSIGHT... message to self

but felt with the heART, spoken to the spirit, and known by the soul.

I bend, but I don't break

Today, like many of you, I am experiencing a myriad of emotions. From way, way up - to the occasional knot in my stomach.
My journal page is a reflection of all the things I'm feeling and would like to say.
Go with the flow, is what I'm thinking.
Whatever direction the wind chooses to blow, I'm going to keep sinking my bare feet into the sand, while enjoying the wind in my hair, and allowing the sun to shine brightly in my eyes, despite the random cloud. At the very least.... I'm gonna try.

"I bend, but I don't break"

Thank you to Cristina Ceppas for your inspirational black and white photograph upon which this painting is based. And to Misty.....................gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.
I sound like I just won an Oscar, but the truth is, that's just one of the many emotions of today.
and on that note I'll say----- PHIL, this one's for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too hip to be square

The Sunday journal page prompt....shapes. I chose rectangles. Hope everyone had a great weekend. Can't wait to see what next week will bring out in us all.

PS. The irregular borders are intentional. Rectangles within rectangles. That, coupled with the fact that I could not
keep the lines straight. ;-) Fortunately, I preferred the effect.
Perfectly imperfect, just the way I like it!!!

My Funny Valentine

I know it's a bit early, but todays journal page required that we create a piece of art to give away.
Well here is a piece of and from my heART . Let's seeeeeeeee.......... who shall I give this to???

forgive me Amadeo

Misty, here's my journal page for today's theme.

This rendition is based on a portrait by a favorite artist, Amedeo Modigliani. It is my humble, modern day interpretation of his simply stunning, absolutely gorgeous portraiture of Lunia Czechovska.

altered photo "four generations"

I'm trying desperately to catch up, but that's it for tonight.!!!! Can't focus the eyes (or the brain) any longer.
Here is my attempt at altering a photo. It is a picture that was recently taken of my mom, myself, my daughter and my grandson strolling in the park. Hope you can read the quote.

Vessel

Second post for tonight. Here is my crayon journal page for today. And when I say crayon, I'm talkin CRAYOLA. Back to first grade. Discovered to late that it's next to impossible, or at least very difficult, to write text (with black gel pen) over the crayon, very waxy, and smears easily, as you can clearly see. Thought about doing some melting and dripping, more dramatic, artsy stuff, but sometimes less IS more, especially when you're exhausted :-)

LOVE

Journal page for today. Misty requested that we create our page around one word. I decided on a pencil sketch that hopefully says it all. My word for today. LOVE.
That is my political statement on this grand and historic day. If we as a collective entity, and heart...throughout this planet, focus our minds and hearts on that word - emotion - state of bliss, what a beautiful world this would be.

The last one in the monochromatic color a day theme - PINK.

Misty, what can I say...it has been challenging at times, invigorating mostly, a thrilling ride to the imagination.
I'll be sad to see this month come to an end, BUT what a fun beginning to 2009.

Mellow Yellow

Not many of you will remember the song, and I can't remember the lyrics, so don't hold me to them. I didn't have much time to play with this one. Started it very late tonight. The left side (b*%-!) was me this morning (every morning) until after I have my extremely strong cuban coffee. The right side is me tonight, and for the majority of today.
I hope you are all feeling "mellow yellow" this weekend!!!!!!
Hi Misty

Fuego

Red it is!!!!
The title..."FUEGO".
Translation...fire,
but a good, purposeful fire.
Fired up, burning passion.
Another way to look at it, and as believed by the chinese (please don't quote me, I'm not sure, just think I remember something like this in the back of my mind)
"Baptism of fire" is a burning away of the bad, and restoring purity back into our lives.
All I know is that I had a million thoughts running through my head when I started this piece, and half way through, they had all melted away.

This piece was intended to be a bright and cheerful WHITE, something else entirely!! But we all know how these things go. They seem to have a mind of their own, or at least a part of OUR own mind that we are not aware of. The female image here is a rubber stamped image, I think from 100 Proof Press. I then used a graphite pencil to outline and shade, white paint, lace, paper, etc. etc., oh and the frame is an actual picture frame that I painted and aged. The windows on the frame I think lend a bit more to the story. She "thinks" no one can see.

Anyway...I know that todays journal is telling me something that I was not consciously thinking about. Well, off to ponder that.

I'm back, and it didn't take more than a second after scanning this piece for me to realize what I was trying to tell myself....
...SELF...take this little piece of art work you've just completed, and place it directly on YOUR refrigerator door. ASAP!!!!!! :o(

PS. I know the scan is lousy. From here on in I'm going to have to learn how to take good digital photo's and upload those instead of direct scanning. My colors are not showing up as they should, and the light from the scanner casts bluish shades onto everything.