« April 2009 | Main | June 2009 »
Here's what you do...
I did the background awhile back, simply layering and layering extra bits of paint as I worked on other journals and postcards.
I acquired this awesome lady through a swap. She doesn't appear to be overly thrilled with being in my journal, does she?
I stamped the "headline" when I glued in her, and then she just waited. And waited. And waited some more.
Until this morning, when I couldn't sleep. Again.
Time to get ready for work.
It's been awhile since I've done this.
It's time, I thnk.
I'm grateful...
...the cool green of the woods in spring
...the rain that washes the earth and makes everything new
...vanilla bean frappes
....husbands who go get "chocolate fixes"
...quiet walks in the woods
...it's almost Friday
...daily crossword puzzles
...new pillows on my bed
Can't you just get lost in this picture?
Don't you want to know what's around the bend?
There's magic here, I think.
I didn't teach in the formal sense today, but, boy I am tired! Tons of pictures have been edited, and I wish I could share more, especially those wonderful sixth grade faces! (I always protect these kids, and I'd never post their pics, as much as I'd like to!) I can share a few, those where no one can be identified.
We took them to a place called Huntley Meadows to test water samples and build on their unit on wetlands, marshes, etc.
Off they go, papers in hand, and eager to get started!
Huntley Meadows is like a little bit of heaven tucked away in the midst of the city. It's close to the Potomac River, and there are blue herons, red winged blackbirds, beavers, snapping turtles, and more to be seen.
It teaches you to be patient, to stop and notice things that you just might miss otherwise.
Little bits of magic are everywhere,
Quiet paths to explore,
and beauty to be found in even the fungus growing on the trees.
Magical marshes, indeed.
We headed back to do our part in the "Seminarian Sprint!" You can see our theme for the year on our shirts.
The kids collected sponsors and raised money for the seminarians. About 10 of the seminarians spent the day with us, and a great time was had by all!
Sleep eludes me; there is simply far too much going on in the spin cycle of my brain. A list to be checked off as I close up the year, a child over whom to fret, and my dad...my dad who has in so many ways become the child for my siblings and I to parent.
This wise, brilliant, compassionate man is becoming more and more childlike, more and more someone to worry and fret over. It's that fine line between taking away the independence he treasures and the worry that he'll hurt himself or someone else. I can read it in his eyes, that lurking knowledge that he is not himself, and that, most likely he'll never again be the man I call "Dad." Forgetfulness, paranoa, and so on...everything that you read about is there, making an appearance. His sense of humor saves us all; he can poke fun at himself still. He's not an angry old man by any means; he enjoys life. So, we struggle with what to do.
Today, I touched my art "stuff" for the first time in six days. Instead, I've straightened up my house, including the art room; I've planted flowers and attended meetings at school. I've taught ratio and proportions, along with doing laundry. With repeated wake ups at night, exhaustion claimed me big time. So, I've surfed blogs, visited "The Paper Source"(always eye candy and inspiration to be found!), and browsed World Market. Finally, a few hours ago, I journaled the top page. I completed the bottom one at Art & Soul, but it's most appropriate. Some of the stuff in this house has got to go! I need to use what I have...although, I must admit to a few stamps following me home tonight. They say that your house echoes the state of your mind. I'm not so sure about that, but, just in case, I did some major cleaning. I need a sanctuary.
I've enjoyed my days at home; I am longing for summer, sunshine, fresh fruit, and rest.
Look at all those lucious layers and layers of red! I am taking an online class with Julie P. (You can find her blog here:http://lostluggage.typepad.com/the_land_of_lost_luggage/) and it's all about building up those layers. With the school year coming to a quick close, I really can't keep up with it, so instead of doing a larger sheet, I opted for doing my 33rd postcard. Small, managable, and fun. After building up all this gorgeous red, I couldn't bear to cover it up, so I took a quote by Jack Kerouc. You can still get into Julie's class until this Friday if I remember correctly, so hop on over and check it out. I'll also be signing up again for Kelly's in June, so I'll be one happy camper.
Now, back to "Dancing With the Stars!"
Headed out to the Farmers' Market, bright and early Saturday morning. It's early yet, so the selection was minimal, but I did indulge in these. They're just as lucious as they look!
Lots of this to be found in all sorts of varieites, and some of it came home with us as well. Taking this shot caused the lovely young Hispanic lady working the stand to dissolve in a fit of giggles. I'm sure "the crazy American" was discussed at great length after I left! I loev the folds and curves of the leaves though.
Stopped at an area flower stand and brought these home to be planted and enjoyed! We spent the rest of Saturday doing chores or just curling up and listening to the rain.
Sunday found us in Columbia, MD, at "Wine in the Woods." The god, Dionysus, greeted us. I didn't realize that he was real at first! He had to be chilly, don't you think?
Just beyond him was this:
...and Kara and Phil picked up a great deal on a new car. Look...it's even got racing stripes!
I fell in love with these labels:
Chilled Apple and Tango Peach came home with me. Sure do hope those labels come off easily!
Found another one of these guys along the way. Kara declared them to be "creepy."
And, look at what I snagged on the way out!
I'm nearly there! 5 more to go!
It's been quite the journey in a sense. Time to play with new materials and time to play with some old friends who I really haven't seen in awhile. Discovering patterns as I go...flowers and dreams, and wondering what my muse is trying to get me to realize.
I love the colors on this one! I'd rather the bird be a little bit more "realistic" but I'm trying to work with what I have, and this little guy came to me in a swap.
I sort of like this one, but it's just a bit too chaotic...or maybe the fish doesn't pop quite like I'd like him to. But, again, I'm working with what I have and I was trying to stay away from flowers!
Both have lots of layers of text and paint, along with stencils and/or rub ons. Both gave me pleasure to create, as did the journal page below:
This one has sooooooooooo many layers. As I worked on other things, I kept using up my extra paint here. I scraped, stenciled, and smushed it on. (How about that last technical term?) I also forgot to let it dry, turned the page, and smooshed it...versus smushing it. Smushing is a deliberate action while smooshing occurs when you forget to pay attention. Both add character to the page, and you just need to learn to live with the second.
Hope you had a lovely weekend! We did...farmers' market, Wine in the Woods, and napping while it rained.
Well, this postcard took on a whole different attitude, don't you think?
From start to finish, it took about 15 minutes to create, and it pretty much perfectly reflects right where I'm at! 'Cause if anyone gives me one more form to complete, I just may erupt. Like Mt. Vesuvius or Mt. St. Helen.
Closing up the school year has become a major production. Just a few years ago, I cleaned my room, packed away the books, did a bit of filing, and then cheerfully waved goodbye.
A bit thick folder rests on my desk. It's taunting me and waving deadlines in my face, with the same effect a red flag has on a bull. THere's a bit of snorting going on and steam is coming out of my ears.
I really just want to teach and to enjoy my kids. I have a such an awesome class this year...just awesome. Spending the day with them is a delight.
But, oh, those forms. They're reproducing as I type. I just know they are. I hate them. I really do.
So, into the art room...
Most of this came right off the art table from things I hadn't yet put away or thrown away.
Glued a piece of scrap paper onto an outdated postcard. Scrapped on white paint with the palette knife. Scrapped on some red. The words were on a scrap of magazine paper from which I had cut an image a day or two ago. The only thing I dug for was the lady. I knew I had her and she's perfect, don't you think? Found a black pitt pen on the table, scribbled a border and scribble d some words. Can you tell I'm sick to death of gloom and doom?
Regular programming will resume tomorrow, because, you see, I'm going to temporarily bury those forms.
Ssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Don't tell, okay?
My age? Heavens no! It has been a very long time since I've seen those 20's, and to be quite honest with you, I'm rather glad they're behind me. I'm rather enjoying just where I am in life!
No, not my age....postcards! Remember that little challenge I set myself? 37 postcards in 37 days...
So, I won't make it in 37 days, but I can still make that 37. I just finished up 29 last night, so there's 8 more to go.
What have I learned?
Well, life often gets in the way of your plans, which is why I didn't get it done in my self imposed time limit. Report cards, interims, meetings, etc., etc., etc.! So, regroup a bit, and reaching just part of my goal is not so bad.
Sometimes, the muse plays hide and seek. I've trudged into that art room having no idea of what to do. Sometimes, I don't even know if it'll be paint or paper. But, if I just start touching my stuff, as Julianna Coles would say. Just touch your stuff. Something inevitably happens. Not always great, but there's a product, and I always learn something, even if it's what not to do.
I've learned that I want to rely less on others' images. Obviously, I'm not there yet, but I'm inching that way, whether it's photography or learning to draw. Watercolor and I may even become friends of sorts.
So, let me introduce you to number 26:
26 radiates layers and layers of paint, along with a few rub ons and a bit of stamping. I painted, layered, scraped, smudged, and otherwise paint!
Here's 27:
More layers of paint - stenciling, stamping, scraping, and such! There's a bit of stamping, a rub on, and touches of colored pencil. This one really took a detour from what was in my head, which is nothing new. An invisible lurking force resides in my art room!
Here's 28:
Layers of paint to start, but a bit more collage on this one, along with some stamping and white gel pen.
Finally, there's 29:
Layers of paint...again! Same quote as one of the cards above; it's simply one of my favorites. And, my poppies from the clearance bin have reappeared. Again, I really didn't have a plan with this one, but I love it!
8 more to go! I'd love to try drawing on one and I have a few ideas swirling around. We'll see where life, my muse, and my art take me!
I love color, and I adore slapping paint on anything to which it'll stick. I collage with the best of them, and hand me a pen, and I'll tell you a tale.
Comfort zones, each and every one of them.
Not so, drawing. I'm not sure why; as a child I filled ream upon ream with drawings of every sort...big, little, huge, black and white, color. Somewhere along the line, I lost that abandon. At some point, someone must have told me I'd never be good enough. With that, they took away my joy that came with making marks on paper.
But the fingers have been itchy lately, and I simply planted both feet well outside my comfort zone and went for it at Art & Soul this past weekend.
God bless Carla Sonheim; she's a fantastic teacher. I entered that room full of trepidation and wondering what I had done to myself. Things didn't get much better when I found myself in the company of several full time art instructors. Carla soon had each and everyone of us at ease. We doodled. We created line drawings along with blind contour drawings, and pretty soom I was completely immersed in it all and found myself blissfully unaware of the other women in the room. I learned to apply watercolors without making mud. I remembered that I could draw.
Maybe not "good enough, " although that begs the question of "good enough for what?" For life as a full time artist? Nope, probably not. But, I'm good enough to take pleasure in the creating. I'm good enough to just let go and find the joy in all of it!
I'm good enough to draw and watercolor a goat, that bears a distinct resemblence to a cow! And, know what? I love him to death! He's whimsical. He's not quite completely certain of his identity in life. Are any of us really? How often we talk about finding ourselves, about creating our identities. We try on bits and pieces, some of which we keep, and some of which we destroy.
Now, I didn't create my goat with the intent of him resembling a cow. I didn't bring him into being to muse about life and it's lessons, but my little guy seems intent on teaching them to me anyway.
I think about how often we destroy someone else's joy when we ever so kindly point out that they'll never be "good enough." Sometimes, we do it to ourselves.
Good enough for what? I keep coming back to that. Good enough for what?
So, here's my little fellow. I think he deserves a frame and a place of honor in my art room. And, if he ever figures out his identity, I'll let you know. In the meantime, he's "good enough!"
