Thursday, August 30, 2007

Walking

I've been going for a lot of walks lately and feeling good energy and vitality as a result. Tonight I brought my camera with me and wanted to share some of the beauties that nature gives us so freely. This spider was just waiting to have his picture taken - he sat so still; maybe he was sleeping.
I love the look of echinacea flowers in the fall - the way they droop.



This looks like it would be a good tree to climb, but it was in someone's yard, so I didn't think it would be a good idea.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Poetry

I have been going through a lot of very difficult things in my life lately. But with loss comes rebirth and newness. With honesty comes peace. I have not been able to create any art lately - the inspiration just will not come. I know it will eventually again, but right now, my feelings are coming out in poetry.

it’s been a dreary cloudy day
for so long
the rain has soaked through my clothes
but i hardly notice
my skin has become numb
and the sweat mingles with the rain
i run through the smog
barely able to breathe
my lungs gasping for air
wondering if i will survive
my heart was full at one time
as the days and years went by
i freely gave of myself
first an arm
then a leg
i gave my soul
my mind…
have i become an empty shell
with nothing left to give
or can i be refilled somehow?
as i run
i wonder
am i still a whole being
have the parts reconnected…
i can only think that i have to escape
nowhere to go but up
as i reached the bottom long ago
my eyes were closed
a mask positioned upon my face
that i placed upon myself
so i would not see
suddenly desperate
i have torn it off
and opened my eyes
what i see causes the tears
to sting my face
the saltiness
enters my mouth
and i accept it
i must take flight
the wings i never knew i had
have lifted me from the ground
and carried me away
gently, tenderly
caressing my soul
i feel the limbs begin to grow
but i will not walk
i will fly

Monday, August 13, 2007

I'm going to be out of commission for about a week, and then I'll start posting again. I haven't had time to do much art except for a bunch of ATC's for the next trade happening next Sunday and I haven't been very inspired lately to create. Maybe I need to listen to music and meditate. I've been going for long walks; going further than I've gone in a long time, and walking fast. It really makes me feel good to feel my heart beat faster and feel the fresh evening air flowing through my lungs. I love to see the summer flowers in all their bright colors and the tall trees dancing in the wind. I should have done this a long time ago, but anytime is a good time to start.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Having gone back to work this week, I haven't had time to do any art, but I did go to the Vancouver Art Gallery to view the Monet to Dali exhibition, which included Manet, Monet, Cézanne, Modigliani, van Gogh, Rodin, Picasso, Dali and other European artists. It was definitely a treat for the eyes. There were also quite a few sculptures, including a bronze Thinker. Also showing was the House of Oracles, from one of China's most contemporary artists, Huang Yong Ping. Many of his pieces were huge, including a 100-foot long wooden python skeleton.

On to other things. Here is a poem I wrote that may feel true to many of you.

Creatures running round
in my head
trying to escape
they don't recognize
each other
or the walls that keep them in
my head feels
the pressure
wanting to burst
every morning
on auto pilot
i fulfil my daily duties
by rote
knowing my head is full
of unknown territory
i'm only scratching the surface
the truth slips past me
i reach out to grasp it
and it's gone
i lie still
breathing deeply
turn inward
the creatures rest
i know them.

Monday, August 6, 2007

My Sister's Art

My sister, Karen, is an artist too, but her art is very different from mine. She uses oils and watercolours together in her paintings. I thought it would be nice to post them so everyone can see her art as well. She signs her pieces "Karen Louise."
Underground

Aquatic Life

Potted Plant

Illumination

Fabric Collage Progress

Today I created this collage using the second face I painted on fabric. Here is how it looks so far. Now I just have to create a border for each of them and then I think they will be finished.

Today is also the last day of my three week holiday. I didn't travel anywhere, only in my mind. It has been very relaxing and I wish it could go on and on. I crammed as much as I could into each day, not wanting any day to end. I spent time with family and friends and also spent time alone trying to extend the borders of my art.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Another Fabric Face

I worked on another face today that I painted on fabric. This is how far I got. I'm going to make it into a fabric collage as well, but this time I didn't paint it with gesso first. I'm hoping that will keep it from bunching up like the last one did when I sew it together.



Thursday, August 2, 2007

Fabric Face Collage

I've been working on a fabric collage. I started by painting a piece of muslin with gesso, then I drew the face on it. I colored it with watercolor pencils and then used a wet paintbrush on it. I was happy with the face, but when I sewed all the pieces together today, I had a little problem with the gessoed fabric bunching up. Next time, I might just do it directly on the muslin. But it's my first time painting on fabric, so I'm not too fussed about it.