Teachers

Taylor Mali - "What Teachers Make"
 
I like teachers.
Well, actually I like some much more than others.
But in general,  I like 'em,
and think what they do is admirable.

Tiny Dancer

Despite feeling sick this weekend (and not getting
out of the house at all.  Ugh. ), I still had an artistically productive Sunday afternoon: just finished this little painting of a young Panamanian folk dancer.  8x12, acrylic on canvas paper.

Illustration Friday: old fashioned

I promised myself that I would create an all new painting for this week's Illustration Friday topic.  But, it turns out this week's Illustration Friday topic is "old fashioned".   

Hmmm.  Old Fashioned, eh?  "Old Fashioned" describes a good share of everything I do.  (Comments about my fashion sense can be kept to yourselves.  I know.) 

So anyway, I'm letting myself off the hook this week. (Again! Next week, I promise I'll do something new.  Promise.)  Meanwhile, "old fashioned" fits this painting so well....so here it is.

Sick Art

My 5 year old has been home sick for the last two days...of course spreading the germ wealth so that I, too, have been infected.  So meanwhile, to fill the days the young'un has been putting markers to paper.   Although I am clearly biased, I have to say that I think he's already a remarkable artist.  Here's a sampling of some of his recent work.  You can judge for yourself.

"Penguin Pirate" - details include a treasure chest, eye patch, hat with skull and crossbones, compass rose, treasure map, sword, and he's standing behind the boat's steering wheel.

"Planets" - this drawing is of all the planets in our solar system.  After it was done he asked me to do some special effects in Photoshop so that it looked like it was in space......









...which turned out to be a really cool idea!

The Rapture of Being Alive

‎"People say that what we're all seeking is a meaning for life. I don't think that's what we're really seeking. I think that what we're seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonance within our innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive."—Joseph Campbell

"The Rapture"

That's the kind of Rapture I'm after.

The Dreamer

"The Dreamer"

A few intriguing thoughts about dreams:

Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul 

is writing about you.  ~Marsha Norman

Dreams are answers to questions 

we haven't yet figured out how to ask.  ~X-Files

Dreams are free therapy.  

Consult your inner Freud.  ~Grey Livingston

Dreams are excursions into the limbo of things, 

a semi-deliverance from the human prison.  ~Henri Amiel

Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be 

quietly and safely insane every night of our lives.  ~William Dement

(A wonderful compilation of quotations can be found quotegarden.com )

Illustration Friday: acrobat

   Ladies and Gentlemen.....introducing 

the daring aerial acrobatics of Sophie the flying pug!

Study Hall

The Reader

I love to read.  

I love to learn.  

I love school.   

But now I'm a grown-up, and I don't get to go to school, and learn, and read everyday anymore.   

I'd like to go sit in study hall again.

Proverb: Think Payback

This week's Illustration Friday.com topic is: Proverb.  So, I present my illustration of the Chinese Proverb, "A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers."  

To me this is less about the business of it being better to give than to receive....and more about, well, payback.   Sometimes things are reciprocal, and you get back a little of whatever you give.

Beach Scenes

While wandering around Etsy looking for inspiration I ran across a few images that caught my eye.  I love the washed out colors, the linear elements, and of course I'm a sucker for anything related to be beach.  These three images are by ZenzPhotography for about $15... http://www.etsy.com/shop/ZenzPhotography

Son of a Preacher-Man

For some reason,  the kids
started to call it the bully pulpit.

Beautiful Girls

From my new series...Artfully Altered

Tres Ninas

Something about these three girls, and this image (the colors? the eyes? the hats?) really gets to me.  I want to drink it up....Yummy.

New "Vintage" Series

Floyd's flowery message was well received.

So, here is a little taste of a new series that I'm creating featuring artfully enhanced antique photographs.  The images will be printed as 5x7 cards for mailing to someone special, or perfect for framing.  Keep an eye on my Etsy shop for these little  gems...arriving soon!

Suggestion for....

     ....the final days of summer...

Revel.

Key West is best.

I find Key West inspiring.  Memories of this magical place include swimming in warm turquoise water, daily visits from frolicking dolphins, and stunning blue and pink sunsets.

Fleming Key anchorage, Key West