Finished portrait

image, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

This is the finished portrait of the initial drawing posted yesterday. So fun to do.

Even if it is just one more

BEGINNINGS OF PORTRAIT

Last year I wrote 109 posts.  That was really good for me.  This year my intention is to exceed that number.  I would like to write at least 200 posts; however, if all else fails I commit to 110, one more than last year.

It is exciting to think of this goal because I have made it achievable and it should be a lot of fun and quite interesting.  Here's the deal dear reader, if a post happens to touch you in some way, please leve a comment.  Comments make me happy and I appreciate your stopping by.

Have a good night.

Random Thoughts Tuesday: Blessings

I woke up this morning and the first thought that crossed my mind was how blessed I am. I thought about my life and all of the things I have done.  Things that I would never have dreamed of and a feeling of deep gratitude enveloped me.

ARTIFACTS FROM ETRUSCAN CAVES

 CHURCH IN ORVIEO, ITALY

BRIDGE IN VENICE

 GLASS SCULPTURE IN MURANO, ITALY

 CEILING OF THE PARTHENON

TREVI FOUNTAIN IN ROME

 SUMMER PALACE IN BEIJING, CHINA

SUMMER PALACE

 GARDEN IN THE CITY

 MOAT SURROUND WALL IN XIAN

 FRESH VEGETABLES IN STREET MARKET

 STREET MARKET IN CHONGQING

 SHORE ALONG YANGTSE RIVER

POT IN SHANGHAI MUSEUM

 

 

Looking at these pictures taken on two separate trips, Italy in 2012 and China in 2013, I realize that they are but a small glimpse into why I am feeling such gratitude today.  Growing up I never dreamed that my life would take such a turn.  Living in Las Vegas, is like being on a permanent vacation.  It is very humbling to think of all of the blessings I have received and there are still more to come.  More exploring and adventures, more life to live and for that I am eternally grateful.

 

randomly thinking and grateful on a Tuesday morning....pilgrim

Happy Anniversary: 30 Years of Card Making; 30 Years an Artist

 HAND DRAWN AND PAINTED

 RUBBER STAMP AND PAINTED

WASHI TAPE CANDLES

 

 

February 14, 1984 I began a journey that has spanned 30 years.  The magnitude of which did not really hit me until this week.  Because of my dear friend and co-worker GeeGee Black I started making handmade greeting cards.

 

I wrote poetry and had been doing so since around 1965.  Most of it was kept private, but a few were shown to friends.  Anyway GeeGee asked me to write a Valentine's poem for her good friend and I said that I would.  She was also a great promoter of my talent so she solicited other customers and told them I could make a card to go with the poems.   Huh????? I had never made a card in my life.  To the rescue my other friend and co-worker Sue Karam.  Sue went to the Grosse Pointe Park Library and got a book on making cards for me to review.  It seems that the first greeting cards were made using paper doilies.  That was interesting, but I still did not know what to do.  As Valentine's day fast approached, I became more and more worried.  I decided that the best thing I could do was to write out some instructions and follow that plan.....

 

 I still have the book with the original orders along with the type of poem they wanted.  I developed 4 styles of cards using paper doilies and went to work.  It was fun but let me tell you those cards were not masterpieces; however, they were made with love.

 

ABSTRACT FLOWERS

 

 

Over the years I have made hundreds of cards for family and friends as well as designed my own cards for Christmas, Birthdays, Mother's day, etc. most for free or at little cost.  The amazing thing is that I never considered it art or myself an artist.  Truthfully, not even a poet.  I just did not embrace my talent and that is a shame.  But, but, but......it is never too late.  My last post was about my attendance at An Artful Journey and the paintings I conceived while there.  I returned home with a different mindset.  Not one of ego, but one of appreciation.  Appreciation for the fact that I was able to dig deep within and realize that I had been hiding my talents, just doing enough but not really exploring the depths of my being and getting to the core, the essence of what I can really do.  I mostly used my talents to help others.  I have a friend who got into nursing school partly on the essay I wrote on why she wanted to be a nurse.  The advisor said anyone who wants to be a nurse this bad should be in the program.

 

I have written a couple of  written Masters Thesis' for friends; college papers for friends and a document that allowed a friend to get 2 years of college credit using her life as a housewife to show how each task could be equated to a college course for credit.  It was so much fun helping friends and more or less honing my skills.

 

Now, I am at a stage in my life where I want to just be open and explore, Make my cards, paint my pictures, start to write poems again and just enjoy the artistic me.  I have always been good at promoting the gifts of others; but never myself.

 

I want to shout from the rooftops I AM AN ARTIST.....  Today I say Happy Anniversary to Me.  30 years of making art, here's to many more.  Thanks GeeGee for seeing in me what I did not see in myself.

 

until next time.....pilgrim

 





Random thoughts Tuesday: An Artful Journey

WINDOWS TO THE SOUL

IT MUST BE LOVE

ALONE WITH MY THOUGHTS

The paintings above are the result of spending time in the foothills of the Santa Clara Mountains just outside of Los Gatos, California from Thursday Feb. 27th to Monday Morning March 3rd.  An Artful Journey 2014 was just that a journey,  

THE JOURNEY BEGINS:

I spent a few weeks preparing my supplies for this retreat.  I looked at the supply list and had most of the items (no surprise since my house looks like a wonderful art supply store).  There were a few items I had to buy, absorbent ground, 3 18x24 gessoed canvasses, filbert paint brushes, a few more sponge paint brushes; and one more bottle of gesso.  That is it.  I packed up two priority boxes and mailed a lot of the supplies to make room in my suitcase for the canvasses and my clothes.  As the day drew near I really got scared.  How was I going to paint on such large canvasses.  I really wanted to take Katie Kendrick's class.  I had her book and wanted to really stretch myself and find the poetry in my art; but, 18x24?  I could barely paint in an art journal and all of my other work has been based on class assignments not thinking about something on my own.  Oh the horror of it all.  Well Feb. 27th came and I focussed on the fact that I would see my good friends Jenny Messerle, Michelle Unger, Gail Pfrommer, and Monica Moran.  It was a comfort to know that I would be among kindred spirits, so I got up at 4 am to make sure everything was packed (it was), house was clean (it was), garbage out (took it out), travel backpack ready with ticket where I could find it (it was)…..Larry my cab driver and friend arriving at 8 am (he did) and I was on my way.  

The flight was good, Gail and I met up at the airport and flew in together.  Shuttle service was there in San Jose waiting for us.  There were two cars because 6 of us needed rides (Gail coordinated the entire process and did a great job).  Met up with Annie Hooten (doesn't she have the best name) and all was well with the world.

THE PRESENTATION CENTER

An Artful Journey is held at the Presentation Center which is a wonderful haven in the mountains.  It is run by an order of Sisters and I can never remember it's name but trust me they are really sweet.  They ate dinner with us each night.  Anyhoo, this locale is magical.  There are walking trails, a labyrinth, and we even found the swimming pool (who knew).  There is a sense of peace that I wish I could bottle up and bring home.  We arrived around 2:30 and Cindy Woods, our director, and friends were ready to greet us with fruit, cake, smiles and the most wonderful books made by DJ Pettit.  Jenny, Michele and I roomed together in the Lower St. Anthony cabin.  This irony was not lost on me because last year I went to a silent retreat in Alhambra, California and was assigned to the St. Anthony room (need to read about St, Anthony during lent).

We took our supplies to our classrooms and prepared for dinner.  After dinner we had orientation and met our instructor/friends.  

FINDING MY SOUL/SPIRIT

On Friday classes began.  Katie greeted us with open arms.  Some of the students had taken her classes several times before.  This was my first.  Before we started painting each day Katie read to us about the wonders of the creative process and then we meditated and created a sacred space for our process.  It was a priceless experience.  Over the next few weeks I am going to talk more about each painting individually because it is important that I write about the process for each one.  However, working on the three paintings above was very emotional for me.  It was as if flood gates opened and the me that wanted to be released burst forth wide eyed and full of wonder.  It was very emotional and tears flowed.  Tears of happiness, tears of surprise, tears of humility and tears of joy.

PAINTINGS HAVE A NAME

I took my paintings to Small Church Community session last night because some friends wanted to see them.  They suggested that I should name them and it seemed right.  I am not going to explain now because the name may change; for today though, they all have a "working" title.

Well, this is getting long so I am going to end this post.  I hope you enjoyed reading about my journey…..TO BE CONTINUED……

Blessings and Love, pilgrim