Maddie with Flower

At the moment I am battling with photoshop. No idea why I have so much trouble with it! I am just not good with the tech aspect of things. All I really want to do is just play and create without thinking about how to actually put it together.

Today I did manage to give Maddie a flower in her hair!

September, Sadness and Mystery

There is something about September that always makes me sad. Even now when I no longer have little ones to let go as they head back to school, I still feel a loss. In spite of the fact that this was a very hot summer and there were times I wished for fall, I still feel sad today. Life just changes in September. More routine, coolness that leads to winter.

My life has changed in that I am no longer working outside the home. My husband will be retired within 2 months. Huge life changes! Kind of scary and it just feels way too soon.

On a positive note I will have time! Yes precious time to do what I wish to do. I can remember a number of years ago when I was working 4 days a week in a busy medical office, mothering two kids and all that goes with that, I was thinking one day about what would I like most in my life and it was time! So at that point I did cut my work hours back to give myself some time... to just be me and that was the best thing to do.

So here I am with that precious time.

 Even though I am not a huge fan of TO Do lists I have some musts and for the most part that is ART! Any kind of art. painting, photography, collage, printmaking etc. My love at the moment is digital collage. I just get lost in that. I spent some time yesterday developing an Etsy site, soon to be launched to offer some of my cards for sale. Not sure what will happen with that! Fun to try something new.

This is an image I worked on last night and soon to be offered in a card. 

Happy Canada Day!

I actually took this photo a few weeks ago during a rally protesting the Omnibus Bill. About 95 concerned people joined in with signs and smiles. In spite of the state of  the politics I am still a happy Canadian!

Becoming more creative

Finally the creativity urge has returned, thankfully! For some reason I was again stuck. Yes stuck in the routine drudge aspect of life. If you have never been stuck in that place, I am happy for you! If you have been in that sticky place you will know exactly what I mean.

I have been playing with digital collage and what what fun! I am in love with it and have many plans. One of which is  a line of cards. There is a new printer in my house that will print on art papers of all kinds, the inks are archival, lots of cool options. This afternoon I printed a test postcard and voila! It worked. The colours were gorgeous. Now I am hunting for a paper stock supplier etc.

Also I spent a little time today editing a few photos with the freebie Picasa. I liked that as well. I had been using Photoshop Elements but in a very limited way. My brain just can't seem to grasp the whole time consuming layers thing. So I am on a search for a program that will have cool effects with less effort. Simplicity is something I crave!

 This is my youngest granddaughter, Maddie,  a budding photographer. Here she is shooting beautiful Japanese cherry blossoms in April. The pic was taken with my small Nikon Coolpix camera. I did a crop and a holga effect edit in Picasa. Easy and fun.

it has been a long time

I know it has been forever since I have actually posted anything.

Recently I have discovered Polyvore, the result being the image in the previous post. Polyvore is a collage site mostly geared to fashion, but there are some cool art expression links as well. I found out about Polyvore after purchasing a Somerset Digital Studio publication. My goal is to learn how to make digital collages to print into cards etc. I am not sure yet as to the printing capability of this site but am certainly having fun exploring.

Last week was my first week not working. I have taken a leave of absence and one of the promises to myself was to create something beautiful every week. Now I don't want this to be a to do list or to be stressful so play is ok, for now. Hopefully this will lead to some drawing, painting, printmaking etc....

Then link to polyvore is below in case you feel like playing!

www.polyvore.com

a word on Bukowski

After reading this:

http://susanzettell.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-year-2012.html


Just for fun I decided to post this:



Where are the Alden Nowlans


Enough Bukowski to create a love hate

with his bar fly music's two fisted songs.

A feigned ego and mental self flogging;

I think he should have married Ginsberg.



Whiny, self loathing men crying out

for their mothers and their lost childhoods

or the loves they only thought they had;

players in a lottery without tickets.



Nothing wrong with their mechanics,

but there's no fish guts or slippery decks here,

just tired words down dusty old roads,

a never ending pain in the ass.



A little tenderness might be nice

but I 'm too pissed

to scrape it off the floor.

If I could only talk to Alden Nowlan

Tom Hemeon

Iris Study

This iris was painted from a photo that I took last summer. I actually painted 2 different versions, one a small 8 x 8 inches with lots of detail. Still have a little more work to do on the background which ended up being more challenging than the detail work.

The photo above is the painting that I enjoyed most of all. 12 x 18 inches, loose style, more of a study, monochromatic. Fun! I just used 2 colours Ultramarine and Alizarin Crimson, both Winsor and Newton Artist Colours. Enjoyed the mixing, getting different shades and strengths of blues and purples.

Will post  photo of the "other" painting when finished. In the meantime off to the framers for this one!

Waiting

Waiting
Originally uploaded by Maureclaire

Loving this photo that I came across on flickr today! The little girl is so cute in her mix of dots, stripes etc. Can' t help but wonder what is her relationship to the man next to her? Or is he a stranger ? Is the man holding a pencil? Are they waiting for a train, a bus? Just makes me wonder about so many things, a great slice of life photo!

Mixed Emotions

" Of all the prisons that human beings forge for themselves or are forced to suffer, not one , even today, seems as intolerable as the one in which we are confined by age"

Recently I read a wonderful book by Gabrielle Roy called Children of My Heart and this passage has stayed with me. Funny how when I read a book there is usually at least one sentence or perhaps a whole paragraph that stands out or speaks to me in some way. When that  happens I just have to write it down. I do keep a written journal and that is usually where I record these special words, this one I really wanted to share, should someone come across this post.

In the book the protagonist, a young teacher takes one of her students, who is a wonderful singer to an old age home. She goes on to describe the condition of some of the elderly there and the joy that they received by having this young fellow sing for them. Many reached out for him, some thinking he was the child that they had lost or remembered from many years ago.

Beautiful, but sad and frightening at the same time.

September

in Ros and Sergei's garden

So much time has passed since my last post.

September...sigh ..not a month that I love. I love June, the beginning of summer, the promise ahead of sunshine, long days, beautiful soft nights, star gazing and on and on. September arrives, summer is OVER!  Everything feels different. Suddenly there are schedules, classes to attend, the urge to accomplish "something". Yes these can be positives for many, but not for me. Even as a child in September I only liked the first day of school, the new clothes, school supplies, seeing friends. I missed the long lazy days, the picnics, hanging out at the pool, camping with my family. When my children were young I felt the same. I was always sad to see them back at school. I missed them! So here we are half way through September, I am trying to look at the positive. What I do see is the birth of both of my children. September 14th our daughter, September 19th our son, 6 years apart. I so clearly remember both of those perfect beautiful sunny September days and the wonderful fall walks with baby in a carriage, you know those old fashioned navy blue and white carriages with big spokey wheels...sheer bliss. Does anyone even use those any more, does anyone have the time?

So what will I do this September...start some painting, get back to yoga, join a book club. I promise myself to look at this time in a positive way, to get myself more involved, to enjoy each and every day without regret. If perhaps I fall by the wayside and just spend some time gazing out the window or doing absolutely nothing that is OK too. A little part of me just will not follow the rules.

A New Love

For the first time yesterday I experienced printmaking. I fell in love. What fun, what freedom and lucky me I was in the company of 2 very talented generous ladies, both artists, both wonderful.

My very first print ever!

a little colour



some texture

Print # 2

There are times when I wonder why oh why did I not explore this sort of thing when I was much younger, but on then other hand look what is new to me a little later in life which is a good thing too. Never shall I be bored! Now I see an online order coming up, of course I need some supplies, then when Tom and retire I will be ready!

Thank you Ros and Johanna!

sign says it all

sign says it all
Originally uploaded by hyacinth50

remember to vote tomoorrow May 2!

Tender Tending

Tender Tending
Originally uploaded by carvermon
As I was enjoying flickr I came across this lovely image...I just cannot stop looking at it. Somehow it takes me to a calm space. I can feel it in so many ways. This is exactly what I need right now since I am feeling a little overwhelmed, tense and needing to breathe.

Stratford Democracy Watch

Tom setting up

As I was saying yesterday the democracy group that Tom belongs to was staging an info session on a street corner near the river. It was also Swan Parade Day so there were lots of people milling about. Swans are big in Stratford, I like swans but believe me there are the swan obsessed here in Stratford but that is a whole other story.

info

My job was to take pics. I am not part of the group, in other words I am not into politics but I must admit that I learned something yesterday. This group is wonderful. They care about Canada and all Canadians. They do not have their own agenda, they believe in the greater good, democracy, freedom and fairness. This is a non partisan group which many people just don't get at all. I do admit it is confusing. Their mandate seems to be "Wake up Canada" "Be Informed" Get out there and vote.

Dawn speaking from the heart

Dawn and Leslie

While I was hanging out, taking pics etc I heard so many many comments. Some very positive! Lots of thumbs up. As I was handing out pamphlets some people said thank you and I am proud of what you are doing. Others well not so nice! I heard people say "get a job" "get a life" "shut up" "f@#* off"' if you don't like it move". I was shocked! I had no idea how divided people seem to be. And this group was about democracy. One woman left me speechless! She asked me what party we were representing. I informed her that we were representing democracy and were non partisan. Her comment was "well I think this is in very bad taste" then she walked away in a huff. I quietly said "I am sorry that you feel that way".

Melissa

Michael and Fiona

Leslie

messages

What a fun informative day, I was happy to be part of it even though it is not something I would normally do. I guess it is a good thing to sometimes just put yourself out there.

By the way the pj's were part of the message Wake Up Canada



If I Wasn't so Tired

Tom heading out with his sign

I would post about my day hanging out with The Stratford Democracy Watch group. A new experience for me, an eye opening experience for sure. Will try to post tomorrow.

Getting Started

Sometimes it can just be so hard to begin a new project, especially when it involves something creative. When it comes to painting I am always full of self doubt.

 I don't know where to start...what if I make a mess of it... what if I can't do it... I don't know how to hold my brush...I don't know what colours to use...I don't even remember how to mix colour... or how much water...blah blah blah

This was me about a month or so ago, then I met with Ros who has inspired me to get started. I have had a few sessions with her to give me the boost, push and shove that I need. So I have found that I can hold my brush and actually apply paint to that pristine sheet of white paper! I have a momentum going where painting has become part of my day and it feels so good.

Last night while looking through a book on painting flowers I came accross this and loved it!  


Loose this day loitering-t'will be


The same story tomorrow-and


The next day more dilatory.


Then indicision brings its own delays


And days are lost lamenting o'er lost days.


Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute.


What can you do or dream you can do, begin it:


Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.


Only imagine, then the mind grows heated.


Begin it, then the work will be completed.


                                  GOETHE, Faust

looks like a fish

looks like a fish
Originally uploaded by hyacinth50
I posted this still life on flickr today because when I look at this red onion, it makes me think of a fish, kind of a nice round plump fish!

Toys and Emotions

Recently I have been spending some time with toys!

My toys! Dolls mostly. I love dolls, all kinds of dolls, baby dolls, barbie dolls, walking dolls, talking dolls, paper dolls and have always loved them. I was a girly girly for sure.

I have been exploring emotions by photographing toy dolls in various ways. Not exactly sure why I am doing this other than emotions are very close to the surface for me andI love playing especially with a camera so here are a few examples of what I have been doing.




lost



startled

annoyed

reflecting

diminished

stuck



Not sure where I am going with this but it is fun. All the dolls are Tim Burton creations other than the very last one which is a Blythe Pet Shop Doll. My daughter and her famly gave the Blythe Doll to me for my birthday which my son in law could just not figure out but I know he will! 

They also gave me a street art stencil book, my son in law Steve picked this out and I promised him that at some place not sure when or where I will leave a little graffitti which on my to do list before I am done! Notice how I did not give a time frame here or say before I die.



Rainy day in old and beautiful Ciutadella

Rainy day in old and beautiful Ciutadella
Originally uploaded by B℮n

Oh how I love flickr!

Imagine all of the photographers out there exploring their surroundings and then sharing with the world. It does not seem to matter where the images are taken, whether in your own place or in some distant land. For some, emotion just oozes from the scene captured, as in this one. I can feel this photo, the spring rain, by the light it must be spring, the solitude amid these beautiful old buildings. I love the rose coloured raincoat snug in the narrow street!

Such beauty to be shared!

Come Together Right Now and Vote Him Out

I am probably one of the least politcal people you could ever meet but when I came across this clip today I just had to share it!