A Story about Jenny and the Bobcat

A True Story about Jenny and the Bobcat

We had no idea about this until Saturday while Jenny was still here. 

My Mister usually collects his game camera cards and takes a look on the weekends. 

We were pretty shocked when we saw and realized how close in time our paths crossed with the bobcat.

We see all sorts of wild game probably because they are coming to a watering hole, our stock tank.  

Had ta show.

♥

Blessed

Nearly everyone was on their way home and I felt extremely blessed to have a couple of extra days at the convent in Orvieto . I passed this painting in the hallway about a gillion times.  Now it was quiet and I stood with it and sketched in my 2010 journal. 

I don't really know if it is a sketch or print as it is behind glass and unsigned. I really liked the monochromatic tones and so when I took my sketch to the studio, I was inspired to try my best to keep the tones as close to sepia and gold as I could.  This is one of my favorites. 

There is much more that I could share from Orvieto but I will call this my last installment. Probably. Maybe. Will see. 

Going back to Orvieto

After being missing in action, it is always hard to come back and know where to begin again. My Celebration Break took me to Orvieto. My celebration was about 50 years with a DH who didn't blink when I told him I wanted and needed to go back. My celebration was also about beginning and embracing the retirement path that I now find myself on. I could not imagine a better way to really start down this new path.

When I woke on the last Monday of August, my first thoughts were about going to Orvieto. I have known for 2 years that I could go back but on that Monday, I knew my reasoning for not going was flawed. It didn't matter that I was returning to the same place for the same thing with the same people. It only mattered that I was different. And that was the word that echoed from my heart and soul. Different. "This will be different for so many reasons." It was and I plan to share all of it. Slowly and surely. 

To start, I challenged myself to carry a tiny blank journal and Pit Artist Pen to document my journey by capturing moments that I shared with strangers as well as a few moments I shared with new and old friends. None knew that they were becoming a part of my memories. 

I wasn't trying to get a likeness and if I did or did not, no one will ever know. The challenge was to sketch fast my moving targets without being able to erase. 

I regret that on my return trip, I was simply too exhausted to continue the documentation. But I love this little journal and I see my self taking it out to find new memories with the strangers in my life. 

More later,
Sharon

Tad and Vanzie A Pretty Mystery

The map for BAHA was for the front end paper. 

I always knew I would draw a map for the book.

I waited for the inspiration.

It wasn't happening.

Until I "started" last weekend.

Now, I'm mulling over the map for Pelago.

Did I tell you how much fun map making is?

 I always wait for inspiration before painting my altered book covers.

I got it.

I refined the old sketch and he became sort of pretty.

But I like him anyway. 

I haven't painted the original canvas yet because I don't usually like to do the same one twice. Or rather, I fear I can't please myself the second time. 

Anyway, I merged the two sketches in Photoshop and transferred it to the newly made book cover. 

Then I painted.

My Diary of Faces is now...

Tad and Vanzie

a pretty mystery

and

I Love All of IT!

♥

Vanzie Speaks

A Clip from and about my Postcard Challenge Journal that became my Diary of Faces. A Spooky voice is revealed to be Vanzie S Smoot

cause I need to play too

Things are stacking up over here. 

Like
just stuff.
I feel the need for a list.
Like
the sheets must be washed this weekend
and the clothes too
the desk needs to be uncluttered
and the work table too
the carpet needs to be blessed
and the others floors too
the fridge needs to be purged 
and my closet too
art supplies need to be organized
and my shoes too
and then,
the gardens;
however,
I shall put Singapore first on the list
cause I need to play too
♥ 

Art Nouveau

I really do like the Art Nouveau style and this one drew me in. The napkin for the postcard pocket had creamy berries that made me think of the white monkey heads on her dress. I know, I know, they are flowers but......  


To see the spread together, go to the Postcard Challenge tab....or just click here.

I didn't make any headway this week with catching up on the challenge and since my book is not going to hold all 52 weeks worth, I'm thinking I will skip #12 Israel.

♥

The Blue Hat found by Vanzie

What great fun I had yesterday with this!  I'm getting caught up....well halfway caught up. I confess,  I cropped a bit off the reference and I painted it directly on the book page. 


Not sure what the rest of this day will bring.  I might need to just sit in the chair zone.
♥


I appreciate and ♥ all of your comments. Thank you.

Things that flutter forth

I have to tell you this.  It is another little story about inspiration.


She is from Thursday's Art-at-the-desk.  And I'm so proud that I pushed myself and  actually started on the first page in a new blank Strathmore Visual Journal (5.5' x 8in)
So proud because I have a hard time with white pages and especially the first one in a journal. 


But about the inspiration, I was all done except I hadn't actually finished the background.  Nothing was happening.  The flow was over. I had to pack up and head to my cozy art nest at home.  That's when a part of a butterfly wing fluttered forth from under stuff.  I heard that little voice that said, "just glue it down". So, I did. 


Friday morning while "walking in beauty", a place for exercise of the mind and body, I was on the sixth lap when I began thinking about the background again. I spotted a fence line bush with small leaves and I just snatched some as I went by.  The first thing I did was use them to stencil around and then I painted the little stalk of leaves with Italian sage green and stamped the leaf image around the background.   

That helped but the page still needed more. So I used the white gel pen.  About that time that little blue silk sari ribbon fluttered forth from under stuff.  Again, I immediately heard the voice that said, "attach it, don't think about it just attach it".  So, I did. 


Later, I realized the connection was more than color. It's about the delicacy of the silk and butterfly wing and they even share a tiny pattern.  The stitching is a connection to the cloth side of me.

When I returned to the office Friday morning, I found the other part of the wing on a different desk....fluttered forth....the voice.....and so, I did. 


When inspiration passes you or flutters forth....see it...hear it...use it.
♥ Sharon

My First Design

And I'm wearing it today.  I think I did pretty good for my first.  My teacher will be so proud of me.  Did you notice that I started a jewelry journal.  I'm adding all my notes from my teacher's class videos in this journal along with my design sketches and who knows what else.  The pages are 6" x 17" which is really cool and a little awkward at the same time. But sure is fun.
♥ Sharon

pS...yES, i'M stretchING mYselF a little thin.  But if my neck showed thinness, I would have shown you my face. 

Chance, Luck and Destiny

I'm wondering, are you up for a challenge?

I am feeling really challenged right now as by mere chance last night I injured my poor sick foot and can not even stand on it.

I am trying real hard not to think of the possibility of missing my Italy trip.

Or at the least, I'm trying not to think of hobbling through the Rome airport.

It is making me feel sick with swarms of some creatures in my stomach.

And I'm just trying to get my mind off of the pain with a challenge of my own doing.

I am always ShArOn.

While gathering some papers and text and images and other collage ephemera

for my Italy trip,

I found a poem in an old book, Chance, Luck and Destiny, that I have used for a visual journal.

I am getting to the challenge....really

This is only one page of  the poem.

The poem is by Peter Dickenson and is from his book, Chance, Luck and Destiny.

So, here is the challenge:

I am challenged to "paint words" sometimes.  Are you?

When I read the first lines of this page,

"Ow, Lady in red petticoats,

Now will you be my bride?"

I was listening to my imagination when it went wild!

I haven't started anything yet and so I thought there might be someone out there who would enjoy a little kick-start.

If those words inspire you to "paint" them,

I hope you will jump in and join me.

If you do, let us know. We will want to see.

♥ Sharon

Sharing when I probably shouldn't

This week has been about mail ART and ART-at-the-desk and Serendipity. I'm sharing because I must, not because I should. I shouldn't probably. It is more than I can keep to myself.
This mail art is actually a journal that I made for my friend who is new to mail ART and mixed media ART and visual journal ART. She is finding her passion.

See what I mean, this last page just landed on this page. No plan. Just Serendipity!

♥ Sharon