MY LIFE IN 6 WORDS:Friends are closer…still with masks!
A quickie posting…from my online art group participation…THE THREE MUSES (thethreemuseschallenge.blogspot.com) were interested in CLOUDS…
The clouds gallop like
mighty white horses across
the fields of the sky
…and at DIGITALMANIA, (https://www.flicker.com/groups/digitalmania/), artist HEATHER GALLER was invited to be our inspiration. She’s known for her colorful, folk art style. Here’s one of her art pieces…
MY LIFE IN 6 WORDS:Honor and remember our heroes ALWAYS.
July 4th marks the birth of American independence. Traditionally a time for family gatherings, barbeques and fireworks, let’s give a thought to those who fought…and continue to do so…for our independence and freedoms. Forever grateful… I created this piece in their honor .
This week, I participated in three online art challenges… for TAKE A WORD (takeaword.blogspot.com) the task was to include a castle in our art. Since it’s summer here, I was thinking “beach…”
For SUNDAY POSTCARD ART (sundaypostcardart.wordpress.com) NUMBERS was the game…
Finally, for DIGITALMANIA (https://www.flicker.com/groups/digitalmania,) Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky, the father of abstract art, was our inspiration. Here are a couple of his pieces…
…and here is mine. This was tough for me as my mind doesn’t work very well outside of reality…
MY LIFE IN 6 WORDS: A grateful heart starts each day…
If you’re feeling particularly nostalgic, then this week’s art challenge at TAKE A WORD (takeaword.blogspot.com) is for you. Their theme for the week is “hearts and flowers.” Those words direct my thoughts to LOVE! Here’s the piece of art I created for the occasion…
Wishing you a week filled with love…hearts and flowers.
MY LIFE IN 6 WORDS:Racial inequality makes my heart ache!
The online art challenge blog, TAKE A WORD (takeaword.blogspot.com) has asked participating artists to build on the theme “sheet music.” My piece of art is based on one of my favorite times in the cultural history of our country…The Harlem Renaissance. An intellectual, social and artistic explosion spanning the 1920’s centered in Harlem, New York City, but it influenced cultural expression all over the world. Innovations in music with the birth of jazz, in poetry, literature, art and stage performance were born.
A professional trumpet player that’s very dear to me (and Caucasian,) wrote: “I can not even remotely imagine what it is like to be a person of colour in the racist landscape of North America. I am grateful that I have friends of colour. I am grateful that 95% of my trumpet idols are Black. I am a guest in the house of Black American music. I cannot know your pain, but I sure feel it…” I say, AMEN to his comment, with the ongoing prayer that it will change.
THE BEAR and the NIGHTINGALE by Katherine Arden is a book I never thought I’d read. My “extended family” grandson, Alex, recommended it to me. (It’s part of the WINTERNIGHT TRILOGY.) A gorgeous Russian medieval fairy tale that blossoms slowly into a thoughtful, emotionally complex story, with witchcraft, magic and history, Arden weaves together a variety of Russian folk tales to tell one beautiful story.
The book sweeps us back to the Middle Ages…into the vast wilderness of northern Russia, where it’s cold and wintery most of the year…you can almost feel the icy air on your skin, descriptions are so vivid. So, we have a wintery setting, a magical forest, fairy tale elements like demons, dark creatures and spirits…and finally, a feeling of uncertainty and superstition- the clash between the old time gods and the new, modern religious beliefs (with townsfolk still tied to the stories of old- the creatures that hide in the dark, the demons lurking in the corners, the spirits living in the woods and waters.) This is the atmosphere in which we find our protagonist, VASYA, and her family. Vasya is a child of nature, wild and willful, with powers that leave the villagers questioning the nature of those powers, many believing she’s a witch. She’s definitely a girl who doesn’t wish to follow the path society has predetermined for her…to marry or join a convent. There’s a great message here…girls can be anything they want to be, no matter what society may dictate- a difficult path back then, but oh so real now! I loved that!!
Arden’s writing is this book’s strongest selling point: evocative, beautifully descriptive, imagery that pops with details alive enough to make you smell the smoke and feel the cold; it’s haunting, vivid and poetic. I will definitely be picking this up again come wintertime, cozily bundled near a fire, with a cup of hot chocolate nearby, because this book is the sort of magical warmth and comfort that everyone deserves during the coldest times. For now…on to the next book in the trilogy…GIRL IN THE TOWER.
This week SUNDAY POSTCARD ART (sundaypostcardart.wordpress.com) has a gypsy soul…I can identify! We went to Romania specifically to see the Romani gypsies (or “travelers” as they’re called.) They’ve always been fascinating to me…their art, their very secretive culture, their stories and their way of life. We only saw a bit of their closed communities, but found that they’re well integrated in Romanian society (finally!!) By the way, Romania is a spectacularly beautiful country steeped in history, myths and legends…as are the Romani people!
MY LIFE IN 6 WORDS: Sun is shining…I’m so grateful!
Hi Dear Family and Friends,
It seems as though our world is opening like the buds on flowers and trees all around us. It’s our summer and there’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel.
This week, in my online art groups, it’s all about the ladies…in one way or another. For SUNDAY POSTCARD ART (sundaypostcardart.wordpress.com) our task was to show images either torn or broken. I chose TORN…with women as the main image:
What a shame to do this to a beautiful Humphrey Bogart poster… 😦
DIGITALMANIA (https://www.flickr.com/groups/digitalmania) has reintroduced us to MINJAE LEE, a young South Korean artist. Drama characterizes his art…he uses powerful colors and patterns on his subjects making them innocent and fragile as well as loud and aggressive. Here are a couple of his creations…
and here are mine, inspired by Minjae Lee…
Thanks for stopping by. Continue to be vigilant keeping safe.
MY LIFE IN 6 WORDS: I'M LOUD ABOUT THE IMPORTANT THINGS!
Wheels and Silhouettes are the keywords for my art this week…challenge group TAKE A WORD (takeaword.blogspot.com) was interested in wheels of any kind and THE THREE MUSES (thethreemuseschallenge.blogspot.com) asked to see silhouettes. I combined both in my two pieces. Here they are…
Again…short and sweet. Wishing you a joyful, healthy week ahead.
Anahata Katkin is an Alaskan-born, Atlanta based mixed media artist and business owner. She’s DIGITALMANIA’s “in-residence” artist for this week. (https://www.flickr.com/groups/digitalmania/) Her art is varied and interesting. Here are a couple of her creations…
…and here are my creations, inspired by Anahata…
More and more, the world around us is blooming with the flowers of summer. I must admit that I’m still wary and cautious, although the temptation to let it slide is strong. Please stay safe, dear ones…and let’s hope for brighter, more relaxed days ahead. Perhaps…even a vaccine cure-all!
Sending my love and best wishes for your good health and happiness,
