IF - I Spy

Every morning my daughter and I check the branches of the apple tree in front of our house for the first leaves of spring. Despite the warm weather, we haven't seen anything but buds so far, but we keep looking.

IMT - Feminine Art

Life, soft pastels on paper, 6x9

This week's Inspire Me Thursday theme is Women's History Month, so they asked us to be inspired by the feminine in art, either female artists or art with a feminine spirit.

This is an image I've had floating in my head for a few months now, waiting for a good reason to be committed to paper. So, thanks IMT!

This didn't scan as well as I'd like, and my digital camera doesn't do it justice at all. I'll try to scan it again later and see if I can brighten it up some more.

IF - Wired

Wired

No. 2 pencil on laser jet printer paper.

The things you can accomplish while at work.

:-)

Now, if I had the pictured items, I might actually have the motivation to get something work-related done at work....

Maybe.

A dream come true...

Every once in a while, when the mood strikes me, I check my horoscope at www.freewillastrology.com because Rob Breszny has a wonderful way of making the mundane profound, and of making a horoscope seem completely not ridiculous. This week (beginning March 8) my Piscean prediction reads:

Molecular scientist Robert Bohannon knows a way to cram even more obscene gratification into a doughnut. He has discovered the secret to infusing pastries with a non-bitter version of caffeine. If his innovation is adopted by bakers, a doughnut would not only be able to have its usual sugary kick, but could also deliver the punch of two cups of coffee. Judging from the current astrological omens, Pisces, I'd say you'll soon be able to find a healthy metaphorical equivalent to this pathological marvel for your own use. In other words, you'll intensify your enjoyment of an already fine pleasure.

I fully intend to use this as my inspiration for this week's Illustration Friday theme, "Wired." Personally, I have no interest in a caffeinated doughnut. I enjoy coffee too much, and frankly a cup of coffee with a double whammy of doughnut caffeine sounds dangerous. But this just goes
to show that nothing is impossible....

IF - Communication

"So Much to Say"

Work in Progress, 2007

It won't be done by the time the new topic is posted tomorrow morning, but at least I'm posting something!

And the lion shall lie down with the lamb...

Can you imagine anything sweeter than two children, both rejected by their mothers, finding love and comfort from the most unlikely of friends?

From http://abcnews.go.com/International/popup?id=2911566&content=&page=1

Learning

Skyholder, by Marvin Bartel







I am trying to figure out how to be an artist. I'm pretty sure it's there, somewhere inside, but I've never had any clue how to get it out where I can use it. I've never had an art class that was more than 4 weeks, and the three 4-week courses I've had didn't teach me anything except the basic use of a new medium, they didn't teach me about making Art.


I came across the website of Marvin Bartel that has some seemingly-useful insights on how to teach creative thinking, how to really draw out Art, but it seems that it could pretty easily be applied to self as well. http://www.goshen.edu/art/ed/creativitykillers.html Now I just need to make the time to really do it.....

Now that's Winter

Wow, 100 inches of snow in Oswego, NY and more to come. I mean, I've been pining for snow, but I'm thinking more like 3 feet, not 11. Actually, I'd happily take 3 inches at this point.

Ahh, Irony

Dixie Chicks score 5, count 'em FIVE, Grammys, including Best Song for "Not Ready to Make Nice." They win the top music industry award for a song that refuses to apologise for saying the things that got them almost completely ostracized by the music industry just a couple of years ago. Now, I'm not a huge DC fan, but as one of the apparently few people who was appalled by the response of the music industry and the public when they retaliated against an artist for expressing her opinion, I am so completely gratified by this whole situation. Congratulations, Chicks, for not backing down!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/11/AR2007021101680.html

HI! Yeah, it's been eight months since my last post, so sue me. I've had a few thoughts that I felt were worthy of sharing as of late, so it seemed to make sense to revisit the blog idea. I added a few new links, changed my pallatte again, and here I am.

So my thought for the day - WHY is Anna Nicole Smith's death a front-page headline EVERYWHERE?

CNN - http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/09/smith.dies/index.html

NPR - http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7309890

Washington Post - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/08/AR2007020802435.html

even the BBC! - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6346201.stm

How is it that the reason for her celebrity is that she is a celebrity? Isn't that some sort of catch-22-like logic? I heard a sound bite of her this morning where she said, "It's just so expensive being me!" Being what??? She was famous for being famous. I just don't get it.

Dance

I did this about 4 years ago, maybe longer, but it continues to be one of my favorites. Pastels on paper, 6" x 10"

Diet Coke and Mentos

If you haven't seen this yet, be prepared to be impressed!

http://eepybird.com/dcm1.html

Be sure to scroll down below the video afterwards and follow the How does it work? link to see the Super Burp girl.

Angels and Devils

Angels and Devils

pastels on paper

Better late than never.....

Fat

My husband nicknamed this one "the Soap-Bubble Buddha Lady" when I was about half way done with her. She makes me giggle. :-)

If anyone else works with soft pastels and can give me some suggestions on getting deeper color saturation, please do!!!

Robot

Robots aren't so much my thing, but I really wanted to submit something this week. So I doodled this little guy when I was up late last night and wishing I had someone to keep me caffeinated. If anyone knows where I can get an interactive coffeemaker to follow me around, let me know!

Spotted

The Illustration Friday theme of "spotted" really had me stumped, until after the new topic came out, of course. So it wasn't posted with the other spotted-s, but feel free to comment on it now if you'd like!

Spring

This was my first posting for Illustration Friday. As I've recreated my blog since then, I wanted to re-post the picture and say thanks to those of you who commented when it was first up. I appreciate the feedback!

In explanation, my response to the topic "spring" was less along the lines of flowers and bunnies or slinky-like images, and more the thought of that first day when you can open your window and air all the wintery greyness out of your home or studio or whatever space you inhabit. That is the moment I know it's finally Spring.