On February 25th Lissa published this collage at our photoblog thedaytrippers
She has a way with these things you know.
click on the collage for a large view
I posted the following photos, taken today 02.26.10 of West 125th Street, on blogjem
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February 26, 2010
February 22, 2010
Found While Bloghopping 02.22.10
Welcome to another another edition of FWB. I's been busy around. Saturday night I had the pleasure of meeting Wicked H & her sister Brain Surgeon. It was like finding two best friends instantly. There was lots of lovely chat and cocktails. I'm a natural born story teller from way back, and it was delight to find not one but two kindred spirits. Oh and stories get even better when you're having a libation or two ;) Gosh I wish those two lived in New York. Come back soon.
Lissa and I finished our week long blog exchange. Each of our sidebars with a graphic and a link list of posts. Lissa's blog is scenes from a slow moving life & mine is blogjem.
Now is this a gorgeous graphic or what? I admired it on Anne's site El Milagro Studio & she snailed mailed me two copies. She also sent a graphic via email and...
forgive me Anne, but this coffeebarchick couldn't resist making it her wallpaper.
Ok, so what's happening on the blogroll.
Dori over at Dori's Wanderings has published an e-book Soups & Stews- Congrats Dori!
She also has two other two other non e-books available: From My Family Recipe Box & A Journey Through My Country Life. You can read more about it here
I checked out Sarah's Mailbox Monday. I always enjoy the quotes from family members she posts. The latest: Bananas are intrinsically funny — Ian Sammis. I agree.
Sophia over Blue Chair Diary's Sunday Sketch - Freedom made me think of my 18th birthday. What say you?
Madame Meow's post is quite honest & quite moving. The last line - a work of art on it's own.
I just wish that I could focus on a concrete flash-forward --a mid-summer balm for the mid-winter soul-- instead of floating in the space above, waiting and not being sure at all.
Sabine's photolog Djamant f’nofs il-Mediterran translation Diamond in the middle of Mediterranean will let you see a bit of Victoria, Gozo through her camera's eye.
Silke at Metamorphosis introduces us to her dear friend's new blog. A friend of mine told me just yesterday she's starting a blog, and I was literally bouncing with delight.
Oh and while you're at Metamorphosis do check out Silke's latest pastel work Painting my Soul. Silke is an entirely self-taught artist who has only be painting for 11 months.
Before I go do check out So at Laura's Synchronization of Us.
Much bloglove to all,
February 10, 2010
goat zen in the goat pen
After compiling my part of the World Nutella Day round up and finishing some work assignments early in the week, I decided to enjoy the sunshine this afternoon and spend some time with my girls (of the caprine persuasion).
I never would have imagined how calming and reassuring just being in the presence of these goats can be. It’s really hard to be worried or stressed about anything when these sweet faces are looking back at you.
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Right now I’m reading Goat Song: A Seasonal Life, A Short History of Herding, and the Art of Making Cheese by Brad Kessler (recommended by a reader and native of Calabria, just down the road from me; grazie mille Anthony!).
Kessler describes the connection with nature, history, and yourself that raising goats provides, noting that throughout time, goats have been the subjects of many legends and stories, always “helping humans or leading them to unexpected places.”
“If you follow living beings assiduously in the field, or through the lens of a microscope,” writes Kessler, “they lead you to an understanding of their lives, and all life. They usher you into a kind of Eden.”
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Margherita and Carmelina usually don’t care *too* much if I’m in there with them–they often come to say hello and then just go back to eating, unless they’re not hungry, in which case they’ll stay for petties for a few minutes.
But my Pasqualina, who you might remember, I bottlefed, rarely leaves my side when I’m in the pen, even when I’m clearly disturbing her nap time.
There’s just nothing like goat zen in the goat pen.
February 08, 2010
Our "Different" Sense of Humor
After I did my last pastel painting, I was so hooked, I wanted to paint another one. And this one became a great source of mirth! Originally, I had two women sketched out, both of them sort of a little bit off the page.
Then I decided I didn't like the second woman and wanted flowers, probably because I had walked Winslow that morning and admired all the beautiful camellias in our neighborhood. So, I left this woman as she was and finished the whole little sketch.
and called her DOA (dead on arrival), a reference to my love of crime shows and murder mysteries (and I hope I'm not offending anyone with this). That had me laughing all evening. What can I say, we just sometimes have a "different" sense of humor.
When I showed it to Daniel, he really liked it, and then promptly turned her on her side...
and called her DOA (dead on arrival), a reference to my love of crime shows and murder mysteries (and I hope I'm not offending anyone with this). That had me laughing all evening. What can I say, we just sometimes have a "different" sense of humor.
She's a keeper and up (actually, on her side) in my studio - makes me giggle every time I look at her...
Finished Painting AND Illustration Friday - Focused
Focused on her Dreams
Yesterday, I finished her. After thinking for quite a while that this time I may have to start the painting over, everything came together and now I really like her! In fact, I am a little enchanted by this woman...
I managed to keep some of the background peaking through, like in the area between her eyes and on her chin. I love how she has words showing through on her forehead. (You can click on any of the images to see them bigger.)
You can see some of the background in her neck and her shirt as well.
And here, I even went in with rubbing alcohol after the fact and took off the acrylic wash I had put on so you can really see some of the beautiful papers. I actually use rubbing alcohol quite frequently to take off paint and let the background shine through. I use paper towels for large areas and q-tips for small ones. It works great for me!
Thank you all for sticking with me from beginning to the end on this one! I hope you like her as much as I do!!
P.S. Click here if you want to see how others have illustrated this week's topic of focused.
