A Peek

Work in progress.

Rambles

I had hoped to have my new website completed by September but it looks like it will be October.  I might still pull it off before the last day of September. Shooting for it. SO many projects I am working on and yet so little I am free to share. 

I started teaching art at a co op school this semester.  It is very different for me, but I like the challenge. I think I will like it.  After all, it involves kids of every age and art. 

A beautiful image that rolls around in my heart right now is my two year old granddaughter laughing as I danced with her today.  If I could put that kind of joy in children as they create and read...wow! 

A look back at Summer

The summer is quickly coming to an end and today we finally experienced rain after a long stretch of 100 plus degree days here.  A great way to end this very dry season!  Having a moment now to look back over the summer, I realize it has been dry in many ways for me.  It started with my youngest son's college graduation in Sherman, Texas followed by (the day after the ceremony) his hip surgery in Dallas, Texas.  It was no small procedure and he required a lot of care afterwards. My husband and I moved in his upstairs bedroom for a month and he took ours since he could not go up the stairs.  In the middle of teaching art classes at a college campus, my 80 year old mom was diagnosed with cancer in her eye. That took us on a long journey where she received treatment and healing!  But as of yet, she has  not regained sight in that eye.  Then I taught more art classes for three weeks from 8-5 at another campus.  Those highlights created a multitude of schedule challenges as well as emotional ones.  Why is it, we usually grow the most through difficulties?  I continued working on projects, although, obviously at a slower pace.  Now, I have rearranged my studio/office and I am ready for a new year. ( In my mind, years always begin in September.)  After so much stretching over the summer, I needed my work space to change with me.  I am ready for devoted time to work, with new perspective, passion, discipline, and maturity.  What truly altered me the most this summer was the giving...giving from a deeper place than I knew I had.   I believe what we create comes out of who we are and so I am excited to see what I can give through art and writing this year. So glad it is starting to rain!

Dream Art Classes

Teaching kids to dream and set goals in summer art classes.

Art Class for Kids

Just finished up teaching a course at a College for Kids Camp at a local junior college.  This class was an art element class.  We had pretty limited supplies, but I feel like the kids really enjoyed it and learned a lot. All four classes made art element books and we finished five other projects as well. I forgot to take pictures of the books and impressionist paintings "with depth (SPACE).  Here are a few examples of the other projects and a sketch of two students I did one day with a little breath of time. Fun kids!

 

Family Modeling

I have to chuckle when I think of my patient family, always being asked to pose for a photo in some unusual way to help me with an illustration.  I am reaching the end of the dummy phase on a very long and loved project.  I thought I would share a few of the many many poses my family was willing to do for me. No, they don't know I am sharing them. :) And yes, they are all creative people.  Thank you family!!

New York

I have been so inundated with a project I am working on, I have not had time to blog about my trip to New York.  It was the first time I have gone there.  It may not be the place I would like to live, but I loved visiting and look forward to going again someday.

Central Park and all the buildings in that area are incredible.  My husband and I took a short carriage ride through Central Park (something he has always wanted to do).  The weather was absolutely perfect and the flowers gorgeous, especially the tulips.  My husband was there on business, so I spent several days with a new friend from New Zealand.  She was very gracious to explore some art museums with me and she loves books!  So one day we spent quite a lot of time in Barnes and Noble looking through books and chatting.

Museums we visited were the Moma, the Met, and the Neue Galleri.  All these museums have a place in the project I am currently working on so it was an added excitement to actually go there!  Seeing the Woman in Gold by Klimpt was definitely a highlight as well as Van Gogh's Starry Night.

My husband and I also took the ferry to Staten Island and saw the 911 Memorial.  It was like millions of tears falling all around the victims names--very deep sadness.  We went through the Federal Trade Commission Building and Grand Central Station, which was amazing!

We visited two churches there- Hillsong, and Times Square Church, both right off Times Square.  That was the first time I have gone through a security check to go to church, but I understand.  There were police everywhere in New York, especially near Times Square with loaded artillery.  They are not messing around. It kind of gave an uneasy feeling, especially to my New Zealand friend, who comes from a country where no one has guns.

The view from the plane when we left is something I will never forget.  We could see all the buildings and Central Park covering New York.  What an incredibly built up mass! What an intriguing place!

Here are some art highlights: