What a week! Two of my beautiful daughters went opposite directions this week. Bailey went to the beach with a friend and Taylor went to camp. I had big plans! I was going to paint a painting every day while they were gone! Here's what actually happened: The first day, I cleaned house until noon. At noon, I thought, "great, that's done. Now, I will paint....but my stomach is very upset. Maybe I'll just lay down for a few minutes first." Next thing I knew, I was in my third day of struggling with a wicked virus...and it was already Wednesday! Thursday, I actually did paint a painting (the one above) and then today I went to work at the office....and now the week is over. Bailey got back a couple of hours ago and Taylor comes home tomorrow. Things just have a way of going off track, I guess. I'm just so thankful to have my girls coming home again so life can get back to normal.
I got my notification this week that I have been accepted to teach at Artfest 2009 in Port Townsend, WA. I am so excited!! This is an amazing event. I went last year. There you will meet supportive, amazing, friendly artists and take intensive classes. I came back so inspired that I painted 4 paintings in a month's time. I will post a link to Artfest as soon as their website is ready.
Off to spend time with my fabulous daughter....!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Beautiful Dreams
Beautiful dreams are a gift from God. You can't predict when you will have one and you can't force your brain to give you one. I personally either don't dream very much or I just can't remember them so a really amazing one is rare.
I had one today. I took a Sunday afternoon nap and apparently went very deep into sleep...and I began to dream.....
I was standing with a group of friends and family on a deck overlooking a lake. The deck (and apparently the attached house) where literally built out into the water so that when I was looking out, the water came directly under the deck and I could look down into it. A friend and I were watching a school of perch swimming in circles (the water was very clear) and making patterns on the top of the water. I had just commented to my friend that I love to see things I have never seen before. Just then.....
A beautiful woman walked out into the water. She was a tall black woman with a large headdress and a giant plumb of peacock feathers trailing behind her. She walked with the gait of a bird out into the water. She was then joined by several others that looked just like her. They didn't speak to us or even acknowledge us, just seemed to be staying to themselves near the water's edge.
A little further down near the first group another beautiful woman and an equally beautiful man stepped into the water. They both had large black wings with a prominent red spot on them and long black tail feathers. Again, they waded out with their peculiar gait but didn't seem to notice us, they were joined by several others of their style.
This went on for a few more minutes, more groups showing up. Some were white, some red and some blue. Soon there were bird people scattered all down the shore.
My friends and I watched them as one would watch birds in nature. We didn't bother them or try to engage them. It was very peaceful.
Finally they all began to drift apart until they all stood facing away from us each about ten feet from the next and about 3 deep out into the water. They began to take off into the sky one by one in a shower of glitter and light. As the last one left the water I ran through the house and down a front pier onto the front yard with a camera. I lay down on my back on the grass and looked into the sky. I could see huge shadows depicing entire scenes, flying trapeze girls, horse drawn chariots, a complete cirque de soliel in shadow on the sky. I took several pictures.
I walked back into the house and out onto the deck where my friends and I began to marvel at what we had seen. I flicked the view button on my camera.....and all the pictures were blank.....
I had one today. I took a Sunday afternoon nap and apparently went very deep into sleep...and I began to dream.....
I was standing with a group of friends and family on a deck overlooking a lake. The deck (and apparently the attached house) where literally built out into the water so that when I was looking out, the water came directly under the deck and I could look down into it. A friend and I were watching a school of perch swimming in circles (the water was very clear) and making patterns on the top of the water. I had just commented to my friend that I love to see things I have never seen before. Just then.....
A beautiful woman walked out into the water. She was a tall black woman with a large headdress and a giant plumb of peacock feathers trailing behind her. She walked with the gait of a bird out into the water. She was then joined by several others that looked just like her. They didn't speak to us or even acknowledge us, just seemed to be staying to themselves near the water's edge.
A little further down near the first group another beautiful woman and an equally beautiful man stepped into the water. They both had large black wings with a prominent red spot on them and long black tail feathers. Again, they waded out with their peculiar gait but didn't seem to notice us, they were joined by several others of their style.
This went on for a few more minutes, more groups showing up. Some were white, some red and some blue. Soon there were bird people scattered all down the shore.
My friends and I watched them as one would watch birds in nature. We didn't bother them or try to engage them. It was very peaceful.
Finally they all began to drift apart until they all stood facing away from us each about ten feet from the next and about 3 deep out into the water. They began to take off into the sky one by one in a shower of glitter and light. As the last one left the water I ran through the house and down a front pier onto the front yard with a camera. I lay down on my back on the grass and looked into the sky. I could see huge shadows depicing entire scenes, flying trapeze girls, horse drawn chariots, a complete cirque de soliel in shadow on the sky. I took several pictures.
I walked back into the house and out onto the deck where my friends and I began to marvel at what we had seen. I flicked the view button on my camera.....and all the pictures were blank.....
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Savannah, Georgia
Hello, everyone! This week's post is about Savannah, GA. What a beautiful and artistic town. I spent a week there last month, my 5th visit. If you have never been and get the opportunity, don't pass it up! I will try my best to get the facts correct:
Savannah was originally built on the plans of General James Oglethorpe. He didn't want anyone to be able to rush through town so he designed 24 "squares" (small parks). All of the roads intersect with the squares so that you are always going around the squares, making it impossible to drive quickly, and making for a really beautiful city. Each square has a monument and several benches along with sidewalks so as you walk around you can take a break at any time to have a snack..or paint a painting, which many artists do. There are now 21 squares still in existance (1 is being restored and 2 are forever lost).
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) currently owns 63 buildings in the historic district. There are many galleries of the work of both current and past students and many art supply stores. SCAD has one particular gallery/shop (http://www.shopscadonline.com/) that showcases the art of mostly undiscovered artists. Artists are everywhere and most are very friendly and willing to take a minute to chat and show you their work. There are lots of diverse "out of the mainstream" artists along with the traditional artists.
River Street is the tourist mecca (along with Paula Deen's "Lady and Sons" restaurant which is a few block away). Shops and restuarants line one side of the street and street artists and performers occupy the other. It's not a very long street so it's easy to see the majority of River Street and then move on to other interesting shops and galleries all within walking distance. I usually try to stay somewhere in the middle of town so that once you arrive in Savannah, no more driving! The car stays parked and we get lots of exercise and lots of "wandering time" to see galleries, coffee shops (where my daughters and I like to journal or draw while we enjoy our coffee) or just sit in the parks. We also make sure to go to City Market, good restaurants and great galleries.
Savannah is also considered the most haunted city in the United States so you must take a ghost tour. The trolley is best (there are also walking tours and "Pub Crawls"...this would be fun with a lot of friends but my husband and I went alone and by the end, people you don't know are simply drunk and obnoxious!). There is a beuatiful old cemetary in the center of town and lots of stories to go with it! It closes at dark so make sure to take a stroll through during the day.
I could really go on and on, Savannah is simply my favorite city (so far). You will find plenty of brochures and information at the visitor's center in the historic district but just walking around is the best way to see it. I book a house through www.savannahgetaways.net . Aubrey is THE MAN! He will make sure you get exactly what you need in accommodations. The site has a great map. I generally stay in Sections 2,3, 5 or 6.
Savannah was originally built on the plans of General James Oglethorpe. He didn't want anyone to be able to rush through town so he designed 24 "squares" (small parks). All of the roads intersect with the squares so that you are always going around the squares, making it impossible to drive quickly, and making for a really beautiful city. Each square has a monument and several benches along with sidewalks so as you walk around you can take a break at any time to have a snack..or paint a painting, which many artists do. There are now 21 squares still in existance (1 is being restored and 2 are forever lost).
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) currently owns 63 buildings in the historic district. There are many galleries of the work of both current and past students and many art supply stores. SCAD has one particular gallery/shop (http://www.shopscadonline.com/) that showcases the art of mostly undiscovered artists. Artists are everywhere and most are very friendly and willing to take a minute to chat and show you their work. There are lots of diverse "out of the mainstream" artists along with the traditional artists.
River Street is the tourist mecca (along with Paula Deen's "Lady and Sons" restaurant which is a few block away). Shops and restuarants line one side of the street and street artists and performers occupy the other. It's not a very long street so it's easy to see the majority of River Street and then move on to other interesting shops and galleries all within walking distance. I usually try to stay somewhere in the middle of town so that once you arrive in Savannah, no more driving! The car stays parked and we get lots of exercise and lots of "wandering time" to see galleries, coffee shops (where my daughters and I like to journal or draw while we enjoy our coffee) or just sit in the parks. We also make sure to go to City Market, good restaurants and great galleries.
Savannah is also considered the most haunted city in the United States so you must take a ghost tour. The trolley is best (there are also walking tours and "Pub Crawls"...this would be fun with a lot of friends but my husband and I went alone and by the end, people you don't know are simply drunk and obnoxious!). There is a beuatiful old cemetary in the center of town and lots of stories to go with it! It closes at dark so make sure to take a stroll through during the day.
I could really go on and on, Savannah is simply my favorite city (so far). You will find plenty of brochures and information at the visitor's center in the historic district but just walking around is the best way to see it. I book a house through www.savannahgetaways.net . Aubrey is THE MAN! He will make sure you get exactly what you need in accommodations. The site has a great map. I generally stay in Sections 2,3, 5 or 6.
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