Wrapped up in a Magic

My son is asking for a tent in a backyard for a longest time, and I am always so scared of what might crawl in to ever get close to say "Yes" to his Innocent sense of adventure. As a child I used to have similar ideas and somehow back then, people were more laid back and during hot summer nights we children stayed up late to either listen to adults tales all curled up at their feet or would form a tiny circle in which one of us ( literate enough ) would read some nicely illustrated book about ancient times when knights and princesses ruled this world... Pictures made up for many words we couldn't read right... Imaginations soared and later on our dreams were filled with that magic of a perfect tale shared with the loved ones.
This two brothers all wrapped up in a book share that same moment and magic we used to know years back when we could count years of our life on fingers of one hand.

Back to School

School is back and everyone is impatient. This is a last day of summer break for us here. As of tomorrow everything will be more hectic, no more lazy mornings and late movie nights...

Summer reading list

Summer is near. As much as I am thrilled to be less stressed about our combined schedules, and possibly enjoying few hours of sleep more there's also that inevitable obligation, that falls solely on me, to provide a Summer reading material for kids. I went to local library today and selected few for my son ( I still give my high schooler some time to finish strong- besides the only book that interest her now is the Year Book ). At the same time I kept an eye on a classics selection that always magically pops up on a side shelf this time of the year . There is so much I want to squeeze in for myself that it looks almost impossible, and makes me yearn for those long lazy summers when I was a kid myself drowning day after day in some fantastic book without heaving to think what will I cook for a dinner or did I finish all of my washing loads for this week. Innocent and carefree... Sweet, sweet life...

April Showers

It's been raining almost daily here in a past week, and a throughout a month of April on and off . It could be a bit disheartening to be confined indoors when you expect to unleash your spring spirit and jump into celebrating life and renewal heads on .... but there is nothing more nurturing than that rich, earth smelling rain for these May flowers. It seems almost like this all just happened in my backyard overnight and by some kind of miracle everything was blooming. My camera can not capture the fragrance and freshness but some of those exuberant and incredible colors are her for you to enjoy and share with me my enthusiasm for a next gardening season that looks so promising this year.

Earth Day

Even though all my art is closely related to nature I have selected this color pencil drawing of gorgeous cherry spring blooms to celebrate Earths Day. I hope you all had a wonderful and meaningful day thinking and thanking out Mother Nature. And as anonymous have said and I wholeheartedly agree : "Every day is an Earth Day!" Please keep that in mind.

It's a Rainy Day Hallelujah

And it's a rainy day here in ATL tooo.. But it's a happy rain when it pours letters and words. It's the best time to curl up with a great book. My recent reads include Saving Fish from Drowning and A Course in Miracles. Both books are a fantastic read and so inspirational. I'm also helping my daughter with Great Expectations and my little one wit his school project Rocket into Reading ( a 100 book club to be achieved by may ).
This little mixed media watercolor is a part of my series dedicated to children's literacy. I assigned this unusual and all natural umbrella to Thank God it's Friday challenge . Hallelujah !

Impossible Mind

The power of words that opens up children's minds... Teach them how to read and love books and watch impossible turn into possible... Their mind will take a flight thorough imagination and spirit.

Fleeting

Fleeting it sure is ... a moment in which you can capture this fluttering beauty landing in your backyard...and so is a charm of a one day rose. My contribution ti Illustration Friday this week.

Paper Moon

This is a second part of my nightly inspiration, and you tell me: if in the other part I was turning into something wiser ( i.e. owl ) am I here possibly reaching into a child in me in order to reach for the moon? At any rate night has a powerful way of magically transforming my intentions into a creative riddle. It's all fun and makes me wonder what a new night will bring.

From Sunset to Night

I'm turning more and more into a certified night bird. Over last few months my nocturnal life became alarmingly longer and more intense pushing me further down the path marked "exhaustion". There was so much to do and when kids were asleep and I could finally focus on other things time somehow seemed to fly and before I knew it would be past midnight. I had to do some serious catching up with my rest with my heart starting to skip. So these dots could be stars could be blur, but it appears that more and more of my ideas are catching this insomniac "rush".

Sunset in a Secret Garden

On a small format it is hard to see what makes this art a "secret" garden. You must click on a picture to enlarge and see the details. This is not a simple tree. This is a tree of knowlege on whose branches all of us creative and wisdome seeking "birds" choose to make our nests.

Beelated Thanks to Karen Mowrey

This is a several weeks overdue THANKS to Karen Mowrey for featuring my Bee prints on her Blog Beelieve. I enjoyed browsing this fantastic blog and encourage you to do the same. I will also borrow these great words that she incorporated in her profile and it was Picasso who said : “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”

Back in a saddle again... Wooo hoo ( Renewal time)

OMG! This was one very long and trying transition from old to new computer. But it was worth it. Due to some scanner problems I didn't blog for a while and, let me tell you, I felt so empty. even though I was able to follow my favorite blogs I couldn't participate in art world challenges and share my artwork. Thank you God and an awesome Dell support team that helped me in this process. This was the best customer service I have experienced so far when it comes to technical support. Many things happened in a meantime but I will blog about the most important ones soon.

Snow in March!

Today its blowing and snowing here in ATL Georgia. On March 1st !!! Can you even believe it? We have almost 2 inches of snow. And, boy, does it blow. My wind chime is about to punch a hole in a siding. It statred mildelly with a breeze and some rain , then it poured, and pured some more and when it turned into snow wind picked up to. So appropriate fir Illustratin Friday - Breezy.

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

Great theme in TGIF this week. I have again spent considerable time browsing through artistic blogs all over the globe exchanging ideas and making new friends. It seems that ideas have tendency to grow and expand the more hands they exchange. Creativity is contagious.

Freshly Baked and Yummy

Freshly Baked today! And almost half gone. I have discovered recipe for these cookies some time ago , most likely around Christmas, when my family members turn into bakers apprentices ( kids pitch in with their helping hands and thongs ) and myself into a head chef. I fell in love with their coffee toffee combination. They are so dippable and such a great way to start your day on sweet. I put a listing on Etsy today to share'em with the world.

Monarch for Arty Girlz

Monarchs are so beautiful, at least to me they are. When I had an exhibition few years ago people came to me with their amazing stories related to butterflies. It was a very inspiring evening and also a chance to hear so many personal accounts in how many different and magical ways these tiny Gods creations have touched peoples lives. It seemed that everyone had a different but nevertheless deep and meaningful experience. Many of the ancient civilizations believed that butterflies were symbols of the human soul. In Aztec culture they are related to souls of the dead and are celebrated as such in Dias de Los Muertos . Im just amazed with their icredible beauty and fragility and have painted many without ever getting tired of the subject .

A Bird on a Wire

I was mussing about paradoxes yesterday in my journal. The issue last night was : Is desert island really "desert" (i.e. a place devoid of life ) if we always depict it with a palm tree on it? A tree, always a symbol of life, and a desert all in one idiom. It bugged me for a while how did we came up with that idea in, what seems to be , our global culture ? So to my surprise, today, I myself came up with another paradoxical combination. Here is an image of a bird ( a symbol of freedom ) brought into a context with a barbed wire (a symbol of restriction or imprisonment). I'm not sure what is this little soul trying to do : to fly in or to fly out? It sure is a sad world were there is a barbed wire to restrict anything. But it should be an inspiration to us that the lighthearted ones can overcome it just like birds. Tell me what do you see in this image ? Help me understand where is this bird coming from ? Where does it go?

Pear Appeal

Every new year in our life brings in something new. No matter how small the discovery, it is so surprising to me that there was always something out there that I either never heard of or saw or tried. Somewhat at the beginning of this year , quite by accident, ( or shall I call it and unexpected sale) I have discovered Ya(or Yali ) pears. So many times before I have passed indifferently by those unappealing piles of carefully wrapped fruit at out Farmers Market. I'm not much of a pear person more of an apple one, so I never felt tempted to buy. A lowered price caught my eye and suddenly buying a fruit that is so meticulously wrapped seemed like an adventure. A curiosity kicked in. I've put few in my cart and didn't even remember to open until I came home. Wow ! An artist in me instantly fell in love with its fragility and almost unreal yellow, speckled by tiny burnt sienna dots. The taste and smell was even better then its look. I bought so many afterward. Every time before I savor its juices I carefully peal of labels stuck on every fruit and paste them on a paper. Even these little things looked like a piece of art to me and some even ended up in my journal ( becoming almost a pear worshiper here, am I ?) So I guess, from now on, I can officially pass as a pear person.

Spring is Near

The weather is finally warming up here in last few days which is a sure sign of a new spring. My backyard is filling up with new families of birds and songs start early in a day. Last year the number of my little friends has dramatically dwindled after hawks moved in. Days were silent for the most part with an occasional predator cry. We all know that it is a food chain and it's all natural but our world felt so empty all of a sudden. I hope they will find some sort of balance this time.

Wings and things

I was so excited when I came across Altered Bits blog and Alicia's challenge for Anatomically Altered art. This was my first idea on how to respond to this opening, but many others came in waves after this one. Looks like I will be working on it for a while. But wings seem to be quite a thing these days so I'm also contributing this effort to Mixed Media Monday [ Hearts and {or} Wings] and Lots to Do [ Wings].

And the Winner is...

The winner of my OWOH giveaway is Ursula Shaw !!! YEEEHH ! I want to mention again that I have enjoyed every step of this wonderful initiative and I'm yet to visit all the submitted blogs ( that's my goal) . Also thank you thank you thank you to all of you who have entered comments on my blog! I've got so much positive feedback and energy to last me a lifetime. Please take a chance to visit Ursula s blog, she has some fantastic stuff going on there.

Penny pincher

Well, these days everywhere you look the media is offering some savvy way to pinch your pennies and survive these tough times that are ahead of us. I must say some of those ideas are no news to us artists because we are borne recyclers and re purposers (this didn't pass my spell check but you know what I mean ) . I sometimes feel compelled to sit down and write several more chapters on top of their super ideas. I just never find time for that and this challenge felt so much more interesting than showing off with my frugal tips. This was such a fun to do. You can see that the whole surface is and overlapping frotage of a single penny ( the chant that goes with it is : let it multiply ) and glued on top is a penny itself.
I contribute this image to a Lots to do challenge "Metal". I hope y'all had as much fun with it as I did !

And Now: Into the Red

I have visited so many wonderful Blogs last week that are flooded wit great art and craft related to LOVE. And that's what we all should join in: sharing and spreading some more creative and nurturing love. This is my humble contribution to Arty Girlz Chalange Blog theme :Red and White. This is an ink wash painting on watercolor paper with some collage elements stamping and protective acrylic gloss.

Into the green

A very symbolic contribution to the reoccurring resolution to be more green each year ( and hopefully stay so) are these avocados done for a FRUIT challenge on Mixed Media Monday. It's a watercolor with some collage stamping and stencil. Hope you like it! I almost feel hungry just by looking at it. Yum and green.

I'm still chirpin'

I'm still chirpin' about the great activity and mingling that we all have shared through OWOH giveaway! I've came across some incredible people and felt so connected through our artistic striving like almost never before. I want to thank all of you out there who came to visit my tent and left such inspiring comments. And even if you didn't at least your positive energy flew through my blog and kept me working. Again a great thanks to all and LOVE to all !

Illustration Friday - Flawed

Not so perfect but also a part of perfection. I loved this challenge. And the cupcakes to! Thanks for looking at my art:)

One World One Heart

This is my giveaway for this wonderful event. This is my first year and I am enjoying discovering beautiful new blogs and fellow artists work.
This is and original small scale watercolor painting. Dimensions are 5x5 inches . It will be signed and dated on the back. Thank you for visiting My World.
To win this painting you need to :
1. Enter a comment by February 12. 2009
2. Have and active Blog with valid contact and
3. be lucky
so good luck to you all and I'll be off to check others on this caravan as soon as I post mine.

More birds

This is a tiny canvas and painting is in acrylic with a stamp on a bottom. This is a great little painting.I will use this one for several challenges. I guess I realized that trying to combine some of them is a challenge in itself and it makes me think harder. So here it is : Think Monday Think ATC/ Icy Blue... Theme Thursday 4x4... Thank God it's Friday, Green...

Almost like a heart

There is a couple of some red birds flying in my backyard, most likely Cardinals. They say that Cardinals always live as couples ( so romantic). This red one is not Cardinal but the shape is almost like a heart and I loved it .

Midnight Birds

This is just one side of this image in my spiral journal. The printer did bad job when I tried to scan both at the same time, so I decided to chose the one with the bird in it. My son was learning watercolors with me and did a great job in using enormous amount of blue paint to color a background for his shark on a desert island ( well not exactly "desert" because there was a tiny castle(?) on it). Almost a new day here!

SaWo No.39 gesso Transfer - Zebras

OK,
It doesn't look like scanner has captured my colors in a best possible way. But I did enjoy this challenge. I have learned a lot to! Instead of using a card paper I did my transfer on a canvas pad. Thanks for looking at my art!

Dancing Queen

I keep on thinking about how to additionally motivate my teenage daughter to read more. Here is what I tried to say: her soul would be so much richer she would feel like a Queen, she would go through her life so lighthearted as if dancing to her own tune, her beauty would become ephemeral shining through from inside illuminated magically by the words she has read . Anyways she is only fifteen but one day this all will make sense for her.

The Tale of Scarf Quin - or a Book

Well this is my first submission. I hope I'm not to late. This is one of the most significant openings that I can remember. The one when a fairytale starts and then everything becomes possible and the story mingles with your own life and imagination. I really enjoyed this challenge.

Pale

Illustration Friday - Pale

Before I even got to check a new challenge for this week I gathered all the courage I could master to stroll in my freezing January garden. Everything looked grayish with the film of frost just melting away in the morning sun. I came across this ghost leaf and took it in, touched by its frailty, intending to incorporate it in my art.
"Pale" was a perfect word for today's find. Leafs glory has faded to its bare skeleton. It has lost all those magnificent spring colors, but its beauty still prevailed.

Illustration Friday - Contained

Illustration Friday - Contained

Well, it comes in small bottles and is unstoppable once opened.

Fountain of youth

I always hear people say that it is not about how old you really are but about how old you feel. Well, if I go by my feelings I would say I have a very slim chances to ever feel a minute older than ,say, twenty six-ish. You know, that golden moment when you are still gorgeous, positive and full of expectations and at the same time out of teens (Thank you Lord! ). But then... life rolls on you some pretty visible film of disappointments, missed opportunities, longing and God knows whats that especially bothers you when you pass one of those treacherous mirrors that seem to be hanging in every darn room. I want to know how do you deal with that duality when you look yourself in the eye and there you are: forty, fifty, sixty five... and still feeling, you know, your perfect age ? Do you stop and try to talk some sense into your younger self demanding immediate resignation? Or do you convince yourself that that double chin is there just because lighting in the bathroom is so miserable and you should, as of today, replace that bulb with an advertised one that sheds warm glow and renders more flattering image of you? Or do you fall into a habit of brushing your teeth , combing your hair and even putting a make-up with out even seeing yourself standing there? I admit I tried all of the above at lest once and have especially grown fond of the last one. Less lies and also it makes you go through you daily routine faster and more efficiently. I still like the idea that we are only as old or as young as we feel because it's what's in us that counts. Body wears off sooner or later. Is it an eternity that we need to keep in mind in order to stay for ever young?

Amour

I'm learning every day. I've started not knowing anything about blogging. But making art is just as important for me. And, oh boy, do I learn every time i pick a pen... Process is sometimes more important then intention.
Love to all with this new piece of art.

Bussy like a bee

Even though I'm on vacation I am getting busy with my projects. Some I have caught up with in those two months when I had no time to blog. I meant to brag about it but I guess it was more important that the job got done and that my studio is now clean an functioning (I have to get kids out first to get to use it but that just goes to show that they like the improvements too).
Bumble bees are part of my old printing experience. I would like so much to use more of it in my art. It combines so well with many things that I want to do. Unfortunately a use of a good equipped studio is a must. Some things have to wait but hopefully not too long.

New Year

OK
Happy New Year !
(even though it is sort of late for this but ...) last few months were so busy in my and kids life that I had no time to blog. I was visiting some of my favorite places randomly (just to make sure I was still alive) and than even that became sparse. However, no complains, we have managed to have a Thanksgiving lunch , decorate our Christmas tree and bake some delicious new cookies. At the New Years Eve time was so tight that our meat didn't even roast all the way through. But, we lived through all of this with lots of laughter some fighting and some achievements and even managed to create few memorable vignettes that will keep reminding us that even when the times are tough there is always space for love.
Theese new dravings are here to remind me to sharpen the tools and keep on creating in this New Year.