Indian Paintbrushes in Autumn

The setting sun highlighted this stand of Indian Paintbrushes at Deer Island this afternoon. They positively glowed.

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 240

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 240: Built to Care

Built to care -- I think the human heart is made this way -- or maybe it's the human spirit, meant to care and to love the people and animals and life around it. I also find that animals throughout my life have been an enormous gift in teaching me about caring and love. There is a quietness with animals (and nature) that is like no other thing. It's where the best of us lay, I think. I am so much bigger, wider, softer, after I have spent time with animals or walked in the woods, or ridden down a trail. I am much easier to love and it's easier to give love.

This was the last day of the AEDM -- Art Every Day for a Month -- challenge hosted by Leah Pinkas Golidas of Creative Everyday blog. I found this challenge very stimulating and a boost to my creative explorations. Even though I was already creating a journal page a day as part of my own personal challenge, I found I ventured out and expanded my use of materials and pretty much met my goals. It was a very supportive community and I found some really interesting artists out there. All in all I had a good time, and recommend this challenge to anyone who is interested.

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 239

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 239: Well, What if Stuff Happens Again?

Yes, what if it does? Will I use it to stop forward motion? Will I use it to put myself down (once again)? Or will I just put my party dress on, grab my shoes and keep on moving down the road?

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 238

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 238: We Never Needed the Fantasy

Well, I'm not sure about you, but I always need the fantasy -- or what you would call the fantasy -- the feeling that there is another world where there is no conflict; a world where one can just look and the other person knows what you are feeling and shares it; where one walks with peace, with confidence, and with a vitality that enriches and touches everyone and everything in its path. Yes, I need that fantasy.

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 237

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 237: What Would You Believe

Dreaming is a powerful tool for us creative types. The world usually does not reflect the poetry within, so we create the stories and the music to go with them. There is a powerful seduction in that process, one that can either liberate or bring one to the knees. I have found it healthier to question my beliefs, while holding on to the dreams. Less scraped knees that way.

Party Dress

I can't believe the weather here today -- mid-70's and sunshine gorgeous. I needed to take some photos today for my Art Every Day Challenge. This species rose we planted about 9 years ago, caught my eye (how could it not?). It's on the edge of the driveway at the beginning of the walkway to our house. I've never ID'd this rose. We purchased it in an unmarked gallon container at a Norther California nursery back in 2000. It has grown at least six feet tall and at least six feet wide. Prodigious bloomer pretty much all year. Old stock -- it seems to be a species rose. It has the most lovely delicate rose scent that lingers in your nose. I think I'll call it "My Party Dress". More photos here.

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 236

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 236: Not All Luxuries Are This Difficult

It is a luxury to think about what other lives you might have lived. What other roads you might have taken. What makes it difficult is the temptation to stay in that dreamlike, storybook world. For me, it is a constant challenge to reaffirm that I made the right choices on this journey called life -- to acknowledge that some internal guidance system coaxed me, prodded me, pushed me, (and whacked me over the head when I wasn't paying attention) down a path that hasn't always been spelled out. Is it every spelled out if you stay in the question? Nah. Yet at this point in my life, I'm wondering just how many opportunities are left to learn who I really am. I am sure there's still a whole bunch of them, and -- I have this feeling they are going to get pretty creative!

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 235

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 235: Beyond Your Imagination

Finally...A Moment to Be Creative!

Got my camera back after dropping it last week right smack on the zoom lens, wickedly jamming it. Was very doubtful it could be fixed, but Canon Powershot SD1100 is a sturdy work animal and the magic man at Seawood Photo, Carl, patched her together. Dance performances all over (successfully) and Thanksgiving Day prep mostly done -- so I had time to take some photos in the California morning light. Beautiful. I am the luckiest girl in the world to be living here, right now, at this time. Here is a slide show of the rest of the photos I took this morning yard, garden, and Deer Island -- enjoy (slow it down or speed it up under "Options")!

Happy Thanksgiving or Happy Autumn to everyone!

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 234

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 234: Some Journeys

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 233

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 233: Could Might Will Should

2009 Daily Journal Page...Day 232

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 232: Journey

In the Country

I took this photo when I was visiting my sister in Philadelphia. It had been raining and we had taken a drive out in the country. We came to this small town and at a stop sign I saw this terrific moss-stained fence and single red rose. I rolled down the car window and grabbed this shot. And here's a close up of that huge rose -- October on the East Coast, no less!

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 231

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 231: Mint Julep Dreams

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 230

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 230: Which Came First

Oh boy -- what a question. It gets exhausting when I linger in the dramatic. Yet sparklers and fireworks and longing and gnashing of teeth certainly keep one entertained. Stark reality sucks. Drama is a great way to not see what's there in front of you...and what's not. And you know us arteests...we love weaving stories...and drama can be very much part of the territory. Sheesh...I am going to go fix myself some popcorn. Pass the anchovy salt.

Collage: A Boy's Dream Travels

Collage: A Boy's Dream Travels

Found some time today to do another collage. I never know what's going to emerge. Four things that I keep in the back of my mind: Cover the whole page. Strive for balance. Don't try to figure out what the image selections mean. Just cut and paste.

I like all of the mystical elements that emerged in this -- a Mexican shaman, a cavern lit with golden light, the Buddha. Galileo's workshop in the background, animals. The boy stands next to a pole (missing a STOP sign?) in front of a village street. He's facing the future (as is the Buddha); travel, self-knowledge, growth, earning his stripes. When consulting Stephen Farmer's Power Animal oracle cards, giraffe represents foresight "the ability to see what's in store for the future".

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 229

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 229: Where Desire Leads

Desire -- one often thinks of it as fiery, hot, tempestuous. But desire can also be cool or temperate, expansive, far-reaching, winding. Desire contains a vision of a union already achieved, which erases all memory except the present moment and the forward motion of moving with and to its goal. Not knowing where it will lead; not caring about the outcome, desire has its own road to travel and its own timing.

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 228

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 228: Made Extraordinary

Can you imagine having the ability to see the rainbow-hued scales on a butterfly's wing? A micron microscope is what was used to capture these photos. Or maybe it would take a golden eye such as this one -- an alien, slightly more than ordinary (such an understatement) perception. -- an almost alien -- to catch a glimpse of magic.

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 227

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 227: Time to Treat Yourself

Take care of your body. Love it. Pamper it. Nourish it. Honor it. It will take you to the next place -- that's guaranteed.

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 226

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 226: Perfection Is Debatable

Also serving as art for Day 16 of the Art Every Day Challenge for the month of November.

Magic in October

I was browsing through my photo files and ran across this shot. It's just a great example of the nurturing, sometimes magical feel of our home. I like how the late afternoon sun is highlighting the pampas grass blooms on our fence line. Worthy of being posted.

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 225

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 225: Mystic Landscape

As we travel the mystic path -- the one that questions all perceptions -- the landscape of the normal is replaced with with confusion, then joy. But which path does one chose to walk down? The sacred stone steps? The sacred skyscraper? -- Or both?

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 224

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 224: It's About Trusting

Art Every Day for a Month (November Day 14)

Worry Proof

Day 14 entry for Art Ever Day for a Month Challenge. How to keep cool and your head clear under pressure!

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 223

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 223: Celebrate Their Odyssey

Nothing is guaranteed in relationships. Love between two people is a constant willingness to step off into space and force yourself to go beyond your preconceived definitions of what a relationship is. Hopefully you'll be with someone who also has the courage to jump over that same cliff.

Jezebel's Scarves

Jezebel's Scarves, originally uploaded by beautiful my mane.

Day 11 entry in the Art Every Day For a Month Challenge sponsored by Leah Piken Kolidas of Creative Every Day blog. Here's what I said:

"I'm in the mood for love....well, maybe pinks and reds! A collection of scarves hanging on a bedroom wall. They incarnate various aspects and interests in my life...belly dance, burlesque, and pole dance! "

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 222

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 222: Is Now History

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 221

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 221: No Entry

My Grandmother's

My grandmother, Virginia Moremen Lindsay, was creative person: she sewed dresses and Easter bonnets for me, she crocheted, she drew, she painted, and she made ceramic bowls, horses, jaguars and panthers, and birds. I spent many hours in my childhood watching her working on some project. She would always give me something to work on -- a piece of clay, paper and crayons. But as talented as she was, I don't think she was a good teacher. I do not have memories of being encouraged by her, so I usually got frustrated because what I made always seemed fall short. I can't really blame her or my mother (the same talent and temperament) though, I think I just had to find my own way to art. There is a timing for everything in your life.

This beautiful display she made and I can remember how she would spend hours it seemed on a specific flower or the curve of the bird's wing. She made I think seven pieces in this series. My mom has the rest. I am so glad I was able to bring this one home with me.

Beautiful the Light (Autumn Rose)

Collage: Flotsom and Jetsam

Collage: Flotsom and Jetsam 11.11.2009, originally uploaded by beautiful my mane.

Started out as a random, closed eye drawing (with dominant right hand today), then started coloring in with iridescent chalks, added watercolors, added images, used some cat's eyes ink pads. Very humorous one for me cause I don't understand it, but enjoyed doing it.

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 220

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 220: I Belong Here

Antique bottles at the Jimtown Store in Healdsburg, CA. They were sitting in a screened window. Not the best photo but I like the blue color (reminds me of those blue antique canning jars I used to find in the farm sinkholes in Kentucky) You can see a reflection of some of the other bottles for sale. I was looking through all of the photos I've been taking over the past year -- and I thought that I should post some of them instead of letting them languish in a file somewhere. Somebody will probably like seeing them.

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 219

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 219: Ferocious

Collage: There Was No Question

Collage: There Was No Question

How was I going to motivate myself today to get my art piece done for the Art Every Day of the Month Challenge? I just walked into my studio, turned the ipod on shuffle, and for a few minutes picked up around the room, and then grabbed a new handmade journal (handcrafted by my favorite journal maker -- Ann Renee Lighter --). I started using pieces of images lying around on my work surface, grabbed some ink pads, oil pastels, and iridescent chalks. I even made an attempt at drawing some flowers (please remember I am untrained in drawing -- so I am floundering around a bit here). It was fun, easy and it took all of 20 minutes. My mantras: Don't think -- just grab and tear; Don't think -- just pick up a sharpie; Don't think -- just grab some chalk! And if I ask myself anything -- What color pleases me?

And for me, the title (words) fits -- there was no question -- that some things are just supposed to be as well as the very deep knowledge that my body, soul, and mind belongs to the Universe.

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 218

2009 Daily Journal Page --Day 218: Challenge Yourself

I love that this woman is 58 years old and is running 10K+ marathons!

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 217

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 217: We'll Meet Again One Day

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 216

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 216: Tip of the Tongue

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 215

2009 Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 215: What's a Girl Gotta Do?

Collage: Somewhere (Art Every Day for a Month)

Collage: Somewhere

I joined a blog challenge -- Art Every Day for a Month in November-- as a way to stretch myself creatively. The Challenge is hosted my Leah Piken Kolidas of Creative Every Day Blog. I have been wanting to explore and widen and deepen the few techniques I pull from and work on a bit larger platform than my small journals, so I felt this challenge would push me to do that.

Today I started with a left-handed (non-dominant) random drawing. It made me laugh that at the end I could see a swan in this mess, and not only a swan but one in Boston's Public Garden as well. Random drawing seems to be a great way for me to warm up creatively, although I find it a bit tedious and I feel like I'm in 2nd grade. The collage Somewhere came next and I just concentrated on filling the page with images. Not really thinking about anything specific -- I just want to see what emerges from my unconscious. Although it's interesting that I was pulled toward golds, coppers, and rust. Then I added blue iridescent chalk and oil pastels. Something is happening!

Random Drawing: Swan in the Public Garden

Collage: Don't Forget!

Collage: Don't Forget!

This collage was created immediately after I finished a left-handed free drawing that I done in the same journal. On my last visit with my sister, she taught me the creative (art therapy) process of drawing with your non-dominant hand (my left). You keep the pen or pencil on the page the whole time and randomly draw across the whole page -- with or without your eyes closed. I found this a challenging exercise. The first time I did it -- I HATED it! It felt so ugly -- it looked so ugly. Then I was asked to fill in the areas with color. Again I felt stupid and untalented. Once I finished my sister asked "What do you see?" I couldn't say. But she said she saw so much energy in the drawing and one particular area I had colored seemed to her to have Kali energy. When I included her perspective I could see what she meant. In the same day I created a collage that was extremely powerful. It seemed to have been let loose by this exercise.

Don't Forget is an very interesting collage for me -- it covers the whole page, it shows a woman dreaming, a woman with deflated butterfly wings, and a kind of angry woman sitting on the ground. Perhaps different aspects of my self. The many-chambered nautilus seems to represent the many passages of life. The best thing in this collage is the squirrel reaching out, perhaps yelling "Don't forget!" Don't forget about what? Me? The natural world? Don't forget to fly?

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 214

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 214: True Blooded

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 213

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 213: Fanned Out