Month: December 2022

Is New Years Really New?

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Here it is — NEW YEAR’S EVE!!!

Getting ready to push 2022 out the door without even a see ya later consolation prize, keeping our fingers crossed that 2023 will be filled with

__________  (fill in the blank)

 

 


* more money*
*peace and quiet*
*children and grandchildren*
*the ability to sell my house/car/stock*
*peace in my soul*
*time to read more books*
*a new best friend*
*more exercise*
*fresh air and walks in the woods*
*less doctor appointments*
*a best-selling novel*
*the ability to travel*
*new gardening ideas*
*a new understanding between myself and my friend/brother/husband/mother*
*the ability to forgive and forget*
*more involvement in church or the community*
*the strength to quit smoking*
*less pain in my hands and legs*
*acceptance for who I am*
*the drive to start a new creative project*
*cooking lessons*
*chances to find a celestial power again*
*a fresh coat of paint in the Livingroom*

Don’t we all wish one of the above wishes every new year? 

I know I start every new year with a determination to be a new and improved person. This could be by taking a class to reading more to trying new recipes to walking two blocks instead of one. I strive for more self-acceptance, less self-doubt, time to work in my garden, meeting more friends for lunch, hitting more art fairs and outdoor concerts. 

But I know I already am a better person. A better person than last year.

Last year made me weak, and last year made me strong. Last year brought both pain and love in abundance, something the previous years didn’t.

So.

As I wave goodbye to 2022 (it was the best of times and the worst of times), I leave the door wide open for 2023. No expectations. No resolutions. No repremands. Every day I’m going to try and grow in a positive direction. 

It’s just that I’m so tilty whirl and airy fairy and forgetful that I’ll likely forget what I pledged two weeks earlier. That’s okay — I’ll just make up some more things I can improve/change/get rid of. The list is endless.

Don’t waste your time with resolutions. You are already better than last year. Can you improve? Possibly. Should you try? Why not? Improvement is part of our evolution. Do. Or Do Not. There is no Try. Not really. Not in the end. 

What are you planning to do or not do in 2023?

 

 

 

Sunday Evening Art Gallery — Area Rugs

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Are rugs Art? Area rugs, throw rugs – are they artistic? If they are not created individually by a Monet or a Chihuly, are they still pieces worthy of collection? What makes them unique — the color? The shape? The fabric?

Like the unfathomable number of stars above, each rug glows with its own light. If one believes a rug tossed in front of a sofa or bed is artistic flair, so it is.  If it calls to you, sends you on your own private journey into the world of beauty and pleasure, so it is. 

 

 

 

On My Way To Do Something Else — For the 100th Time

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Some people are afraid of wandering around too much, helter skelter, carefree, no compass, no sense of direction. Others possess all of those keys and still manage to wander down alleys and up staircases and into deep woods and never fear a thing!

This morning I was reading my friend Ray‘s  latest story called Shared Truth on his blog Mitigating Chaos, (feeling a kindred spirit in his blog title), where he talks about another blogger, Steve Layman, and his blog A Layman’s Blog  (which he admires a lot) and who has made the list of Culture Offering’s list of 25 Blogs Guaranteed to Make You Smarter (of which I follow 3 or 4).

Did you follow all of that?

Well, while I got side tracked into following Ray’s trail of blog crumbs, I turned around and went back into the list of those ~ I ~ followed (which is where I was going in the first place, before I got pleasantly distracted by Ray) and found a Judith, a blogger who hadn’t posted on her blog Artistcoveries in about six months, but whose discoveries I always enjoyed. Taking a break, I hope she comes back soon! 

See — this is what blogging is to me — dropping names of writers and artists I think you’d enjoy. I’m here to hang with you!  

uh … where are we going?

 

 

Go Bold! — Artistcoveries

My daughter, Liz, you may recall, is quite an accomplished collage artist. I’ve previously shared the iguana she drew and collaged for me, and she recently completed this parrot for her aunt, my sister Jill. Collage Art by Elisabeth Sherwood – June 2022 If you look closely, you’ll see that she made this from pieces […]

Go Bold! — Artistcoveries

Merry Happy Stupendous Reflective Holy Moley Christmas!

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Whether you are gandering the goose, baking the cookies, celebrating the celestial, thanking the Lord, or wrapping heirlooms, I hope your holiday weekend brings you all the peace and joy your little big heart can hold.

Friends are forever — so are family and strangers, too. Give a little of yourself to all three — you will feel blessed.

From your little toe with the toenail that’s always too long to the thinning of your hairy or non-hairy head, my love to you and yours.

Sunday Evening Art Gallery — Geisha

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In Japan, a Geisha is a member of a professional class of women whose occupation is to entertain elete male clientele.The word Geisha itself literally translates to “artisan”, and the women are known for their distinct make-up and attire, their elegant and graceful dance and movements, and demure conversation. They use their talents and well-practiced techniques to provide entertainment for customers on the occasion of banquets and performances.Eizan Kikukawa

All geisha must learn to play the shamisen, alongside additional instruments that often accompany the shamisen, such as the ko-tsuzumi (small shoulder drum) and fue (flute), as well as traditional Japanese dance.In addition to being skilled at physical arts, the Geisha excel in making conversation.Other talents showcase flower arranging, performing the tea ceremony, and calligraphy.Katsushika Hokusai

 

Their distinct appearance is characterized by long, trailing kimono, traditional hairstyles and oshiroi make-up.Geisha entertain at parties known as ozashiki, often for the entertainment of wealthy clientele, as well as performing on stage and at festivals.

The Geisha system is thought to have emerged in the 17th century to provide a class of well-trained entertainers set apart from courtesans and prostitutes.Kitagawa Utamaro

 

While Geisha themselves are not prostitutes, their roots can be found in Saburuko, late seventh century Japanese women who were forced by eroding economic conditions and social displacement to exchange sexual favors in order to survive.

Modern Geisha still live in traditional geisha houses called okiya in the hanamachi areas, particularly during their apprenticeship. Many experienced geisha who are successful enough eventually choose to live independently during the later part of their careers. 

Today, the Geisha who exist in areas such as Kyoto, Kanazawa, and Tokyo are some of the most highly developed and valued professional entertainers of the region.

 

 

Sunday Evening Art Gallery — Jungho Lee

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Jungho Lee is a surrealistic illustrator and artist based in Seoul, Korea.Lee studied graphic design at Hongik University in Seoul.He has worked as an illustrator for various media since 2007.

The artist creates surreal illustrations incorporating books into our everyday surroundings.

Lee hand draws his images with charcoal and watercolors before scanning and digitally layering them to reach the desired illusory effect.These whimsical illustrations  incorporate the beauty of books into everyday environments, creating thoughtful, dream-like scenes.Lee’s books work as an open door, a star-filled lake, a morning slice of pie or an airplane’s wing.More of Jungho Lee‘s whimsical work can be found at http://www.leejungho.com and https://www.facebook.com/ejungho.

 

 

Faerie Paths — Online Friendship

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Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one!’

~ C.S. Lewis

 

 

I Continue to Survive

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I got a little drunk the other night.

I don’t drink often, and when I do, it’s usually a glass of wine with dinner. My body just cannot take the abuse alcohol gives it.

When I have had too many drinks, I tend to get a silly, talky kind of drunk. I don’t get overly dramatic, overly loud, or, apparently, overly clever. My mind still tends to wander in ten directions at one time, but much, much slower.

The reasons for imbibing too many cherry vodka and cokes is multi-reasoned. (Isn’t it always?) We had to put one of our dogs down because he just was too mean and unpredictable, and had already bit my son’s kids and my other dog.

This is not wondering about being right or wrong — it’s done. But what it made me feel still lingers.

Do you think we’re often too sensitive for our own good?

That, although we know the truth about unpleasant situations, we still cannot help but over react?

I sometimes get tired of being over sentimental. Over emotional. Over reactive.

I’m much better than I used to be, but if it were tree huggers on the left and reasonable minds on the right, I’d be first in line on the left.

Occasionally I get overly over the top. I think I wrote a blog about this very condition — anthropomorphism. The attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object. I seem to give human thought to everything …. birds, rabbits, snakes. Like they’re thinking in human terms and words.

There is nothing wrong with being empathetic. Compassionate. Loving. We should be all of the above.

There is, however, a line that needs to be drawn between human thoughts and reactions and those of a bird … or a dog. 

If you don’t get a grip on giving other creatures human thoughts you will be drowned out by the thoughts of millions of ants in the ground and elder bugs crawling on trees and salmon swimming upstream to spawn.

I think you get my drift. 

Back to my earlier point.

Drinking was a knee-jerk reaction to coping with things I didn’t want to cope with. And perhaps for 20 minutes I didn’t. But then life circled back again, especially in the morning when I woke up with a banger headache and remembered why I don’t drink any more.

The experience was still there. The truth had already been spoken. And I still had to handle it all.

As I always say, the past cannot be changed. Deal with it. Life goes on, whether we want it to or not. So accepting every day as it comes is the best way to live long and prosper. Drinking ourselves into oblivion solves nothing. No matter if you’re 20 or 50 or 70.

Even if it did taste good going down. 

 

 

Sunday Evening Art Gallery — Mark Eliott

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Australian artist Mark Eliott worked as a novelty and scientific glassblower before making sculptural glass art.

Initially, Eliott worked as a novelty and scientific glassblower to supplement his music studies at the Conservatorium of Music, becoming an accomplished saxophonist..He completed a Master of Visual Arts and Master of Studio Arts at Sydney College of the Arts as well as associate diploma in Jazz Studies (saxophone) at Sydney Conservatorium of Music.His whimsical sculptures reveal a strong ecological message behind the work.What sets Eliott apart from many other makers is the breadth of ways he works the hot glass flame to channel his ideas.He uses the flame like a scribe as he creates 3D illustrations and installations incorporating various media such as music, stop-motion animation and wood carving.

A characteristic of Mark’s work is that at first glance the viewer is drawn like a magnet to his objects because of their lively, colorful, and whimsical appearance.However, as he speaks in layers, what is revealed is the strong ecological message behind the work.This is best explained by describing some of the works which underpins the wide range of highly skilled applications to support his ideas when using the flame with glass. More of Mark Eliott’s wonderfully imaginative art can be found at https://www.markeliottglass.com/.

 

 

A Peek Into Past Galleries

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I’ve been having a ball collecting new and unique artists and art for upcoming Galleries. My life has had a few baseballs thrown at it, and sometimes the only way out of it or around the center of it is to concentrate someplace else.

So the Gallery is my escape place.

I thought I would bring a few of the more lost and (perhaps for the moment) forgotten artists that I’ve highlighted in my Sunday Evening Art Gallery. 

Do you remember…….

Natalya Sots

 

Jennifer Maestre

 

 

Spencer Biles

 

 

Anton Semenov

 

Bathsheba Metal

 

Loïs Mailou Jones

 

 

Dream Food

 

 

Marc Giai-Miniet

 

 

Vladimir Rumyanrsev

 

 

Sharon Johnstone

 

Jellyfish

 

 

Earrings

 

Stop by any time!!

 

Channeling and Township — Tiffany Arp-Daleo Art

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The thing I enjoy about Tiffany’s art is that she brings the world of Abstract painting into mine with a simple explanation. Or really no explanation is at all.

I am still new to the worlds of Minimalism, Abstract,  Cubism, Surrealism, Fauvism,  and many other -ism art forms. I am pleasantly surprised to learn there are more than portraits and landscapes out there in the painting world.

Some forms of art, like Picasso’s Cubism and Dali’s Surrealism, are hard for me to understand. Especially when the art is representative of a person or a mood. 

But I am learning.

I am certain there are parameters and categories in Tiffany’s art, too. There is meaning and feeling and inspiration in each creation. 

Perhaps I understand better on a beginner’s level because of the squares and cubes and other simpler shapes that I can understand and feel.

I hope you take some time and hop over to her website and see what I mean. 

I love that being a beginner in Modern Art is not as traumatic as I thought it would be.

 

https://tiffanyarpdaleo.com/2022/12/07/channeling/

 

 

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is township.jpg

https://tiffanyarpdaleo.com/2022/11/13/township/

 

Sunday Evening Art Gallery — Rukiye Garip

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Rukiye Garip was born in 1964 in Bartin, Turkey.She graduated from Gazi University Vocational Education Faculty in 1985.

After her graduation she lived in Ankara, working as a graphic designer.

Garip went to a ceramic workshop in 1987 with a group of friends, and in 1989, started working as an art teacher.

After working in different provinces and schools for 20 years, Garip retired and opened up her own workshop in Balıkesi.

The main distinguishing feature in Garip’s artwork are hidden in the details. She enjoys the peaceful effect of blue and green in her pictures.“Everything that looks good to me in nature can be the subject of my pictures,” Garip explains.

“I want to illustrate as much as possible natural beauties that disappear rapidly and cannot be returned. Not getting rid of the details — I want my work to be noticed for the tiny, beautiful, happy details.”More of Rukiye Garip‘s enchanting paintings can be found at https://www.instagram.com/rukiyegarip/ and https://wooarts.com/rukiye-garip/.

 

 

Sunday Evening Art Gallery — Vita

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Vita of the Vitraaze Glass Shop is a glass painter from Kyiv, Ukraine who decorates teapots, mugs, plates, and various other glassware in striking hues to look like stained glass. Each vibrant piece is hand-painted with non-toxic paint and then heat-set so the designs don’t come off when washed.From floral designs to seasonal motifs, each colorful piece is a functional piece of art.Vita uses non-toxic enamels approved for use with food, then fires the pieces so their designs last as long as possible. They may not be dishwasher safe, but Vita says they’ll hold up to everyday use. I’ve been fond of painting since childhood,” Vita explained.“When I was a student, I read an article about glass painting and decided to try it out. I took a glass bottle and bought special paint for glass in the nearest shop. I then created a very simple design on the bottle, it wasn’t nice at all.”However, Vita didn’t let it discourage her. On the contrary.“I decided to try and perfect it,” she said. “I am crazy about doing everything as well as possible and fell in love with glass painting as I was doing my best to improve. Now, I’ve been at it for 6 years and still love it very much.”The artist usually finds inspiration in nature. “I adore how motifs of the natural world look on tableware and other pieces of décor. It’s a classic.”

More of Vita‘s amazing painted glass can be found at https://www.etsy.com/market/vitraaze_vita and https://mymodernmet.com/hand-painted-glass-mugs-vitraaze/.

 

 

 

Christmas Is Not Always About You

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This should be the time of year that good times, good food, and good movies bring us all together. It will be Christmas in a few weeks, the babe will be born, angels will sing, and a little boy will drum a song for the new born king, giving the babe’s mother a headache.

Some of us decorate for the holidays. Some go overboard (I love to visit those houses!) Some barely put a string of lights up in the window. This winter, with my husband’s recent shoulder surgery, we managed to put our Santa collection and singing pieces of coal around for festive interactions. That’s about it.

There’s always the other side of the Christmas season, though. Family  members seem to get sicker this time of year; sons and daughters are celebrating a thousand miles away from home, people are losing their jobs, houses, and self esteem. These things happen all year around, of course, but with sacred and melancholy music pouring out of every musical pore, these tragedies seem more obvious during these last three weeks of the year.

It seems we are always being tested this time of the year, too. On a diet? Try passing up the Christmas strudel and homemade Snickerdoodles. When the song White Christmas blares from the TV, it reminds you that you haven’t seen your grandma or your dad in ages.  Buying all your presents online, filling your carts with gift cards instead of things hand picked for that person may rattle your guilt cart a little, too. 

Christmas season is becoming more stressful in brand new ways. Families used to worry about not having enough food on the table. These days people worry that they won’t be able to replicate the Venti iced skinny hazelnut macchiato, with sugar–free syrup, extra shot, light ice, no whip that your mother-in-law gets at Starbucks all the time.

Christmas provides a neutral ground to start all over again. You could always pencil in a lunch date or a trip to the zoo to go with that gift card, or find the recipe for that intricate coffee drink and include it in your package. It’s never to late to make all kinds of calls on Christmas Day, even if they only last for two minutes a piece.

All kidding aside, everyone doesn’t need to be bubbly happy during the Christmas holidays. Some people have to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Some are in the hospital and can’t come over for dinner, others are in rehab and won’t make it for Christmas Eve punch. Some will be missing the ones who made the holiday special, and some will have a migraine from stress and not be able to appreciate all the effort you put into your holiday lights.

Christmas is a special day, but every day should be a special day in your life. We can’t go backwards; we can’t go back to simpler times (which they weren’t), or find the same sacredness that kept the people enthralled three hundred years ago.

I’m dealing with a bunch of stress and garbage this holiday season myself — I almost bah-humbugged putting up lights, nor wanted to listen to “Its The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” or watch Christmas Vacation.

But I did, and am a better person for it.

Life will go on — Christmas celebrations will go on — whether I choose to join them or not. And who knows whose heart I might touch in a special way with just a word or a laugh or a story if I venture out to see family and friends? Who knows which little kid will hold close my compliment on their clothes or toys or their ability to sing all of Jingle Bells?

Remember. Christmas is not always about you.

 

 

 

Be That One Noble Person……….. — Boundless Blessings by Kamal (repost)

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A lovely repost for a lovely Monday Morning…….

 

One sparkling smile can bring a friendship to blossom One helpful hand can lift a soul out of misery One constructive word can frame the goal of life One word of cheeriness can bring so much joy One candle lit with an intent that can wipe out darkness One uproarious laughter can conquer gloom One […]

Be That One Noble Person……….. — Boundless Blessings by Kamal

Sunday Evening Art Gallery — Nikita Golubev

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The whole world is an artist’s canvas, and they can turn almost anything into works of art with their skill.

Nikita Golubev is an artist and illustrator who lives and works in Moscow.He has experimented with painting, sketches, and digital art, and even though he doesn’t live near any beautiful natural places, a busy town always gives him new ways to express himself. Golubev uses layers of dust and dirt to take amazing pictures on the surface of cars and trucks, turning the dirt of the city into works of art.He uses dirt and filth as paint to make beautiful pictures of animals, flowers, people, and fictional characters.The artist said that he always tries to make his drawings simple and clear, but he also enjoys putting  depth in the images.The most difficult part of the creative process is to start, but so it is with any art.“One thing is that you can’t undo what you painted, but I find it to be beneficial since it helps me to finish my work and learn when it’s the right time to stop,” he notes.“I get lots of feedback from all around the world, and many come directly from truck drivers. It seems that most people are impressed with that and understand my messages, which is inspiring to me.”More of Nikita Golubev’s artistic handiwork can be found at https://www.instagram.com/proboynick/ and https://mymodernmet.com/dirty-car-art-nikita-golubev/.

 

The Magic of Unusual

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You have seen the wonder of my Sunday Evening Art Gallery through this blog since I first opened the Gallery September 14, 2014.

2014. Holy Moley. That sounds like such a long time ago.

And I am still finding amazing, unique, wonderful, different artists and their work.

The world is an amazing place. I may not always agree with its politics or ignorance or boldness but there is always room for Art.

I sometimes wish I could just show everyone what the art world is about. But there is so much of it that I don’t understand. Don’t know the history nor the mechanics or the explanation for so many creative things.

But that doesn’t mean they’re not beautiful. Or unique.

Or strange.

As I always say, beauty in art is relative. The Holocaust was not beautiful. Documenting your dementia is not beautiful. Sketching and painting monsters, both inside and outside of your brain, is not necessarily beautiful.

But they are all necessary if you want to understand more of human nature.

Now, I’m not always sure I want to “understand” more of human nature. The positive side is like heaven; light, sunny, colorful. Positive vibes. Acceptance. Understanding. A comfortable psyche and aura.

As for the dark side of human nature, it can keep its distance. It can stay far away — along with thoughts of denial, erasure, and destruction.

Yet we cannot ignore what exists. And many artists have been able to take that pain and confusion and turn it into something that can be brought into this dimension, at least for understanding and explanation.

That’s why art, in all its forms, is magical.

Looking back through all my Galleries, it’s amazing what I have found. From royal crowns to harps to giant flowers to ancient landscapes to carved food to demons and fairies, there is something for everyone.

As Maximus asks in the movie Gladiator — “Are Your Not Entertained?”

 

 

 

Sunday Evening Art Gallery — Cactus (Houseplant Size)

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Be a cactus in a world of delicate flowers.
~ Unknown

 

Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus Rigidissimus)

 

Burro’s Tail (Sedum Morganianum)

 

Buddha Temple plant (Crassula Ovata)

 

Bizanguita (Turbinicarpus Alonsoi)

 

Ribbon Plant (Trachyandra Tortilis)

 

Dragon Bone Cactus (Euphorbia Lactea)

 

Cooper’s Haworthia (Haworthia Cooperi)

 

Blue Cactus (Echeveria Secunda)

 

Living Stones (Lithops-Dorotheae)

 

Wine Cup Cactus (Crassula Umbella)

Dinosaur Back Plant (Geometrizans Cristata)