The Subject is...FISH

I had the opportunity this week to visit my local library and hear a talk given by the author of this book, TROUT, James Prosek. He went to our local high school and while he was studying at Yale, he published this amazing book of his watercolors of....Trout.  Now even if you're not a "fish afficianado", you can't help but appreciate the work that went into this book.  Such an accomplishment at an early age.  
He's published quite a few books...both children's stories (I've read those too), and other "fish" books and he has a new book coming out this fall on...Eels!

But what I loved hearing about more than anything else...is his journey because he has an amazing life!

Segue to today....I had my 2nd class on how to alter a book.  We did a little bit of origami.  And, when I saw that the instructor had this beautiful rubber stamp of a ...FISH....well....that had to be in my book today.  So here are my pages from today's class...

 and it opens....

A little bit closer....

/

So that's my fish tale for today.  

A Deserving Vet

On a drive recently in a neighboring town, I ended up right behind a red Corvette. What are the odds that an inspiration for a journal page would be so "in my face" as this was?  And ever since I saw this, I knew I had to put it in my Red, White & Blue journal.  Here was this beautiful red Corvette...and it had a Veterans license plate.  A veteran in a "vette".  I couldn't get it out of my head...thus the joy of art journaling.  Now it's saved on paper.  Because, at the time, I thought....who is more deserving of having a car like this...than a Veteran.  

If I Ruled The World

IT'S A HOT SUMMER DAY

This photo I found on Pixdaus should make you feel a bit cooler.  Just let yourself feel it....like you are on top of the world....

IF I RULED THE WORLD 

If I ruled the world, ev'ry day would be the first day of spring

Every heart would have a new song to sing

And we'd sing of the joy every morning would bring

If I ruled the world, ev'ry man would be as free as a bird,

Ev'ry voice would be a voice to be heard

Take my word we would treasure each day that occurred

My world would be a beautiful place

where we would weave such wonderful dreams

My world would wear a smile on its face

Like the man in the moon has when the moon beams

If I ruled the world every man would say the world was his friend

There'd be happiness that no man could end

No my friend, not if I ruled the world

Every head would be held up high

There'd be sunshine in everyone's sky

If the day ever dawned when I ruled the world...

--Words by Leslie Bricusse

Music by Cyril Ornadel

Recorded by Tony Bennett

Red, White & Blue

Collage, mixed media.  The girl I cut from a children's book about the American Flag and it was illustrated by Ralph Masiello.  I also used the web patching tape you use on a wall  to make repairs, down the left side.  The words say "The sky's the limit."  That's what we wish for all of our children.

I Love Friday Nights....

....the work week is behind me, and the weekend stretches before me.  I love catching up with my sister, Dianne, on how her golf was this week and on all of the "art" stuff that we're interested in....while I'm sitting on my deck enjoying a cool drink.  My brother, Bill and Kathy, are enjoying a trip to Colorado for a friend's wedding...and my younger sister and her family are settling into their new place in Idaho.  We're all so far apart....we need another reunion!!!

I'm working on some new journal pages ( I'm not going to mow in this heat!)  It's hard to explain, but I just love the way I feel when I walk into my art room...

One of my biggest challenges is finding what I want...when I want it.  So I found these great Mary Engelbreit tins with windows....so you can see what's inside and I filled them with spools of ribbon.  (The skeleton is  a memento left from my Frida Kahlo workshop....)

 And this is just a picture of various containers on the edge of my drafting table...one of them I stuffed Christmas lights into.  You should save those wonderful glass bottles you get spaghetti sauce in!  Recycle, recycle.  And ...there is a mug from Tom...when he was a little guy.

And I want to post the picture of Bill and Kathy in Colorado...it's a nice one of them.  We just had such a wonderful visit with them in Atlanta!!

 So....that's my Friday night post.  Made homemade pizza....no photo...It didn't last long enough for me to take one.  :)

Not The Only One

Blue Patterns by Diane Walker

Imagine there's no Heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

Will there really be a "Morning"?

Is there such a thing as "Day"?

Could I see it from the mountains

If I were as tall as they?

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

Has it feet like Water lilies?

Has it feathers like a Bird?

Is it brought from famous countries

Of which I have never heard?

 Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

Oh some Scholar! Oh some Sailor!

Oh some Wise Man from the skies!

Please to tell a little Pilgrim

Where the place called "Morning" lies!

You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

There's a website called Episcopal Cafe at http://www.episcopalcafe.com/art where I got this from...I liked it so much, I had to post/share it.  There is a lot of wonderful art on that site.  "Imagine" by John Lennon; and Will there really be a "Morning"? by Emily Dickinson.  A little morning philosophy....

Homage to Nancy Drew

I loved reading books when I was a young girl ....and I must have read almost all of the Nancy Drew Mysteries...I don't really know.  All I know, is that I would go to my room and stay there for hours, reading Nancy Drew Mysteries.  

I came across some of the original hard bound copies in an antique flea market in Atlanta recently...was almost tempted to purchase one and read it ...again...but I didn't.  But...she's been on my mind.

So, segue to what I love about art journaling.  You don't have to spend hours, days figuring out how your "canvas" is going to look.  With art journaling...at least for me...it's something you just....do.  It doesn't take hours or days or weeks....you just have an idea, or a feeling, or something that you are chuckling about....and you have to get it on paper...in some form....capture it.  

So....here is my homage to Nancy Drew.  On the top page are the lyrics to Judy Collins song, "Both Sides Now" (there is a connection) and on the bottom...just a little philosophy about life, Nancy Drew and whatever you want to take away from this.  (In case you don't know it, if you double click on the image, you can see a larger version).  I had fun doing this, and that's what it's all about. (modified image 7/18/10)

Just One More ....

I can't help myself....I enjoy doing patriotic art more than anything else.  I was inspired by watching A Capitol 4th on TV and watching the Marine Corp Band play....my July 4th finale for this year.....

4th of July at Bethany Beach

When Tom was little, we spent many July 4ths at Bethany Beach.  Here is a collage... a photo of him watching the Bethany Beach Parade.  I painted the  background buildings, but cut him out from a photo as well as the rear of the truck and added it to this picture. 

Tom ...a younger soldier

I have quite a few pictures of Tom in his various "soldier regalia"...in this photo...his 2 front teeth were just coming in...

July 4, 2010

I cannot let a July 4 weekend go by without some "red, white & blue.  So last night I created this little painting for my red, white & blue journal.  The felted wool flag in the center was created by my artist friend, Morna Crites-Moore.  Morna has created some amazing felted wool flags which you can see on her blog, click here ...you have to go and see them!  Be sure to scroll down to her Flag Day post....

Updates on my Marine son who is spending his summer at Camp LeJeune, NC...I found out last week that Tom was named "Marine of the Week" by his platoon (140 guys).......so proud of him.  He has some time off this 4th of July and is spending the long weekend at the Outer Banks...some well deserved R & R from the hot summer days they've had down there.

So, I'm dedicating this post to our men & women in uniform.

Fun Little "Book"

I found this fun little "book" when I was in Atlanta last week, wandering around an antique flea market.  The tag said it was a notepad...but to me it's a fun, little blank book ....a glamorous, velvet dress with sequins on a hanger.  It's now hanging on the wall in my art room....just having fun!