Another charming photo of my mother-in-law.
Sanctuary #3 was purchased yesterday and is on its way to Canada. I was honored to meet Sylvia Keesmaat and her mother Irene Keesmaat who were in Grand Rapids to attend the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church. Sylvia included some of my work in a devotional booklet she edited for use with meditations about the use of the gifts of women in the church. Irene is also an artist and lives and works in Caledonia, Ontario. It was a delight to visit with them.
Obviously, I've been spending quite a bit of time with graphic design for the Fire and Water Showroom! Actually, I have done a few small pieces of my own art but none photo worthy as yet.
Happiness Is A Journey... Father Alfred D'Souza |
| For a long time is seemed to me that life was about to begin -- real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. GREAT quote! Don't know who he was, but that is some serious wisdom! Also attributed to him sometimes is: Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though heaven is on earth. |
This is a standard size postcard I did for the Fire and Water ART Showroom. I find this a really fun process. Maybe because I'm so excited about the place!
The Fire and Water Art! Showroom is the brain child of Kathleen Mooney who invited other artists to rent with her space at 219 W. Main in Lowell, Michigan. We've been together and selling art and giving art classes and generally having a good time together since November of 2006. Looking forward to a great summer! Check out www.fireandwaterart.blogspot.com.
These sweet little blue flowers were all over Camp Tosebo last weekend. The pale blue carpet in the woods is amazing. There are lots up by the craft house like in this plein air painting from last year. I transplanted some in to a little rock garden by the Trunk House and they jumped right up like they hadn't been uprooted. I also found a patch of pink ones. I transplanted some down to my garden in the city and you can see they look pretty happy amongst the other eclectic mix of survival-of-the-fittest in the back garden. I hope they spread a lot of seeds!
It's hard not to respond to flowers this time of year. I was playing with some paint at the Fire and Water Showroom while I was gallery sitting and David had brought pansies for his class and that's what my painting turned out to be. Then I went on a photographic tour of a local greenehouse just to feed my eyes with all the color! What a great time of year!The Wish to Be Generous
All that I serve will die, all my delights,
the flesh kindled from my flesh, garden and field,
the silent lilies standing in the woods,
the woods, the hill, the whole earth, all
will burn in man’s evil, or dwindle
in its own age. Let the world bring on me
the sleep of darkness without stars, so I may know
my little light taken from me into the seed
of the beginning and the end, so I may bow
to mystery, and take my stand on the earth
like a tree in a field, passing without haste
or regret toward what will be, my life
a patient willing descent into the grass.~ Wendell Berry ~
(The Collected Poems, 1957-1982)
Someone said these dancers looked like marionettes.
The sacred rocks of faith offer platforms for dreams
Vayetze
Genesis 28:10-32:3
Hosea 12:13-14:10
"Psalm 118:22 utilizes stone as a metaphor indicating that the meek will become the mighty: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.' This sentiment was adopted in Christian Scriptures as well. But in Parashat Vayetze, Jacob slept on a stone pillow and dreamt of a ladder that reached to heaven with angels ascending and descending to his headrest.
What is it about stone that provides people with a sense of the sacred? Rocks speak in a powerfully moving way... It was a rock that provided Jacob with a platform for his hopes and dreams."
Well said!
This is a series of small postcards of rocks with special verses on them. I've done them for a long time- at least ten years. Over the years I've sent one a week to some families that were traveling through tough times. I'm doing some a little more carefully and having them printed. The first cards were done with permanent marker and water based marker and a watery brush on pre-stamped postcards from the post office. The last two were done with permanent marker and watercolor on watercolor paper. Those are the ones I'm having printed.
"The arts are a very human way of making life more bearable.
Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to
make your soul grow." (Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. 1923-2007)
I'll have 20 pieces at FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH at 227 East Fulton. I’m honored to still have my mixed media art work featured at the EYEKONS GALLERY right across the street from FUMC at 210 East Fulton and I also have a variety of work at the FIRE AND WATER ART! Showroom at 219 West Main in
I like the edges on these nonobjective boxes almost as much as the front of the paintings! The colors are richer in person.
Robert Genn wrote about children's art in the Friday letter of Painter's Keys. That got me looking through my archives collected during many years of teaching and parenting. I included these two in a response to his letter. There were many to choose from!Above is a family portrait drawn by my daughter Lizz in 1987. That's me holding the dog leash! Am I important or what?!
The one on the left is "Nicole with ice cream hair and bird feet" drawn by my grandson Nate in 2001.
I love kid's art!
This is a continuation of my Lenten posts, the first in a series of radial meditations on the cross.
