Bull at the Fair

Took this photo when I was in Georgia, at an art fair. Just thought he was so cute, especially since he was on the other side of the fence. Tried to get a better shot but I wasn't the only one that thought he was cute.

BULL ON A BLOG

I'm just a bull at the fair

Can't understand why everyone stares

I guess because I am so cute

and my profile has a certain flair

They take photos

but I don't care

I think I'm more handsome than cute

I become blogcelebrity

end up on someones blog

See I told ya

I'm the Baby

My daily lap

You can't beat that

Can't help myself

What do You think of that

Mommy gets mad

and that makes me sad

but she doesn't think I am bad

After all

Gotta Love Me Cause I'm the Baby.

Birdie

What are you thinking

What's on your mind

Wish you could tell me all of the time

You swing on your swing

& curse at your toys

Say that I am bootiful

& sing with joy

You call out our name & we do the same

My question to you is

Who's teachingwho?

I know, I know I posted this on the other blog

jersuzstuff.blogspot.com - but I found this picture of Birdie when she was just a baby. Couldn't help myself, she's so cute. She is 3 years old now, and carries on a great conversation. Never know if it's me talking to myself or her.

Labels

1. Hue- Very similar in value. Impressionist, Contemp, Post impressionist-(Bonnard-Flat patterns)

2. Black-Old Masters, Contemporary-(Matisse-Abandoned all color theory to work with his intuition)

3. Grey-Contemporary, Luminous- Turner

4. White-Impressionist, Contemporary-(Charles Reid-High key)

5. Shade- Adding a small amount of black or a complement to a pure color. Old Master, Traditional -

6. Tones-Luminous, Traditional (Turner-Strong contrasts in value are avoided.)

7. Tints-Sometimes called tones. Impressionist, Luminous, Traditional, Post Impressionist (Bonnard, Matisse, Turner) Tints are pure colors that have been lightened with addition of water.



It was late 19th century when we started with the formal art criticism and the sale of works in private art galleries. Cassatt (one of my favorites) and others were struggling artist at the time and these new labels were suppose to promote interest and help sales. It didn't but the labels stuck. Then labels became groups and most "Artist"/people do not like to be Labeled



My work is me, my thoughts, feelings, emotions, just me, and am different at different times. If I was grouped I guess I would, be "Excontimrealcubcolorsionism" but that's a really big word, maybe I will stick with Susan.

This is a photo of a bad photo of a painting I did of my Grandmother. (Watercolor)
I have done 3 paintings of my grandmother, I gave this one to my mother, and the other two, I gave to my sister.
I have to get back to painting, so many thoughts. Right now I have an idea. ---------My very good friend, Lorrianne is in the hospital recovery from surgery, she will need chemo next. In my minds eye I have a masterpiece of a painting about her. Now I have to get my mind to paper.

Where were You

Tom Paxton wrote a song within a week of September 11, 2001. Garrison Keller sang it on his October 13, 2001 Prairie Home Companion Show.

This painting symbolizes Birth, Living, Rebirth and Death.

Color-Patterning-Stories-Birds-Trees-Symbols

I really love patterning-Birds-Trees-symbols I PUT IT ALL IN THIS PAINTING> Many layers.
I heard so many stories, fables, and sayings when I was growing up, didn't realized at that time there was a meaning behind them. Just enjoyed my mother reading them to me. I would read them to my little sister until she became a better reader than I, same with my kids. Now I read to myself, can't get better than myself, It makes me better.
Fable-A narration intended to enforce a useful truth.
The Sky Is Falling (fable)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sky Is Falling, better known as Chicken Licken, Henny Penny or Chicken Little is an old fable about a chicken (or a hare in early versions) who believes the sky is falling. The phrase, "The sky is falling," has passed into the English language as a common idiom indicating a hysterical or mistaken belief that disaster is imminent

Watercolor on 300lb paper.

The Old Barn

The Old Barn

I've been standing much to long

Many an animal I have homed

Long and short, big and tall

There all gone and I miss them all

The other day the wind did blow

Shifted me to the left and then to the right

Ripped my boards from head to toe

They came out and said I had to go

They brought machines

and tore me down

Lit a match and I hit the ground

I'm still here

But they can't see

Only a memory

Left to be

Have Loved this old barn since we bought our place in NC. In July when my grandson and I were in NC I noticed it leaning and knew it wouldn't be long.

So I wanted to get a photo of it before it was gone.
Took this shot on Sat.the 5th of Sept. and it was still smoldering Sunday night, didn't go down without a fight.

Hope the owner saved some of the old wood.

UPDATE- From my friend Jo Kilmer-rusticfurnituremakers.com/jo kilmer.htm

It was sad to see the burning pictures..I did love your poem, only you left out one part,,
How ...the nieghbor up the road {me}
was hurrying to and fro
gathering some of that 100 year old wood
to keep it alive and render it's beauty
for as long as She could..

I got enough to make some beautiful table tops and even do a good size room flooring..

Boo Hoo for all the rest that went up in smoke
jo

Less is More

Just got back from NC, had a wonderful weekend.

When I was there, I opened up my journal and found a flower that I put in there on my last visit. Thought it was so pretty and didn't have a whole lot of time to think this morning, so thought I would post something simple.

"Less is More"

My Mother

It's been 3 years ago today that my mother passed away. I am so blessed to have had such wonderful parents, and wonder do you ever get over the pain of losing parents.

My mother was 94 when this photo was taken.

MOTHER

My Mom would complain about those ducks

we would say, stop feeding them and they'll go away. She would not listen, so they would stay

After she passed they came around for awhile, but then again so did I.

Every evening she would sit on the back porch and watch the birds and recite the poem The Childrens Hour by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

Between the dark and the daylight,

When the night is beginning to lower,

Comes a pause in the day's occupations

That is know as the Children's Hour.

I hear in the chamber above me

The patter of little feet,

The sound of a door that is opened,

And voices soft and sweet.

From my study I see in the lamplight,

Descending the broad hall stair,

Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,

An Edith with golden hair.

I loved that poem, especially the last two paragraphs

I have you fast in my fortress,

And will not let you depart,

But put you down into the dungeon

In the round-tower of my heart

And there will I keep you forever,

Yes, forever and a day,

Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,

And moulder in dust away.

My mother loved to read, and always read to us. She also kept a journal, her granny taught her that. She kept a journal up until the day she passed, at 94. I have one of her dairies from her high school days. She wrote "We went to the bank today, and the bank had no money" from that experience she learned to manage money. She worked very hard, taking care of her Grandparents. She would pick berries and gather eggs to sell at the local feed store.

She married our Dad, who was just as wonderful as she was. She just couldn't live without him. We were and are so blessed.

Thank You Mother.

Water Lilly

Went to the Miami's Fruit & Spice Park yesterday and had to take a photo of this beautiful Lotus Blossom. The one time I didn't have my camera, had to use my cell phone. My cell phone and I do not get along to well, but I did get a few shots. Check out our other blog jersuzstuff.blogspot.com - and see the opposite extreme of beauty.

Aroma

To see more WEEKWORD entries please visit Linda Sue, Yoon See, Nicky, Remistuff, Anairam, Veja cecilia, Alexandra Hedberg, Sandra Dieckmann, Theresa, Aimee, Fruenswerk, L'Atelier, Asphalt and Air

Aroma-noun =The odor of a wine imparted by the grapes from which it is made.

Now tell me, what other description could I use.

Wanted to doodle something out but the week has been difficult.

Thought I'd use my Vino Poem

My Lips I cannot feel

So what's the big dealSo how do you think I feel

Too much Vino

That is why I am a little Tipsy

& that's why I feel like a Gypsy

I started to roam

Far away from home

Now that I've had my Wine

I've started to pine

because I cannot find

My home sweet home

Although I'm not a poet

I think I can throw it

The words I mean

are in my mind & not in my Vino

Watercolor

Turning Things - These two paintings were done when I just painted with pure watercolor, then the watercolor clubs went water media and I started to accumulate stuff. Every time I would win an award or sell a painting, I would buy more stuff. Now I can't keep up with the STUFF.

Yesterday I mentioned (on the other blog) that I love drawing & painting faces, either realistic or impressionistic, animal or human. I use to enter my slides in shows, many moons ago. These paintings, I received awards and it started me off on a series of Turnings. I had Turning Cowgirl heads, turning horses, birds, all types of turnings. I was inspired by my daughter. She is and was a multi-task person, she is so that way that she makes my head spin. I stretched her face, because she is stretched in many directions. A mother, a wife, a business person, maintaining all her animals. The horse painting was the same thought- A painting of my horse "Bunch" a horse that was so hyper, he use to let himself out of his stall, even when it was latched, ooooooooooooo, that reminds me of our dogs! Do I see another series after all these years!

Now Jerry is in to the turning, but it is on a lathe.

My Secret Garden

My secret Garden, not so secret anymore. Jer and I worked this weekend on building an arbor. Ive been collecting branches since I took a workshop from Jo Kilmer. Had to pull weeds, cut back the bamboo, cut some of my herbs etc.
I put the pond in after hurricane Wilma destroyed our deck. That was 3 years ago, digging the hole was no easy task. We live on a coral reef near the everglades. I have been letting the herbs and plants kidda take over since I put in the pond, so in order to see our new arbor I had to cut back.(wonder how long that's going to last. The wood is a combo of citrus and carrot wood. Had a hard rain last night, went out this morning and the arbor is still together.

Not bad for our first try. Jerry sawed some branches that I wanted left on, I kept telling him, Florida Rustic. Next one will have the angled top, it was so hot yesterday that we both were tired out.

CAMPING I

http://www.keywesttravelguide.com/dry-tortugas-camping.html -

This is a painting that I did of the lighthouse at Ft. Jefferson,-getting ready for tomorrows word - Camping.
when I took the photo, I got a reflection of another lighthouse painting that I did (right hand side) of Owls Head Light in Maine.



Dry Tortugas is where Dr. Mudd was imprisoned
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_Tortugas_National_Park

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - ASHLEY!

Camping II

Camping- Fridays Word-

http://nickylinzey.blogspot.com/search/label/weekword

I Remember My Girl Scout leader days - when my right hand lady had a migraine and she took one of her pills, she went down so fast and laid on that picnic bench the rest of the day and night. The girls and I put up those tents, wasn't an easy task. Then at night the Peacocks started in on there screaming, wow, what a flash back, camping trip from hell. That's what makes memories and we have loadS of them



Family went a camping
What were we thinking
Motor home was a cruising
ZZ Top on the radio
What fun we were having
until the propane tank was a falling
and it went a flying
unhitched the dump tank hose
and that was just the beginning of our woes
tire it was ripping
What shall we do
propane tank a fuming
tuned off the nozzle
and being just a bit frazzled
put back the hose
Turned on the radio
and JUST STARTED CRUSING

Microsoft Wonders

Fooling around with Microsoft Picture it.

Wanted to post something today, so here it is.

This is a photo of a painting. I take pictures of my work in progress. I like this better than the finished painting. Tomorrow I will take a photo of the finished painting, if I can find it. I put stuff away for a year or two, then find it, and finish it, or paint a little, then put it away again. Lots of layers, always changing my mind.

Oh, I found it, now where is my camera. I knew I shouldn't have organized things.

Another View

Another View
What am I to do
She brings that Camera out here
and has no fear
and shoots my bad side
Makes me look fat
and I do not like that!
Look like a frog
think she is in a fog
she tries to rhyme
and I don't have the time.

VJ Day

Mom & Dad at Hialeah Horse Race Track

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_over_Japan_Day

Detour

Love the shadows on the steps from the railing, like the foot too.

Gardening Photo

I was in my studio yesterday,

I went to go get a cup of tea

I looked outside to see

tiny raindrops from the leaves

and rushed inside to get my camera

the rain had stopped

So I took this shot

Gardening

Into the Garden to work all Day

Went to do this - Ended up doing That

Found my Gloves

& Hat to Match

Suns to Hot

Not to do That

Pulled & Weeded

Dug & Seeded

Sprayed For Bugs

Then-

Took off My Gloves

had a Snack

then I decided not to Go Back

Eureka Springs, AR

While reading another blog, about the Ozark mountains, I thought about my road trip out west to where my parents grew up.

One of our stops was Eureka Springs, Arkansas, right close to where my mother grew up and visited.

What a great Artsy Fa-tsy place, liked it so much we visited it on the way up and back. Stayed in a bed and breakfast on the way up and on the way back, stayed at an old (1886) Crescent Hotel, ya know it's haunted. Didn't see any ghost, at least I don't think so.

http://www.eurekasprings.com/

Draft Horse Daisy- All Talk

Daisy..................

My breakfast time is 6 am in case you did not know.

1 scoop, 2 carrots and 2 pads of hay, that should do it for the day.

Then turn me out and turn me loose and I will look for you again.

undo that bail and fill that pail- for tonight I expect the same.-----

Outside

Light coming through the door

afternoon and rainy

a touch of light hits the floor

shadows cast, chairs sitting straight

casting more shadows

reminds me of a Hopper painting

solitude, lonely shadows

negative and positives, muted colors

light has cast a walkway

to invite you to follow

but ending at the door, teasing the visitor

Look out to see more

leave your pathway behind like it never existed

too tempting not to explore

color, rain, birds singing,

movement, always moving always changing

look, the sun is outdoors

Beach=Tranquility

Reading the book ''Writing down the Bones'' by Natalie Goldberg, and some encouragement from Kelly Jameson- ''Right On''
I think writing is so much like painting.
So here it goes-
I Take the Beach for Granted
The fresh smells of Salt Air
To imagine being at the beach
sitting here or there
Listening to the laughter
hearing music from a radio
splashing waves against the sand
I think of Coppertone
baby oil
sea weed
stuff cooking on the grill
all having different smells
but all being one thrill
People playing sports
biking
skating
football and volleyball
finding fossils
snorkeling and jumping waves
walking and searching of past days
having an ice cream cone
not a care in the world
Tranquility

http://www.nataliegoldberg.com/books.htmlhttp://www.nataliegoldberg.com/books.html

Horses and the Beach

This was inspired by another blogger http://hrsmithjones.blogspot.com/2009/07/few-thoughts-on-beach.html
I left a comment that I take the beach for granted, growing up and living in South Florida it's always right there.
Often wonder why it doesn't overflow.
This photo was taken in Myrtle Beach, when I went to a painters workshop. I think once a year Myrtle Beach lets you ride on the beach, a charity thing.

Stairs

Why is it that every kid loves stairs.

Maybe it's because the parents are always saying, be careful

and running after them.

Even adults love stairs.

Then there comes a time,

when you can't STAND stairs,

and the kids are saying, be careful

and holding their parents hand.

Starting a new blog, I thought I would start off with trees, and it's even better because the tree has flowers.

This photo was taken in North Carolina, around the last of April>