basket case

Fruit and veggies have been the focus of the classroom for the past week. Here is my little offering demonstrating mixed media and resist techniques.

I am so glad it is Friday.

Devotional act

I had to rush home from work and go straight to the art table because my soul would not sit still.

My sister and her baby girl are heading to the hospital this evening and I have nothing that to do that will help them. Part of me wails and wonders about the strength or futility of prayer. I feel, deep in my roots, that intentional focus on gratitude, acceptance, and pleas for help, really do get heard. We can move energy with our love (or anger). It doesn't seem like much, or enough, but...

I can center my focus and paint with prayer in each brushstroke. The pigment blossoms and dyes the surface of the paper in an act of surrender and decision. When I paint yellow I feel as though I am wrapping my sister and my niece in a shield of love. The red paradise fruits feel organic and echo internally. The seed pod and birds hold potential for growth and magic.

I have painted a scene of local fruits and exotic birds to manifest a sweet paradise for my niece to heal back to. I will put this in the mail tomorrow.

de·vo·tion

 [ di vṓsh'n ]   

1. committed love: deep love and commitment
2. dedication: great dedication and loyalty
3. enthusiasm: strong enthusiasm and admiration for somebody or something
   

Balance

It’s all about Balance.

This equinox I found myself in the kitchen angry and surprised by the awareness of the missing creative action in my life. I miss painting every day, and I miss blogging. I thought that by putting those two things off I would find more time in my day. Well, … nine months into it, I realize I have not found more time. I have filled the empty minutes with plenty, and I have written “a novel” in July and painted on weekends. But the truth is I miss the discipline and the rewards of painting and blogging every day.

So secretly and with out much ado, I am going to go for it again, for a short period- such as this one between moons.

The last post

It's been a really good, honestly life-saving, and fun experience. After 1637 posts, covering 6 years and 2 months of my painting process, sharing the struggles, (the death of friends, the divorce, the empty nest, the move) and triumphs (the new job, the new city, the new love), I have decided to stop blogging.
Of the many transitions and changes along the way, the most powerful thing for me is how writing and painting have melded together as complimentary means to tell a whole story. Initially, I painted and wrote about the work. Then as the blog evolved, it transformed the paintings. Soon words started appearing in my paintings, and my paintings started to sprout from words! There was no division between the two disciplines.
I will continue writing and painting, because I love it...but I will be doing it without the internet exposure. There is a project I have in mind. And I am grateful to this blog- Showing up for the Muse- for pointing me in this new direction.
Thanks for all the great comments and emails and support along the way. So... to those of you who only keep track of me through the blog: we have to develop a new way of keeping in touch. I'm game for suggestions.

The rest of you, have a great year and stay inspired in all your moves. Thank you and good bye.
Tilly

SacrAMENIA in Miami

Mike and I just loved this place. It is possibly the oldest building in America.
William R. Hearst bought a 1133 cloister from Sacramenia (Province of Segovia Spain). Because of the social revolution of the area in mid 1830's the building had fallen to disrepair. At the turn of the century Americans were richer than ever and having a hard time spending all their money. Hearst bought the cloisters in 1925 and it was dismantled stone by stone and packed in hay for shipment to the US. Unfortunately, it arrived to the US just as an epidemic of  hoof and mouth disease broke out in Segovia. The USDA fearing possible contagion, quarantined the shipment, opened and burned all the hay, and re-packed the previously meticulously labeled boxes in a random, willy-nilly, way. The stones were warehoused in Brooklyn for 26 years. Hearst's empire fell on hard times and one year after Hearst's death- in 1952- it was purchased by two Floridians, with plans for a tourist attraction.

 It's located on the north side of Miami: 16711 West Dixie Highway  (305)945-1461

 The statue is of King Alphonso VII, who constructed the monastery as a thank you offering for his success defeating the Moors in a major battle.

 The stones were part of a giant jigsaw puzzle. It took 23 men 9 months to un-crate, read the mason marks, and layout the possible  pieces.

 This statue in the "chapter house" is of Christ the King- 12th century stone carved by one of the monks.

It took 19 months and one and a half million dollars to put  the Monastery back together. Some of the unmatched stones (yikes!) still remain in the back lot.

New work on FAA website

It's easy to generate posters, canvas prints, and cards of many of my paintings. Please check it out- use the link in the side bar. Thank you!

Heights and depths

I may be slow, and, thank goodness, I am starting to remember that Joy is all about the perspective. Whether looking at the big picture or isolating the details, the choice I make can shift my heart and open it to the miracle of life, love and what we all share on this beautiful planet.
So here comes the new year, 2013, and my last painting for the series of 50 Ways to Find Joy.
Actually I painted 50 and an extra- so 51 in all.
#50- my favorite view from the window seat

#51- Sea creatures, in a far away and out -of-my-comfort zone place that teams with unknown jewel like beings. I don't actually have to go there to appreciate it. Just knowing it is there, fills me with wonder and joy. Not to mention it is just fun to paint such a scene!