Summer Art

Joel's work

Here are the ones done by Joel. The first one was done after I handed him a blank, and before he had even looked at another ATC. Wow! I beleive the (loose) translation is "There is nothing in the hand of God that can not be understood by a child". I'm sure Joel will correct me if I am wrong...LOL
The second was made from a playing card he has carried in his wallet for over three years...waiting for an opportunity to create something fine from it...

My boy's ATC's

"My boys" are Matt, Ian and Joel, three young men from Masters Commission who stayed with us this past week. While they did infect our family with their enthusiasm and great humour, I think they in turn were infected with the ATC virus. Hopefully they will take it back with them to Chilliwack BC, and spread it far and wide.
These first three cards are done by Matt, who said he didn't think he had a creative bone in his body. I beg to differ!

The joy of ATC's!

This past week we had three terrific, energetic, and funny young men from BC staying with us. Well, of course we had to show them what ATC's were all about. It was great!

I made them each a card to take with them when they leave for home tomorrow. We'll miss them!

ATC's for Matt, Joel and Ian

The art of photography...

My friend Linda is a great photographer. She is taking a course and needed some action shots and asked if we could go for a walk. She knows the boys love to move. I thought it would be an opportunity to improve my skills as well, what with the new camera and all. So we grabbed the cameras and headed out for a great afternoon in the parks. Linda got some great running shots, but I wanted to try something a little more exciting. As the boys kicked it up a notch, (note: I did not come up with this activity) I was ready for the action. I think they turned out well!

Love this one....

"The Outdoor Experience"

Yep, that's the slogan of the little city where I live, and that's what we were going for. What else do boys like to do but run, jump, fly? Great shots, hey?

After a trip to the emergency room...

It wasn't the flying leaps that hurt him. It was his excitement at jumping off the wall to come and see the great photo I snapped. It's a simple fracture...he'll be good as new in four to six weeks.

On an (almost) deserted Island...

Three of my favorite men!

Swimming with the Sea Lions...

while trying REALLY hard not to look like a fish!

Mexico!

Phapboy ordered Pascada...fried fish. They kind of have the same look on their faces, don't they?

Road with rocks...and cactus...

Notice the "wide" shoulders on the road? Couple that with 16% grades, many mountain ranges to cross, many miles to make...what do you get? Adventure!!

Sea of Cortez from the van

I would occasionally release my white-knuckle grip of the van door to snap a pic of the incredible scenery...

Back at It!

Wow! After an amazing trip to Mexico, and a drive over 2000 miles long, I'm home. While driving the, mountainous, narrow roads in the Baja I occasionally had serious doubts that I would make it back in one piece.
But here I am, back and inspired by the contrast of the brown landscape and the vibrant colors of the Sea of Cortez and the local handiworks. It was breathtaking!!

Then yesterday I saw a beautiful work in progress at my friend Dawn's house. She's participating in a RR Calendar swap, and the latest arrival was stunning! The work in the books I've seen so far rivals anything I've seen in True Colors! Have a look at Dawn's blog, "Art of Humungous Proportions".
After such importation, I just HAD to work on something myself, and picked up a journal meant for a Bird Watcher.

It's called "Bird Notes", and if I were to read a book of notes by Birds, I'd hope they'd tell me how to fly! So that's the theme! I'm hoping to pass it around to the Posse, and have my talented Art friends work in it too.

Serious Journaling

We're off to Mexico in the morning. 11 of my closest relatives...just a drop in the gene pool really for this family. My nieces and I had to make a trip to Dollarama (Oh YA!!) for journals. Then we came home to collage and get them ready for the big trip...flying to LA, then road tripping it to Loreto. Now, is it too late to learn to speak some Spanish?

What I Collect...

I keep them in jars and vases all over the house. I'm addicted.
But I almost lost all mine trying to upload pics to my blog over the weekend. It would not do anything for me! Argggh! I have a problem with technology. I spent the weekend being snowed in...and reading, and playing with my new camera. It was kind of nice.

The journal entry

All thought is formed first in words. If we loose the capacity to use words plainly and specifically, we will lose our capacity to think clearly and logically. To improve our thinking we must measure our words and expand our vocabulary. If we communicate by grunting our displeasure or only clapping our hands in joy and appreciation, we lose ourselves and regress. If we choose only the visual media to express or receive our understanding of reality, we operate primarily in the sphere of our emotions and the senses, not the inner world of deep thought. We need to open our minds to great classics and open our ears to truly great oratory. Sophisticated patterns of reliably correct grammar and wonderfully expressive patterns of words in great literature will increase our ability to think and make proper sense of our confusing world. There is more to be grasped in the universe than what we are comfortable with. We need words to think about, examine, express and ultimately, to understand it. Only then can we improve it.

Words as Art

I love Words...both the regular written and the well spoken, and the look of print...different fonts, scripts, letter styles. The sheer number and variety of fonts, and individual styles of handwriting that are so easily recognizable amazes me. How does our brain process all the subtle differences?

So yes, Words fascinate me on that level, but also the power and beauty of words takes my breath away. I am working on an Altered Book along this thread. I did a bit of journaling along this line today. I have prepared the background pages and need to meld the two together, and I plan to do it in my own hand. I have always hated my handwriting, so this is a real stretch for me. But I feel this is how I need to become more free in my own skin.
I'll post the finished product later.