A Totally Merry Christmas!

It is 11:54 p.m. on Christmas Day, and I am happy to say it was a totally merry Christmas for me in Memphis.

My mother did it again! She has a wonderful way of creating especially special occasions for our family in her home. The peanut-butter stars were one of the highlights of the holiday. I was glad to see them when I arrived.....they did not last long.

Congratulations, Alex Maxwell!

I'm so blessed to be here in Tennessee celebrating with my daughter on her accomplishment of a bachelor of science degree from Freed Hardeman University.

Trusting, With Intent

This week I am packing up and heading to the U.S.A. for a three-month visit.  My partner, Adrian Kosky, and I are leaving our beautiful Tasma House and Gardens group accommodation biz in good hands, though.  More importantly, I dare say, we are also entrusting the care of our dear doggie to our friend, Gerry Managh.  

This trip marks the beginning of a new part of my life.....the part where I actively reside in two countries, and on two continents, by choice and with intent.  

Often life events happen by accident or from necessity.  For me, many life events are random and come about without intent......and then they evolve into planned up activities.  I'm thinking of my artistic randomness, now.

The Holy Moly Masonic Temple Project

I'm working on a new project with Adrian Kosky, and this is the building where it's all going to happen.  We are looking into our future with the potential of artist-in-residence spaces and group accommodation (similar to what we have at Tasma House) in downtown Clarksdale, Mississippi, U.S.A., in the old Masonic Temple located at Third Street and Issaquena Avenue. This new project is unfolding daily, as Adrian and I learn what we may and may not do as citizens of two different countries/continents.  I am so excited by the possibility of having fun by living a busy life again that I am finding it hard to concentrate on feeding the ducks and cockatoos in my backyard!  I can't sleep, can't paint, can't ea....... nevermind, enough said.

First World Pains

I'm blogging from my BRAND NEW COMPUTER!  Feeling happy and blessed to have this luxury birthday present ordered by Adrian.  

What are my "first world pains?" The learning curve, for sure.....lots of newness to deal with.....My "old" computer was purchased in 2007 with hopes of doing all kinds of photo editing and movie making, etc.  As it turned out, I never did need the fancy photo editing software, and I never made any major movies.  My old computer served me well, though, and it worked very hard, down to its last 4.46 gigs....bless its heart!

Painting from Photos of Birds in Tasma Gardens

For the past few months I have been playing with paints.....painting the birds that I have photographed in Tasma Gardens.  Each one of the paintings below has a bird in its candid-camera pose.  

Australian Magpie

Learning to Use SoundCloud

Sometimes I reluctantly learn things.....and other times I jump into learning with excitement.  I think learning to use SoundCloud has come by both avenues in this musical road trip I am undertaking down under.  Here's the result of what I have learned about using the free bits of SoundCloud:



It's not pretty....the artwork might not make sense, the song selection might be a bit random, and the recordings are homemade with a digital voice recorder, but it's just a learning exercise.....and I'm okay with that.

Pinterest

I'm experimenting with Pinterest.  I have hesitated entering Pinterest world, because I did not see a need for it.  I'm still not sure I "need" pinterest, but I see that it is a GOOD thing.  It is basically a virtual, visual, collection space.  A place to pin-up what one wants to see again and to share those things with the world while keeping the original photo's credit/copyright, location, etc.

Old School Art -- Learning to Watercolor

For the past few weeks I have been reintroducing myself to hands-on art.....painting on paper.  Painting with water colors is new to me.

Years ago I took a few painting classes (workshop-style) in the stockrooms of stores that sold craft supplies.  Tole painting, oil painting, I remember, but I don't remember ever studying watercolor techniques.  So, I'm learning as I go.   I'm learning old-school-style.....by taking a brush and putting it to the paper and teaching myself what I like and don't like about my skills.  I am enjoying this!