Dangles from a tree
A poem for someone to find
It’s haiku-o-gram!!
Art Prescription: My haiku-a-day is branching out. Today I hung Haiku-o-gram 2, since 1 launched. This project is all about delight! and I’m writing haikus on recycled pieces of art. My intention is to purely surprise and brighten someone’s day. A little gift flapping in the wind!! It’s fun to do something unexpected!!
Heavy grey clouds roll
Rain pours down in side-ways sheets
An afternoon walk!
Art Prescription: On grey stormy days like today, one has to fight the power of inertia. AKA the couch and a warm cat pulling you down….noooooooooo. I will resist! I have work to do! Okay, just for a moment. Dang an hour later I rub my eyes and look outside. Still pouring. Off to walk I go! Inertia, especially as fall begins her hypnotic effect, is a powerful force. I ended up with wet feet, wet pants, and a lot of fun!! It’s all up to the mind.
Inertia is the resistance of any physical object to a change in its state of motion or rest, or the tendency of an object to resist any change in its motion.
Bright fall wildflowers
Most Asteraceae
Asters and daisies!
Art Prescription: Most fall wildflowers are in the Asteraceae family. Yellow daisy-like flowers dot the roadside and glow in meadows. Fuel for migrating butterflies.
Open window breeze
Brushes sleepy morning face
September fresh air!
Art Prescription: Woke to a light rain and cool temperatures. After I loaded the coffee and hit on, I opened the windows and inhaled deeply. Ahhhh!! Fresh, clean air! Fall is a season loaded with emotion. I find it beautiful and look forward to the crisp change. There is also a sense of melancholy that summer is over. “For everything there is a season.”
September roses
Late blooms announce season end
Time to rest, renew.
Art Prescription: Here in NC roses bloom sometimes into October. I know, we are lucky. I don’t have the heart to do the prescribed cut when my roses still have buds. But it is necessary. Parallel to life there is a time to grow and a time to rest. Fall signals nature to begin the journey to rest. We all need rest to renew…
Jet black Sumi-ink
Brush strokes capture the essence
Moment on paper.
Art Prescription: I went to a Chinese Brush Stroke class today at the NC Botanical Garden taught by Alice, her American name. With a gentle demeanor she demonstrates the ancient art of brush painting. She teaches us it’s not about the accuracy of the painting, but the feeling…the Chi, and make sure to leave room in your painting for movement of energy. We worked on herons today. And swallows!
Butterflies, skippers
Flicker flower to flower
Sweet September treat.
Art Prescription: Another astonishing North Carolina day! I packed up my “art wagon,” and headed over to the NC Botanical Garden to watercolor sketch. It’s really my garden wagon, but works perfect for field-sketching. My paint, paper, pens, water, water holder, snack, and bug spray all fit neatly, then the handle folds back to create the perfect flower-level seat. This is the second piece of work in a new collection I’m calling “Watercolor Fresh.” Each piece starts as a watercolor sketch, expressive. Then I let the random shapes suggest detail with pen and ink. It’s very relaxing because there is no right or wrong, I’m just working (as I tell my workshop participants) with what is happening on the paper!! Try it!!
Quiet day in thought
Back porch geraniums glow
Catch September light.
Art Prescription: As much as I love fall and the cooler weather, I will miss my colorful blooming garden. So I spent today capturing my back-porch geraniums with watercolor and ink. This technique allows for expressive brush work. I use a brush designed for Chinese brush painting, just one brush. I stroke in impressionistic shapes, let that dry, and then go back in with pen and ink for a hint of detail. I think this is my favorite way to paint!!
Little green tree frog
Naps in cool shade, long leaf fronds
Waits for buggy night!
Art Prescription: Animal medicine this weekend has been frogs. From “Medicine Cards: The discovery of power through the ways of animals,” by Jamie Sams and David Carson, illustrated by Angela C. Werneke:
“Frog speaks of new life and harmony through its rain song. The deep tones of Frog’s ‘ribet’ are said to be a call to the Thunder Beings: thunder, lightning, and rain. The ‘ribet’ is the heartbeat that comes into harmony with Father Sky and calls for the replenishment needed. Call to Frog and find peace in the joy of taking time to give to yourself. A part of this giving is cleansing yourself of any person, place, or thing that does not contribute to your new state of serenity and replenishment.”
Dark grey clouds rise up
Loud thunder rattles and booms
Big rain drops fall hard.
Art Prescription: During a storm is the perfect time to work in a sketchbook or journal…all cozy inside.
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