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!!
Trust your gifted dreams
A spiral, pure energy
Same, same, make it true.
Art Prescription: Making a dream come true is hard! To trust that where we are is where we are meant to be is hard too!
Bottom line is we just have to trust…have a little faith!!
Path to my spirit
Hand laid stones to studio
Lead way to color.
Art Prescription: As I come and go from my nursing job, I look longingly at my studio behind my house. It’s adorable!! My husband hand-laid the stone path that cuts through our backyard to my magical play-house. I think one of the most important parts of living a creative life is to have a space to call your own. A place where you can come and go and leave your art supplies out, even messy. If you are short on time, being able to go to your magic spot and add a little here, a little there, art journal, dream… a space that encourages creativity, paint that waits for your brush, then you can jump right in!
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.
Graceful, walks on stilts
Turns head, big eyes look at me
Prays, licks paws, cat-like!
Art Prescription: An insect to love, Praying Mantis. They start off about the size of a mosquito, and grow to be several inches long. I once had the same Mantis live on my basil for about two months! At the time I wanted to write a book called “Manni in the Herb Garden,” a children’s illustrated guide to herbs. I found this bug fascinating to watch, and it’s true the way they lick their front limbs and clean their face it very cat-like. They turn their head in a way that gives them immediate personality. When I watered my basil this particular fellow would come up to the top of the plant to get a drink. There are so many things to find and observe in nature! And if you have time to sketch even better!
September blue sky
Yellow-brown leaves spiral down
Nature heads for rest.
Art Prescription: It’s still pretty hot out there. We rode bikes on Tobacco Trail today. Now grilling some fresh NC eggplant, squash, pepper, and onion, to go over a pasta with some NC feta cheese! There are subtle fall hints in the air. Nature is just a little more quiet, done with their big spring and summer jobs…ready for a bit of a rest. I love living in an area that has definitive seasonal change. It’s refreshing! Here is a painting that I started as a demo last weekend at my Art Prescription workshop.
I sit in child’s pose
Aromatic coffee brews
Cup of warm wake-up!
Art Prescription: I’m a ritualistic person. Maybe I’m boring, but I like my life to have a pattern, a familiar routine, creature and other comforts…it’s the small things that make daily life full of grace. Like, my husband always makes me coffee. When he hears my feet hit the floor, he hits brew, and I come downstairs in a half awake state to the gurgling sound of the drip machine and a waft of java aroma. I bend to the floor in child’s pose to wake up my muscles. At least one cat comes and claims me as theirs, licking my head. My grandfather did the same for my grandmother. Her coffee would be waiting for her on their kitchen counter. Wonder how many years this ritual took place? Which leads me to the full moon. A good time for setting wishes.
What is wealth? Fortune?
One’s worldly substance, purpose
What does your life mean?
Art Prescription: Long busy day at my nursing job caring for people from all walks of life with minor and major health problems. One thing about my health care career is the constant awareness of how for each and every one of us, our lives could be changed in a moment. So was does wealth mean to you? Do you spend your days with substance, purpose? Does your life have meaning and direction? For some of my friends wealth is a first class ticket to anywhere in the world, for others it’s running marathons and staying fit, some find wealth raising healthy happy kids, some in going to church or temple and spending quality time meditating, some find it in being able to go a day with-out their addiction, volunteer work for the needy feeds wealth…Basically what I’m getting at is that we each have to carve our own and very personal definition of wealth and then do the very best we can at attaining it. If you know what IT
is…what are you waiting for?
art prescription 