Home work and house work
Unpaid time spent nurturing
Clean, cook, water, love.
Art Prescription: Time does not always equal money!!!
travel
Haiku August 27, 2012 Blue Willow
Blue Willow china
Collectible favorite
Simply blue and white.
Art Prescription: Are you familiar with Blue Willow, a china pattern from the turn of the 19th century? I have always loved the combination of blue and white. I’ve painted blue watercolor on white paper…and now am experimenting with white ink on a dark ultramarine blue background. Ooooohh!
Haiku August 26, 2012 Biking
Wheels spin round and round
Legs pump up and down, movement
Wind whips through tee-shirt.
Art Prescription: A perfect day for biking. Sam and I packed our bikes up and went over to the Tobacco Trail, a 7 mile ride on a paved trail past homes, roosters, kudzu, and wildflowers to downtown Durham. We sat and rested a bit, checked out the Cow Parade (artist painted cows for UNC Children’s Hospital), and then made our way back. Peaceful riding along chatting. We are so lucky we both like outdoor activities. I have to confess it’s hard for me to not incorporate art into many of our outings, “let’s go hike and sketch,” “let’s ride over to the garden and check out the exhibit,” “let’s take pictures for me to paint.” What’s that saying…you can take the girl out of the creative, but you can’t take the creative out of the girl.
Haiku August 25, 2012 Art Medicine
Fragile ego sits
Paints for two hours, color!
Smiles, pride takes over.
Art Prescription: I taught an Art Prescription workshop today at UNC Wellness Center. I took in a big beautiful flower arrangement for them to work from. A tall order for most people who say “I can’t even draw a stick figure.” The medicine of the Art Prescription is to help participants be in the moment, respond to the paper and paint, let go of the inner critic, and just express! I started by giving a demonstration of blocking in colors, and the second part was to do some pen and ink to give the suggestion of movement and shape. I could see the looks of fear on their faces as I read a couple of opening poems. By the end of our two hours together everyone was on to their second painting. Amazing what adults will do if just given the permission to play!!
Haiku August 23, 2012 Mind Power
Mind creates a thought
Spirit listens, makes choices
Road block, end, new path?
Art Prescription: Daily life creates many options for our minds to ponder. Whether it’s choosing to eat well and take care of our bodies, or something big like a major job change, I believe how we think at our core effects us deeply. Is the cup half full or half empty. If it’s cloudy, is their a storm brewing or a silver lining. Does everything come with a judgement of bad or good? Or is it possible that some things just are…and don’t have a bearing on this one life we live here and now? Lots of philosophical questions to ponder…
Haiku August 21, 2012 Plant a Seed
From seed leaflets grow
Stalk rises up, new leaves sprout
A sunflower blooms!
Art Prescription: The birds and squirrels share sunflower seeds in my garden. Fun to watch a new sprout grow about four feet tall and bloom a bright yellow sunflower. True to their name they do seem to be reaching for the sun. The real flowers are actually the tiny bits in the middle, and the yellow “petals,” are called rays. I did this plein air sketch in my garden. I’ve been taking an online class with Val Webb on watercolor lettering. A new tool for me is white ink!! So playing around I added some design in the background of my sketch. Try this in your sketchbook!
Haiku August 21, 2012 August Change
Light fades, days shorten
Summer vacation over
August, back to school.
Art Prescription: Sam and I have not had a proper summer vacation, but I know from following my friends on Facebook that travels are coming to a close and it’s back to school time. Remember how long summers were as a kid? It was truly a season all to itself. Despite technology I think the thrill of a new notebook, colored pencils, pens, and arranging your desk is still something to look forward to…then homework starts. The lure of something new, a new school year, a new Autumn, new projects! Let’s go to the art store!! (went to Jerry’s Artarama in Raleigh today!)
Haiku August 20, 2012 Social Beings
Quiet studio
Walk to seek social contact
Neighborhood friends, dogs!
Art Prescription: Art can be a lonely endeavor at times. Creativity needs quiet, and as humans we also need social contact to thrive. I mix it up by going to the Wellness Center most mornings to swim or do yoga, and then round out my day with an evening walk in my neighborhood. Since we have cats, I get to say hello and pet all my dog friends, I like their owners too! Balance is the key…how do you maintain balance?
Haiku August 19, 2012 Walking in the Rain
Iddy biddy frog
Rain chases from swollen stream
Jumps! into the grass!
Art Prescription: I like walking in the rain, it’s peaceful. A long loop on an overcast, drizzly, Sunday suits me fine. Our neighborhood path winds it’s way along the street, and because this land was once wetland we have a few easement ponds and streams. We have geese and ducks and turtles, herons, hawks, cattails. Along our way this morning we found a couple of – just from the tadpole stage – frogs. They are so cute!! Reminds me that nature always has a surprise!
Haiku August 18, 2012 Mason Farm
A two mile farm walk
Plethora of wildflowers
Yellow Partridge Peas.
Art Prescription: Today we walked our favorite nature preserve, Mason Farm. I’ve written several times about this magical place. You could visit once a week and see something brand new each time. There is such a variety of plant and animal life and habitats, from meadows to wetlands to hardwood and pine forest. Simply put it’s a spiritual sanctuary. On this walk we saw about five different kinds of butterflies dancing from flower to flower. The meadows are glowing with yellow Partridge Peas and Wild Roses. Dragonflies, bumble bees, and birds dip past us as we make our way around the bend. Artists have long been lured by mystical grounds.
art prescription 