Artists are often told to work from experience, to relate what we know. There is more to knowledge and experience than physical reality, however. When it comes to inspiration, the inner life of dreams and fantasies is as valid as our external story, and often more striking. It is the play between our perceived reality … Continue reading Picturing Wildness: The Beasts of Henri Rousseau
Photoblogs
Picturing Woman: Paintings of Jules Breton
Many painters have taken their inspiration from the female form, but Jules Breton is unique. Trained in the European classical tradition, or "grand style" as he called it, he returned home to rural Brittany to produce his masterpieces. His subjects were not grand dames or famous historical scenes as was usual for the period and … Continue reading Picturing Woman: Paintings of Jules Breton
Picturing Healing Energy: Paintings by Agnes Lawrence Pelton
I've recently returned to painting and, searching for inspiration, ran across Agnes Pelton's extraordinary transcendental paintings, images full of energy balanced with a cool serenity. She has quickly become one of my favorite painters. Agnes Lawrence Pelton was born in 1881 to American parents, William and Florence Pelton, in Stuttgart, Germany. She spent her early … Continue reading Picturing Healing Energy: Paintings by Agnes Lawrence Pelton
Synkronciti’s Faerie House Gallery
On the last Saturday of March Synkroniciti had a small gathering to build faerie houses. It was cathartic and fun. We had many folks express interest who were unable to make it, so we are going to build homes for the little people again on June 15th. Shawntil, Kelly and I started working in the … Continue reading Synkronciti’s Faerie House Gallery
My Feathered Friends: Party Shoes and Nesting Shoes
Turning old shoes into pieces of art sounded like fun; I had no idea it would also be therapeutic. Last weekend's Walk in My Shoes Soirée saw the debut of my Party Shoes and Nesting Shoes, two pairs of my old shoes converted into art objects. The process made me reflect on my life... from … Continue reading My Feathered Friends: Party Shoes and Nesting Shoes
From My Garden: Twenty Camellias in Haiku
Last spring I planted camellias in our front flowerbeds, not fully appreciating what a blessing I was giving myself. My husband and I worked the soil, adding amendments to create the acidity needed for the new camellias and azaleas. We went to Maas Nursery, the best place in the Houston area to get camellias, and … Continue reading From My Garden: Twenty Camellias in Haiku
Patterns of Connection: The Land Art of Dietmar Voorwold
Why should modern humanity regain and hold on to its connection with nature at a time when technology seems omnipresent? I have always loved making things: textures and patterns create a sense of calmness for me. In my early years I made a texture book into which I glued pieces of fabric. I would spend … Continue reading Patterns of Connection: The Land Art of Dietmar Voorwold
