Experimental Art

3-31-10 accepting brain

When working with my experimental acrylic paints, I never really know how a piece will turn out. As I pour layers of paint on, the appearance changes as it begins to dry. Sometimes it takes days to fully dry and I find it interesting to watch the changes which take place.

The new piece I had pictured yesterday... which was pictured mid-way in the process... AND I liked it at that point and probably should have walked away from it then..... (a good artist knows when to stop).... I do have a problem knowing when to stop.... so I just have to tell myself.... there are no mistakes, since it is all an experiment. Once I practice on enough of these, maybe I will learn just the right point to stop myself from adding more and more paint.

Here is the final painting as of today.



This is larger than most I have been working on. This is on a 12 x 12 inch canvas. I know this abstract type is not every one's cup of tea.... but I just fall in love with the bright colors and the way the paint runs together.... it fascinates me.

I am also fascinated by how my taste is art has changed as I age. I am enjoying work that is more abstract and colorful. I am bored with realism.... since beautiful photography can capture that.

I believe in miracles

3-30-10 grateful brain

I’m reading the book “This I Believe”..... the original book with Edward R. Murrow, copy write 1952. I have found this very inspirational and will want to comment on this more in future blogs…. Of course this has me thinking about what I would write on this topic.

This week I would have to say….. I believe in miracles…. The miracles big and small; the miracles that surprise; the miracles that arrived at the precise perfect time, the miracles that let me know that the Universe- the Creative Spirit- the Holy Spirit- God (which ever term you feel most comfortable with)…. Provides for each us in a unique way.

We are not always provided with what we want or think we want. We may not even understand what has been provided for us, and we may even be provided with hardship and suffering; but I believe we are always provided with what we need to evolve and grow our spirit in God’s light and God’s love.

I believe a miracle happened to me this week. Greg and I have been lazy on the weekends we spend in KC and we had not actively sought out a new church home here. I still am involved in my church in DM and didn’t feel the need to attend while in KC. Sunday, however, I was inspired to attend a church in KC for the first time. This was a church recommended by our former pastor.

Greg and I both enjoyed our first experience at Village Presbyterian Church and I was happy to see a notice in their bulletin about a “Call For Artist” for their 4th Annual Art Show in May. The topic this year: Peace, Love, Friendship.

Those of you, who know me well, know that for the last year I have been obsessively working on my new experimental style with acrylic paint and doing many pieces dealing with hearts and peace signs.

I believe the perfect art show was provided for me at the perfect time, so of course I have to jump in with both feet. I called and will be getting an application for a spot in the show. Those friends in the KC area please save the date May 7th, a Friday evening 5:00-7:30PM for “Art & Hors D’Oeuvres” at Village Presbyterian Church on Mission Road in Prairie Village!!! Maybe some of my Des Moines "peace sisters" can attend as well??

PS: Here is new piece I was working on this weekend. I think I'll call it "Bleeding Heart Liberal".... in honor of my friend Teresa who helps me to understand myself better.



According to a recent email "test/quiz" provided by Teresa, I am not officially a conservative AND not a Liberal..... I guess that leaves me somewhere in the middle.... split in two.... a place I have become familiar with these days.

Memories kept

3-29-10 record keeping brain
Last week my surprise arrived in the mail earlier than I expected. Several weeks ago, I had ordered my 2009 blog to be printed using Blog2print.com

My friend Renee had told me how she gets her blogs printed every month or so. I had been meaning to do it, be here it was well over a year and I had not gotten around to it. So finally the first part of March I sat down (it was easy) and ordered this. I decided to print the whole year of 2009 at once. The cost was around $100.



When I opened the box, at first I thought it was a new work manual, since it had my brain picture on it.... I picked the cover and color and look; and I'm happy with it.

Already, I am finding this fun to look through, but I think this will be even more fun to look at years to come.



I realize that I especially enjoy the pictures and recorded events of 2009, so now I will have a better vision on what I want to blog about this coming year.

Lazy weekend

3-27-10 sleepy brain

Rainy spring weekend in KC.... relaxing, but looking for some inspiration today. Hope to see Molly for some shoe shopping perhaps later today.... or I'm thinking of being creative and painting these gourds to create some cheery birdhouses.

Although, I do find their natural coloring pretty cool... beautiful just as they are.



It would also be a good day for a movie.... Outdoor yard work will have to wait for another day.

A few loose ends

3-26-10 TGIF brain
Last Saturday evening Greg and I enjoyed dinner out with our friends Ann and Roy at the French restaurant in downtown Des Moines called Django, which is in the Hotel Fort Des Moines. It was my first time and I found the food delicious, especially the dessert!

Mid meal, we heard loud cheering across the room by the bar area and this turned out to be the reaction to the end of the college basketball game which had the Iowa team UNI winning over the #1 team the Kansas J-Hawks. Glad I wasn’t watching… I would have been really “split-in-two”….. having connections with both Iowa and Kansas. But deep down, I am glad that an underdog team like UNI could win! Everyone in Iowa is very excited.

I always enjoy my time with Ann and Roy since they are some of our more “cerebral” friends, yet they also have a strong “spiritual bent”….. I always learn new things from them. Ann was telling me about her new favorite Internet site at (Bloggingheads.tv ) Ann likes a good discussion on topics without the hype or loud noise, posturing and rudeness you find on cable TV news shows. At this site you find two people with opposite views talking rationally to each other about a variety of issues.

Ann's favorite people to listen to are these guys Bob Wright and Joel Achenbach.

After dinner we walked a few blocks down to the Des Moines Social Club where a kick-off party for the DM Women’s Roller Derby. Roy was interested in this. We rubbed elbows with some of the “cheeky” gals (as Ann liked to call them)….. and we picked up their schedule. I am all on board to attend one of their games in April or May….. should be interesting and fun…. I love roller skating and IF I was younger, I could see myself on the team… acting outrageous and having fun!

Also this week, Greg and I met up with Vivian and Clyde after church and they took us out for lunch Sunday to celebrate Greg’s March Birthday. They were in good spirits and happy spring has arrived.



Also something weird to report; last week prior to my Iowa City trip I spent 1/2 hour down at the WHO radio station in Des Moines, recording a "testimony" for my Eye Doctor, talking about how happy I have been with the results of my eye surgery. They recorded my voice and me talking.... then I think they will put together the message they want. So if any of you listen to WHO radio, you might just hear my voice!
Coming up next week ….. more time spent in KC.

My BLISS

3-25-10 joyful brain

MY office cleaning project continued this week (but more slowly). But by Tuesday night I had the large recycling can ¾ full already, Monday this large can started out empty.



One interesting find was this old used pizza box.


I had saved this “on purpose” in January. Why? Well, I had jotted some words on this Sunday January 17th while I was driving back to DM from a visit in KC. I don’t “text” on my phone at all, let alone in the car, but during that drive I knew I needed to make record of my experience…. Since I knew it would be one of those special, yet fleeting moments in life. I was experiencing BLISS- dictionary described this as (a state of spiritual joy).

The funny thing I can’t really explain why I was feeling this way at that moment on Interstate 35, north of Kansas City. I remember the country side was beautiful and I had a wonderful time spent with Greg that weekend and I had left feeling totally loved.

I am so glad I kept this pizza box, since I looked at it many times in February when I was experiencing just the opposite of bliss. February I was feeling stressed and crabby most of the time.

Unfortunately, I can’t even make out my writing on the box, so many of the words I was using, to remember this feeling, are not clear. The works I can read are: “I found it!”… "Bliss".... “let yourself be happy”…. living in the moment”…… “state of grace”…. “love contains peace”…

Tuesday this week, I came close to being in that state of bliss again. The sun was shining, and I was driving home from a relaxing acupuncture treatment…. All felt right in my world.

Moments like this need to be remembered, appreciated, and cherished. They are a blessing which appears suddenly, much like a fluttering butterfly crosses your path. I must pause and take note… since the butterfly usually quickly flies on to the next lucky person.

Silliness with the girls

3-24-10 thankful brain
Last week before I headed off to Iowa City for training workshop, my neighborhood girlfriends had dinner together at Carolyn’s to celebrate Sue’s birthday. The party theme was “tropical and/or Mexican”…. Carolyn had temporary tattoos she insisted we each put on our face. Carolyn made a tasty Mexican dish with avocado salad.





Then we got silly with this hat, the mango margaritas’ helped our moods and we also celebrated our surviving the winter. I don’t think I could have made it through January and February without my weekly get-togethers with Deb, Carolyn and Sue. I AM blessed with neighbors who are friends, who help keep me sane!

Next Birthday, this summer, will be Deb's 50th!