Tag Archives: ART

Friends and Family

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Friends r like Oxygen

Friends are very important. They can be the glue that helps hold you together…. the sounding board for those random and often ever so important thoughts… they are your playmates in many different sandboxes . You smile, laugh and cry with your friends. You may be in the role of the steady tree or the blowing winds and it changes as need be, that what friends are/do.

Friends are chosen individuals you have included in your life. What an amazing concept when you really stop to think about it! As we get older we tend to realize that indeed this is a choice – time is valuable and there are really not enough hours and days to spend it with people who you don’t enjoy, or treasure, and on some level are fascinated by. Fascinate? It can mean many things to me ranging from an individual who makes me laugh, think, wonder and/or ponder, someone who pushes my creative buttons, maybe it’s as complicated as a kindred spirit or a simple as a person to sit and drink a coffee with.

Friends can be of the 2-legged upright variety or the 4-legged horizontal kind. Both are to be cherished, treasured, honored, respected and treated with the up most kindness.

If you are really lucky your friends and your family are one and the same. I am that lucky, and I am very glad for it and about it. You pick your friends but not your family. I lucked out!

For all my family and friends: my comrades thru the storms and quiet times, my confidants when needed, my advocates, my truth seekers and tellers, my supporters and my “go to” people… Thank you all.

Here is to 2013, another new start, and the year of the snake.

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Here’s to 2013- May it be peaceful, happy, safe, healthy and profitable for all my readers. Let’s all hope so!

Thanks for your support this past year. The road was often blustery and meandered at times, but the prospects for 2013 are exciting  and yet to unfold. I’m very glad you partake in this journey with us here at The Botanical Beauties & Beasties. Thank you.  I hope you find the twists and turns of the road as fascinating and exciting as I do. Here’s to discovering 2013 and the hopes and dreams that The Botanical Beauties & Beasties hold.

“According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2013 is the Year of the Snake, which begins on February 10, 2013 and ends on January 30, 2014.  The Snake is the sixth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 Animal Signs.  It is the enigmatic,  intuitive, introspective, refined and collected of the Animals Signs.  Ancient Chinese wisdom says a Snake in the house is a good omen because it means that your family will not starve.  People born in the Year of the Snake are keen and cunning, quite intelligent and wise.  They are great mediators and good at doing business…” info from spring’s greeting cards…

So the snake is a GOOD thing, enigmatic,  intuitive, introspective, refined, clever, calculating and planing to achieve goals! The snake most resembles the dragon of all the zodiac signs, and in fact is sometimes even called “little dragon. That is good for the Dragon is thought to be the most powerful AND lucky of all the zodiac animals.

Baby of Hope 2013

 

PAS: Spring Show and Sale

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We are contributing 2 pieces to be part of the Princeton Ma Spring Art show. Hope you get to se them.

The Opening Artists Reception is Friday, May 18, from 6-9 pm with live music courtesy of Jen Caswell and refreshments.  Exhibit hours are Saturday, May 19 from 10am to 4 pm and Sunday, May 20, noon to 4 pm.  Come and invite your friends and family to help us celebrate our 21st “Coming of Age” birthday!  Come on over!

PAS Show

Art, Nature and Orchids

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Orchid

Orchids make me happy...Yesterday I bought myself a gift. A new white Orchid. To preserve it I photographed it and "Arted" it.

Flowers make me happy. They are calming, beautiful, often exquisite  and an amazement to me in their individuality. Nature is indeed a pure art form. The Botanical Beauties (and Beasties) take their cue from flowers for the most part. Take a detail and expand. The message is every detail can matter, and every person matters. We all need to do our part – whatever that may be.

Can you see the family resemblance  of the Love Birds to the Orchids? We are going to start a series today, showing off the family resemblance’s. This event will be collimated in a mini display at Whole Foods (Cranston R.I) at the end of April or the beginning of May (date still TBD.)  So let the fun begin with today!

Doodles, sketches, Pixels, iPads, Computers and a human.

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What makes a drawing? What makes Art?  The ‘tools of the trade’ and changing as fast as the art world always has…..In doing some internet digging here are some interring words.

 ”Art Authority, one of the top apps for viewing artworks, has already upgraded its resolution to match that of the new iPad. The app claims that with retina display, seeing art on the iPad is “as good as in a museum.” That, of course, is questionable since no app can truly replace a museum experience, and in our quest for high definition, one often forgets that life itself is free of pixels. We do not need an iPad to see the world, let alone artworks. Nevertheless, the increased resolution can only serve to improve the quality of apps such as Art Authority.

With more and more app developers upgrading to the newer resolution, the digital world of the iPad will surely emerge as sharper, clearer, and more inviting. But let’s hope we won’t lose ourselves, along withour sense of sight, in its stunning display, and will remember to look up at the world, at real life, from time to time. Maybe give our retinas a glimpse of the horizon or better yet, a piece of art! “ -http://www.technologyinthearts.org/2012/03/ipad-retina-display-and-art-apps/#more-4425

That is all about the VIEWING… what about the CREATING?

There is Art made on paper and then one way or another put into a digital form to show up on-line… there is “live performance Art” – taped and put on-line to share with the world… there is art totally created with digital computer tools, their is sculptural art, and jewelry art and on it goes on and on, mind boggling….a never ending fuzzy and wonderfully drawn line (to be corny) drawn in the sands of art time. Who else has read Harold and his purple crayon?  This purple line goes on and on….just like art…

I find the iPad an incredible freeing and fantastic creative tool…It is part of my Digital Art. Below is a drawing that sums up what I feel about “digital art” right now, this day, this minuet and will probably change in five minuets.  A funny mix of styles, even the traditional is not traditional anymore. In this case the most traditional tool is Photography. (Today some folks still question whether photography is an art. For the record, I am clear that it is.) In this piece it’s the background image, a travel photo of a rocky coast.. Export it into SketchBook Pro (IiPad app) and Brushes (another iPad app) …recreate…. add a cartoon like sketch made on the iPad.  Enhanced by exporting it to Photoshop on my desktop…. then take it all back to the iPad and PSTouch (Photoshop for the iPad – it’s amazing!), add another photo, this time taken with the iPad camera of what was actually a table edge right in front of me (can you find it?) Back to “big brother Photoshop” on the desktop…. add a few more adjustments and lighting needs. Doing it on the desktop just because it is bigger and I have ever tool possible to me there. This is what I end up….. A mixed media, modern art work? Marty (the fish) looks TOTTALY out of place and yet there is also something fascinating about the juxtaposition. All these tools/devices/skills/modes of creativity are all mixed up together, not fighting each other, just hanging out toghter waiting for use. Is that what you feel about digital art? At the very least it is an intriguing process to pursue.

As it was stated above- “…one often forgets that life itself is free of pixels. We do not need an iPad to see the world, let alone artworks… remember to look up at the world, at real life, from time to time. Maybe give our retinas a glimpse of the horizon or better yet, a piece of art!”

A Spring tease…..

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Is is Spring - or is it memorex?
Is is Spring – or is it memorex?

Yesterday was all sun and warmth – today is snow and gloom ….. must be spring is trying!

Do you have time for beauty? What’s the moral mathematics of the moment?…Art without a frame.

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“Context matters…

For many of us, the explosion in technology has perversely limited, not expanded, our exposure to new experiences. Increasingly, we get our news from sources that think as we already do. And with iPods, we hear what we already know; we program our own playlists.

…art without a frame. Which, it turns out, may have a lot to do with what happened — or, more precisely, what didn’t happen — on January 12, 2007. “

—————————————————
Huh? Just what do these 3 above snippets have to do with each other? Five years later, I just found out about this thanks to my friend Christine. I am amazed, fascinated, and intrigued. Their are two funny peronal coincidences I will share first. 1) This happened in my home town of Washington D.C. 2)  The article originally ran on April 8, (2007) – my birthday.

After reading the whole article on the Washington Post site- I take exception the sentance below that says -” The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy.” It turns out that 2 adults did actually stop and were truly in the moments for the beauty and joy. – Curious? Read the abbreviated version below (from Urban Legends)… and read the whole story called Pearls Before Breakfast on  The Washington Post site.  By the way, I checked around- this IS legend, NOT myth!

A Violinist in the Metro 

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousand of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

This obvisously applies to ALL ART. Since Birdelini has The Oscars on tap for this week and her mind…. one can’t help but wonder- Just what did miss? What were we too busy or tired to go see? What politics played with the nominations?  What if…….
Don’t forget – stop, see, smell, and hear the beauty  the roses today! 
“It’s an old epistemological debate, older, actually, than the koan about the tree in the forest. Plato weighed in on it, and philosophers for two millennia afterward: What is beauty? Is it a measurable fact (Gottfried Leibniz), or merely an opinion (David Hume), or is it a little of each, colored by the immediate state of mind of the observer (Immanuel Kant)?” (read on)

Never Hide! Meet Antoinette Ledzian.

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Antoinette: Gordy & The Journal Lady ®

Gordy is starting his INTERVIEW process – if you are an artist, or know one that might like to be included please let us know!
Gordy: Hello and welcome to The Journal Lady® (aka The Memory Keeper and Antoinette Ledzian. Author, artist and befriended of strangers.)

The Journal Lady and I meet a few months back, her energy and “joie de vivre” was instantly clear. At that time I had no idea how wildly creative and wonderful her “ways and means” or how diverse and fun her art is. It turns out she utilizes any medium which illustrates the written word . . . She tells me that “My middle names are *Serendipity* *Organization* and *Inspiration* . . .
I love following my bliss and trusting my intuition which leads to synchronicity and continual new experiences which from stories that usually get posted with my photographic images on flickr in the form of “six word stories” . . . (see link below) That all sounds great and we kept on chatting.. When I asked about herself and her art the wonderful answer was. “Every day is filled with a new adventure because I totally trust the creative process, truly believing that through my art I have learned to overcome any obstacles, and most importantly, turn negatives into positives at every turn. Every day is a gift . . . and every corner turned presents another opportunity to create ART!”

It is clear from your wonderful website and links that you are a lady of many talents! Since you name is The Journal Lady I assume that is a major part of you, true?

Antoinette Ledzian
I Have been “visual journaling” long before it became a fad! Some of my work is featured in “Art and Healing” by Barbara Ganim. Although I am a “Certified Expressive Arts Facilitator” I don’t hang out a shingle, but DO incorporate my experiences in day-to-day living and teaching the arts.

I have studied and practiced art my entire life, taking classes with instructors from all over the world . . . from Colby Sawyer College in New London, NH to the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, RISD, The Letterpress Guild of NE, and through calligraphic organizations or adult-ed classes. My husband and I have written, illustrated and published a book entitled, “The Cat Who Lost Its Meow” . . . a book about processing loss through art and journaling. 

Gordy: Is there a process to your work?
Antoinette: I utilize any medium which illustrates the written word . . . photography, pastel, watercolor, acrylic, collage, letterpress, graphic design, fabric, fiber and, of course, calligraphy! I have been blessed with the luxury of living and creating in my home/studio on a daily basis for over 30 years. For 10 years I held a summer camp for 9-12 year olds entitled “Art Bound Camp” where we wrote and painted, combining the results in a journal, complete with illustrated covers. (links to this on www.journalady.com)

Gordy: What do you love the most about creativity?
Antoinette: The satisfaction that bubbles up from deep within, especially with visual journaling, is invaluable to personal growth. No activity nor purchase can compare to using God’s given gifts to the fullest.

Gordy: Do you consider yourself an “environmentalist?”
Absolutely, without a doubt . . . as artists, my husband and I are insatiable recyclers. From cooking a chicken and eating leftover concoctions for days, to cutting up old clothing for sewn collages, pillows or journal covers . . .
Going to the dump is a challenge at times! Even worse is returning from the landfill with a perfectly good item, which begs to be recycled.

Gordy: What connection to sustainability (if any) does your work have?
As a writer and journal keeper, my connection to sustainability goes hand in hand, as my natural well never runs dry. Creativity and resourcefulness are always at my fingertips in concrete or virtual form. This spills over into invaluable skills for adjusting to life’s ups and downs. The ability to take time to reflect is invaluable to the growth process and becoming the best at being me so that I can give back to others in an inspirational way.

Gordy: Are their links to websites of your work?
www.journalady.com
www.flickr.com/photos/colorfulexpressions/
Note: We (at Botanical Beauties & Beasties) were lucky enough to be a featured in Colorful Expressions- read all about us!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/colorfulexpressions/6339165376/ 

Gordy: Where, how, can folks find your great pieces?
Readers can contact me through my website. We have occasional home studio shows.
Gordy: My final question to you is …what advise, tips do you have for aspiring artist and/or creative souls?
CREATE CREATE CREATE . . . take time to use all your senses every day.
Avoid Television at all costs (haven’t watched it in over 40 years) . . .
Go to art openings whenever possible.
Enroll in classes to stretch one’s knowledge.
Be true to yourself. Have FAITH.
Keep records and pictures of your creations for reflection.
TALK TO STRANGERS . . . do interviews and post to flickr!

Doodles, next step sketches?

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Wikipedia: “A sketch ”done extempore” is a rapidly executed freehand drawing that is not intended as a finished work. A sketch may serve a number of purpose: it might record something that the artist sees, it might record or develop an idea for later use or it might be used as a quick way of graphically demonstrating an image, idea or principal. Sketching is generally a prescribed part of the studies of art students.”

The sketches of some individual artists have become very well-known, including those of Leonardo da Vinci which have become art objects in their own right, with many pages showing finished studies as well as sketches.

The term ”sketchbook” usually means  a book of plank paper on which an artist can, (or has already) drawn sketches. Does anyone have a Doodlebook? My sketches seem more like doodles…. but, if a sketch is as stated above ( rapidly executed freehand drawing that is not intended as a finished work. ) then these are sketches? I am no Leonardo but I share anyways! Take the poll below and vote for Sketch or Doodle.

Art and Doodles….

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doodlesA piece of imagination?  A representational of inner thoughts?  Pen and paper needed? An electronic doodle? Is their a time limit on a doodle? Doodle are often done while someone is on the phone…. on a margin of a paper or notebook…a second brain stream? A subconscious?   Are there famous doodles? Google Doodles are fun….

“The word doodle first appeared in the early 17th century to mean a fool or simpleton. It derives from the German dudeln, to play (originally, to play the bagpipe or dudel).”… “According to a study published in the scientific journal doodling can aid a person’s memory by expanding just enough energy to keep one from daydreaming, which demands a lot of the brain’s processing power, as well as from not paying attention. Thus, it acts as a mediator between the spectrum of thinking too much or thinking too little and helps focus on the current situation.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doodle

Below are some electronic doodles I did. The first one is a Photoshop doodle…doodling in .psd doesn’t seem to be fair there are all these preset brushes that you can use and go to town with and “create.” The second is an iPad doodle. In traditional drawing I would have called this a jester drawing – this “doodle” is from dancers I was watching this eve. The third was a doodle with a purpose it was to part of a larger drawing so is it still a doodle? It was quick, it was fun to do, and it is obviously not a very serious drawing. – so is it a doodle?

doodle art

a Photoshop doodle...

sadie the dog doodle Want to doodle on-line and have some fun? Check out these doodle sites! All free – all fun.. http://doodle.ly/ or  http://www.sketchswap.com/  or http://www.doodlersanonymous.com  or http://doodlebug.desktopcreatures.com/  and last but certainly not least...http://www.joyfuldia-doodle-art.com/, they have a links page with soooooo many more for you to explore! Doodle away and see you tomorrow at the Whole Foods Farmers Market, or on Wednesday right here.