this is a space where i will express my ideas verbally. I also have a tumblr blog that you may visit here which provide visuals. click here to visit the slaying my dragons the visuals. you can also visit my youtube channel.
rough start to the day…
… but it was a decent day…..did get my flu shot today….it was only the 2nd time I had ever gotten one but decided if there was a year to do it…THIS was probably the one that it needed to happen! :) market starts tomorrow and then at the end of that we head away to florida for raech’s wedding…luckily someone will be here with the girls why we are away….it is going to be a whirlwind of a couple of weeks and will hopefully get to rest AFTER it is all over;…. :) @
class, market and a wedding
some of you are like huh? well, as you know I began the art journaling class again but this go around there will be a furniture market and a wedding thrown in during this session……so it will be very interesting to see where I end up! i’ve been really enjoying class again this go around…some interesting prompts that are challenging me which is nice…market starts next week and things will be different there as well……so we will see how all of that goes down!…..and lastly the wedding of the century….at least with our family…..well one of the FIRST weddings of the century! LOL…..raech and Spencer are getting hitched at the end of the month in Florida and we are looking forward to a short break in our every day and enjoy some time with the family…. @
back at it…
the class for art journaling has begun again….and I am slowly starting to work on the prompt for this week…I am not sure if I like where I am heading with my work but this is how it goes typically and then I hit a groove and then it is like a watch out world sort of moment…. lol this is the first piece that I started the week off with so we will see where it all goes :)
been away…been in my head…
I think I have realized that when I am not writing here that I am in my head about something whether it be something emotional or me wrong through a project mentally. I just freaking suck at writing a blog possibly I guess as well…and maybe I pull this from the site…….who knows…. LOL anyway..in other news…..starting a new art journal class on Wednesday! LOL
it's my BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!
well kids….here we are…another year has passed and I am now 51 years old…..it seems odd to think of myself as 51…..I mean I KNOW I am 51 but never more than now have I felt that I am not my age…… since I started my health journey back in march, my life has had major changes and my mindset has adjusted too….. last year this time rene and I were walking the balmy humid streets of savannah and I was carrying almost 50 pounds around…… I was miserable…..just always sweaty and out of breath…….. this year we are spending my birthday at home…relaxing and not traveling until later in the year…..and returning to savannah in the spring…Rene’s never been there in the spring and we are taking along our friend ms Byrd………and we are staying on a square in an airbnb this go around which will be super cool especially since it is on the square where there mercer/williams house is (midnight in the garden of good and evil)………soooooooo….today I celebrate a new me….I celebrate a me that has taken control of my health and hopefully a me who has added some yers to the life I am currently leading!! :)
lord……….kids….really….
I am so over covid……and I know covid is far from over……. and I KNOW I am not the ONLY one who is feeling the way…… so today….I took a moment and did a little self care….I mean hell…I am even looking at a new car……its time to step that pu*** up…………just done……short and sweet….. )
the end to another class
I had another wonderful experience with the art journal class lead by Amie O for the VISARTS Group from Richmond….and I am happy to report that I will be ONCE AGAIN taking yet ANOTHER class in a couple of weeks…..with Amie again….and I am sure some of you are wondering what the hell is he taking the class for a third time…..???? WTF??? Well kids…. Each class is different as Amie presents different links/inspirations etc….based on what the class leads to or inspires her to think about. Its really nice and organic how it works. Class three is just around the corner and I WANT to be challenged….and this class forces me to go down into the studio and work….it reminds me of the artist that I am and the person that I will always be…AN ARTIST……. @
took a breather…
You all KNEW from the beginning that I wasn’t a big blogger and here we are again….. after a break I will do my best to do this…..I am trying to get in a habit of doing something here as well and creatively each day…..but that isn’t easy and I will have to MAKE myself do it and get into the habit….anyway….. the journaling class is coming along and once again I have really enjoyed the class. I wont be taking the next one due to scheduling conflicts with market as well as not having enough time to devote to the class the last three weeks it is around…..and I want to be there for the class but think this time around I will skip it. I will return to it though again as I enjoyed it and Amie is a great instructor. I am considering taking a teaching art online class with another group to help better my skills to offer something similar to what they are doing in Virginia. I think it would be great to be able to teach from a distance….fun even! :)…..I have also JUST finished work on my mural project which is down in my studio….wow….that was a labor of love and I really am happy with the outcome. It is colorful, fun, energetic and shows my love of my favorite place….MAUI!….titled “Love Letter to Maui” the front wall is probably at least 20 feet across and the side wall is probably about 20 feet as well. Each wall is at least 8 feet tall and some of o the visual goes up onto 4 foot overhang on the ceiling…..I just love it!!!!!! I will include some photos here to show you. well until next time folks….be kind to yourself….and to one another! @
BEFORE
art journal….
I think at this point you are rolling your eyes and thinking ….again bitch????? LOL…….. This week’s prompt was to take inspiration from an artist and create our own work…… the work should be about activism or some sort of movement…..so I chose a combo…..Haring and Basquiat……..and I am NOT 100% thrilled and feeling confident in my first piece! LOL @
its happening again…
I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am to be back in the journaling class with Amie O offered by VISARTS in Richmond VA…….This class truly tested me last time I took it and I dont expect this time around I will be any less challenged. This go around is a bit different ….or at least so far….amie has given us a prompt for week one…..and week one’s prompt is truisms…….. one a day between the last class and the next one which is Wednesday! Another great thing about class this go around is it is a 6 week class…..that makes my heart happy….and my soul sing….and I am sure you are like..ok ok…enough with the flowery speech….but this class fed me so much last time….RIGHT when I needed it…I have already discovered a new technique that I have fallen in love with already…..and cannot wait to use it on my other works…..trying to figure out how to incorporate it onto a canvas…… I am sooooo excited……and I also purchased a piece of art from a former designer I managed at Viewpoint and have been intrigued by a process she used as well….so this bitch is all over the place and I am so freakin’ excited……I have even considered consulting with the local arts group here in town to maybe lead my own class for journaling….but I need to flesh out the details first!….. :)……well it is getting late and I need to get myself off to bed….enjoy a yet to be seen image from the newest journal! :) @
a good day…
today I spent the day with my friend robin and we ended up in Charlotte and visited ikea…….. It was such a great day…but it was odd….why? COVID-19! we went through the entry line and thank god we got there early……we only spent maybe 20 minutes in line…….or so and then we were in…… we spent a god amount of time shopping and made our way out the door……. as we left….. we looked over at the snaking line that we were in earlier…..HOWEVER the line was MUCH SHORTER when we were in it…..and it wasn’t over 90 degrees out either!…I cannot imagine stranding there just to get into IKEA…..you must REALLY need to go into IKEA!….lord help us….anyway…it reminded me how much friends give to you…. not only do you get support…you get reminded that we ALL need others in our lives…… we are creatures of society….. we need each other whether we want to admit it or not! we have to surround ourselves with other people….and it was so interesting to watch people today in IKEA apologize for being in the way….. etc…… apologies that weren't always the norm in IKEA or in any store for that matter! It is so very interesting what this virus has done to some people. Some people have become angry conspiracy theorists who also don’t want to wear masks,…as they see it as a political statement….thanks to the OMK (Orange Marmalade King)….. or there are people who have realized the bigger picture…… people who have learned what all of this means…..treating people AS PEOPLE…..not as someone or something in front of you that you can treat like shit……SOME people have learned respect and “seeing others”….while some……are still wearing their blinders and being complete assholes! @
people are people…
People are people and they will do what they want to do unless they end up being put in jail over something and that still wont deter some people…….masks are a needed item for the health of the wearer and others. In Asian cultures they get it. it is a sign of respect to others. Here in the US, due to the political culture that has sprung up, it is being seen as a rights violation. A rights violation from the same people who want to dictate what a woman can or cannot do with her won body, but hey…..that’s ok…as long as you can breath right? WTF? I am also over the political ads that have been put out by the OMK about defunding the police and trying to point fingers at the other side….. and let’s even just talk about an NC race here where Mr Tillis is trying to say that China is the reason we don’t have masks and medical supplies? really? are you sure about that? @
why do we discount our successes?
Was just chatting with a friend of mine who I am coaching on the program and they casually mentioned that they had lost 9.4lbs in less than ONE WEEK…….and I was like…..STOP THE PRESSES….repeat that for me please…..and they did…..9.4 lbs is what some folks lose in one month….I hit that mark probably at the end of week two….but here they are….not even at the end of week one and they are almost at 10lbs….first off that is freaking fantastic….but secondly….. it made them feel pretty good about things too…but why are we so quick to discount our success???? I will tell you may thoughts….. we are always afraid of failure....... So we dismiss, so that we can’t get too excited about something that should be celebrated!! If we celebrate it gives us something that we aren’t used to having….attention. With weight loss, the last thing we want is attention……well in the beginning that is…… weight is a tricky and slippery slope and often times people who have weight issues would prefer that no one mentions anything about it….and for those who aren’t having issues with weight…mentioning weight is a rough thing to talk about……and now that I am a coach, I HAVE to talk about weight whether I want to or not!…….so go out there and celebrate yourself….celebrate each and every goal or milestone with bravo …..live it up!!!!!! pat yourself on the back and get back to work! :) @
mask or no mask
I am having a real struggle with people who refuse to wear a mask when it is known to actually stop the spread of a virus….it’s not a political statement but it has been made into one unfortunately……in China and other other countries they understand that IF you wear a mask, it is also a sign of respect to others…your rights aren’t being infringed upon…..RESPECT…..sing Ms Aretha!! anyway….on to other things…..I received and email about the summer classes at VisArts in Richmond and Amie’s art journal class wasn’t listed…..there were other classes but not the art journaling class and I was more than disappointed……and then a second email arrived and there it was….the class announcement and Amie used MY art journal page! It caught my eye and it made me happy….what’s this? I am excited and happy about a class! LOL…AN ART JOURNALING CLASS!!!! WTF!!! It begins on the 29th and I am so ready!!! @
so enough with the challenge this challenge that crap!
well as you can see from the title of this entry…..I have decided to stop bitching and moaning about the challenges I have been facing etc…..or challenges I have placed in my path…..NOT that they are going anywhere because they certainly are not….but why complain about them? does nothing but take up space and bore people to death! LOL……do want to talk about this though…..as you all know the challenge of the art journal practically put me in the looney bin…….and I overcame that fear/challenge and have now embraced the concept and am enjoying it….am I doing as much as I was in my journals…..no….and this is where I begin my story here…… so yesterday as we were driving back from VA…René and I were chatting and I mentioned working down in the studio etc…..I haven’t been down there much as I didn’t want to aggravate my back without having a Chiro to fix it if need be…… it has become quite a touchy subject and I can certainly see how someone who may has pain and gets pain meds prescribed to them, that if it took away the pain….getting hooked would be easy…pain is not fun at all!…anyway….. as I was talking about working on the studio mural which had a great start and came to a screeching halt with the return to work and the journaling class…..I also mentioned working or I should say expanding on the theme of the water/leaves etc concept that came to be in the first journal…….and he said you just have to get down there and work as that is when you become creative…… work comes from work…and that I was doing what I did before……instead of working on something I am simply sitting here TALKING about working on something and making it feel as if “I am being creative”….and it reminded me of the trap that I was in BEFORE the mural/journal class…… the work work work…think. about art and let months pass doing nothing but TALKING about making art and working through concepts in my mind and putting things off as if I was afraid to begin and possibly discover what was happening!………and it made me realize that I had always used my art as a time to work though things mentally….and to also escape a little to a world I could control ….etc etc……..well I think with everything happening in the world…and personally with the weight loss etc….my mind had become overloaded….and I turned away from one of the things that could help me get through some of the shit and process some of the mental stuff I have had stashed away up in. the pink goo…….. soooooo….today is going to be a day of working in the studio doing something……hopefully working on the studio wall/mural as I would love for that to get finished up and be ready for its grand debut on screen……. all of this also reminded me of a video I watched some time back and I think I will be putting that into practice today…… I will link it below along with a couple of pieces from a new journal I began which will be completely black and white sketches/work……anyway…….love yourself……be kind to yourself….and be kind to others! @
been away pt2
I told you all I wasn’t so good at this journaling thing! LOL…..but here I am back again trying my hand at it…..lets see…friend died….took a journaling class…still loosing weight….trying to deal with the crazy that is still covid-19….black lives matter vs all lives matter…vs blue lives matter etc etc etc…..it has all been a lot to process…and now we have people bitching about wearing a mask when it is to save others but sorry….it bothers them….so it has to go….me me me me……..people have gotten so caught up with me they forget the we of it all…….and have I fallen pry to that ….yep….but to the mask bit….but more about the conversation about me…for instance here….. why does it matter what the fuck I am doing…..who the fuck do I think I am with this whole…read about me…..find me interesting……love my opinion….. so this is why I think I struggle with writing a blog….and I am not sure anyone even reads this at all…….no one comments and no has mentioned…hey I saw this or that on your blog….soooooo…with that…I will sign off until I decide once again it is time for me to say something! LOL.. @
been away…
i’ve been away…not physically but mentally. so much going on in the world and my life in general that blogging seemed the furthest thing from my mind….and as I mentioned early on I am not a huge blogger and writing down feelings/thoughts in this way….so it is an adjustment! LOL. anyway…… I had taken an art journaling class and that allowed me to go into my headspace and fill time with art and not words…not the computer etc…..I am back for now at least! :) work is trying to get back to normal…as normal as whatever normal is anymore…… life is ok…..with the virus..and now the protests, it is quite a changed world we are living in….. I mentioned on my FB page about how we should have all seen his revolution and virus coming as it is 2020…..clearer vision…..understanding…it has been announcing it’s arrival since Jan 1…….. it let us all know it was time to look at our lives….our thoughts…our emotions….and who we are on the inside….outside…etc…how we treat people….how we treat ourselves….think about who we want to be…etc ..you get the picture…….. so as I sit here typing this entry watching squirrels chase each other on the deck outside……..I have plenty on my mind but little I want to share right now……. @
a friend gone....a journal coming together....and a memory from the past
my dear friend Gus is no more. he passed away on Sunday…..he had been struggling for a long time…he was a fighter but he was tired…..so as much as I wished my friend was here with us on earth….he has moved on and I am a better person for knowing him….my art journal is coming together pretty well and I am happy with how things are looking……granted I haven’t worked in it as much as I would have liked to…..due to things with Gus…..and my back has been hurting due to inadequate seating in the sunroom…..pushing my limits with the yard etc…….so my back was NOT a happy camper downstairs at the drawing desk……until today….. when I popped into office depot and bought a new chair and it is heavenly! :)….YAY…..life is hard enough right now for many….and I had to have some cooshy chair! :)….. the passing of Gus was such a strike to the heart. I met him over 25 years ago and life has never been the same and I will certainly miss him……now skipping back to the art journal…..theme….trees……it has slowly not only morphed about my tree dream…… or the tree in maui…it is addressing family trees as well……and it certainly is still a work in progress! :) as for the memory from the past, I came across a video that was shot at the Warhol in Pittsburgh when weezie and went 5 years ago……god that was a great trip and to be in the presence of all of those Warhols…….I was at a loss for words and became overwhelmed at one point and broke into tears…… @
the challenge continues....
it has been a bit since I have written anything here or even posted to my YouTube page which I REALLY need to fix….. life has been a little wacky and I really didn’t to post a bunch of commentary on covid etc…..over that by the way but not over it in a way where I want to run out and lick a light pole to prove cant get sick!! LOL…anyway…the last post spoke to the challenge of the creating the art journal……and how I had found it daunting….well we had class on Wednesday evening and I will be honest…..I sat there thinking “why the fuck did I sign up for this damn class?”…..also thinking…”have I lost my damn mind? this is nothing like I do….I dont work this way….”……….HOWEVER……I powered through the class and even “met” with the professor after……oddly….we were asked to provide some work for comment etc…but when it came to my pieces…the professor…moved on….no comments….and I was thrown…..I know this professor and she does nothing without it being her choice….so I was really wanting to hear thoughts etc…..but nothing….HOWEVER…throughout the evening she would reference my journal page that I was able to show……or she would comment on the mural I am working on in the basement……. subtly….not all like AE THIS IS GREAT….etc etc…so after class she and I spoke….keep in mind she is an old college professor of mine…..and so I get where she comes from and understand her “speak”……..and as I asked questions and she spoke to me…..something clicked….I am not sure what happened but it clicked….and I found myself thinking again about the process I was about to begin in my art journal…..and how I was overthinking…I am a virgo damn it…we are good at that…hell we are GREAT at it! LOL…..anyway…………so after class I decided to stay in the studio and use GUACHE!!!! yep…..I dabbled with it earlier in the day however it was time to go all in and make a mess……..and what I discovered was a new medium which freed me up from being so “perfect”….it forced me to allow mess….allow bleeding of color……much like water color but the feel of it is more like acrylic….for this painters/illustrators out there………and my work has been flowing out of my hand ever since…….and I could not be more excited about it…..BTW re: the mural….she wants to see final visuals for it….she loves it and thinks that is a great piece ….she wants me to come to Richmond and do something great there instead of the album cover art that seems to be populating their city! :)……….wow…… the challenge was accepted and I am throwing that bitch to the wind and saying…..”got you bitch…..NEXT!” @
