Quinary Poetry - - Minimalist Poetry and Watercolor Art

Tree of Life

2011-05-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

I was trying to teach my mother to let go of her feelings through abstract art. My mother, a Holocaust survivor, who has spent a lifetime keeping all her feeling and demons locked up inside, took up some art markers and drew a few strokes of colour on a sheet of paper. She then stopped. She didn't know how to go further without some guidance or structure. As we sat and just talked, I continued to draw and doodle on her paper. The picture on this page is a collaborative piece started by mom and finished by me. So mom I give you credit for the birth of me and this series of pictures.

After this tree, I went on to explore senses and feelings. In retrospect, it maybe be a little gimmicky but it worked for me. My abstract trees are the crutches and muses that I lean on when I need to express the little bits of me.

Tree of Life

Free of Strife

Sweet as Spice

Aint it Nice

Cuts Like a Knife

The Tree of Vanishing Point

2009-06-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

So what's the point? The vanishing point? All puns aside, which is hard for me to do. I think I get it now. The homework assignment was to draw something using the values learned in the vanishing point perspective. I drew several pictures. One that might resemble an animal, another that was mostly abstract, and my current obsession or crutch the "Tree."

I poetically titled it and wrote it below the picture. But then other phrases popped in my head.

So in keeping with what sparks my inspiration:

Tree of Vanishing Point

As far as the Eye can See

I can See the Point

As long as it grows

In the image of a Tree

Tree of Vanishing Point

Perspective all askew

One point, two, and three

Take the eye to a pleasing point

And the brain knows what you see

Learning to Draw

2009-06-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

My last blog was a tribute to a watercolor class that I took a few months ago. This entry is for my current class "Drawing I," an actual, for-credit, college course. I enrolled in this class so I could learn "fundamental principles of drawing" according to the catalogue description.

There is so much that I enjoy about this class. I enjoy the ambient chatter of the classmates as we all work on our current pieces. I enjoy the fact that the class is four hours long and that it is four days a week. I love that I can peek over someone's shoulder as they work and learn from their process.

My husband and I are very different individuals, with different approaches to art, but I love the fact that we can both take this class together.

And finally, each day I come to class I look forward to the exuberant and gentle guidance from our instructor Josie...she not only teaches us to "Draw" as is outlined in the course description, but from my point of view, she demonstrates how one can draw upon that area that is within all of us to make the images we draw on paper come alive.

Deliberate.....Decide.....Design.....Drip.....Done

Watercolor 101

2009-02-15T19:34:00.000-08:00

I have signed up to take a watercolor class. I chose this class because it is titled "Out of the Box Watercolor." I like watercolor because it bleeds and cries and it helps me get my feelings on paper. I come to this class to learn a little bit more about structure and rules. I have learned to experiment with tissue papers and other mediums. There is a nice camaraderie in the classroom. This is an 8-week class and I am hoping a little discipline and discussion of techniques will guide me onward.

Now that I read the title that I gave to the piece posted below, I realize that I titled it backwards.

I first started with a blank canvas and no idea of what I was going to do. I thought, stared, and blinked a little. The paper scraps available to me had a bubble and circle design. So I glued, I painted, I outlined and I let go, and had fun.

Blast Bubbles Blow Blink Blank

Cloudy Days

2008-07-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

Monsoons are upon the Phoenix, Arizona community. The weather in July can be hot, humid, cloudy, and sometimes rainy. Clouds roll in and fill the sky. The clouds are voluminous, sometimes white and fluffy and sometimes dark and foreboding. Clouds are nature's Rorschach. What do you see? A ducky, a person's profile, or a mountain range?

Abstract art is the same. What do you see? Sometimes I don't know what I have until it's done. That's the beauty of seeing different images in your own abstract. There's a quiet satisfaction in seeing something new everyday even if it's the same old view.

Inspiring Juices

2008-03-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

That which inspires one to write words, paint pictures, create song, or carve images, comes from within and is screaming to get out. Happy, sad, angry, glad or frustrated, these are some of the feelings that spark art.

Many of our basic feelings are coloured by our bodily functions. If you are angry or upset, you might say you were "pissed" or "pissed off." If you were nervous you'd be "sweating" bullets. If you think someone was not being truthful, you'd think they were "full of shit." Tears are a result of happiness or sadness. And well, "blood" is the life force of us all and the word is used as a feeling intensifier in British-speak.

I paint better when I am charged with some emotion. If I feel sad, I imagine gathering up my tears into a bottle. I then select a brush and dip into the tear-well and begin to portray my feelings onto paper. The same goes for when I am pissed off, or if I think someone is shittin' me. So, imagine what you will. I try to reach in to the blood and guts level and put it on paper for all to see.

Blood.....Sweat.....Tears.....Pee.....Poo

Talk

2008-03-05T08:00:00.001-08:00

Talking is good. Women do talk. Women talk when they are happy or troubled. It's what keeps women sane. Some men do talk but they rarely talk and share with other men the way women do.

I love the exercise of talking and doodling art. It allows shapes and colors to flow and then you get to see what you are feeling.

Hello Rosemary. Take a look at our last talk pictured here. I see some pretty big smiles. Here's to us enjoying some less stressful moments.

Talk Share.....Don't Despair.....Friends Care.....Forever There.....a Serendipitous Affair

Happy Birthday

2008-03-01T13:45:00.000-08:00

March is birthday month in our house. CFMG will no longer be a teen. I will be the year I was born. Warm spring weather is coming to the Phoenix area. Lots of stuff is going on and we are all busy.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, we have added a cat to our household, even though we have no experience living with cats. We have also added another small dog, his name is Frankie. He is an 8 years old Boston Terrier, who is very affectionate and seems to be fitting in very nicely. Our older dog is infatuated with this new dog and well that can make for lively encounters.

Our lives seem to be all over the place with comings and goings and things. But they are all good things. Just go with the flow and the twists and turns and it will all be okay.

Stress......Mess......Confess.....DeCompress.....Supress

Cat Got Your Tongue?

2008-02-08T18:21:00.000-08:00

We are crazy, I know. We recently adopted a cat into our home. Our daughter has always had mild allergies to some cats, but she didn't seem to have any allergy problems with this cat. We adopted Coco Chanel from the Foothills Animal Shelter. She is declawed on all four paws, so she definitely needs to be kept as an indoor cat. When we first entered the animal shelter, Chanel crawled right into our daughter's lap and didn't want to move. We actually had come to the shelter with the thought of adding another dog to our 3-dog family. But we added a cat. I have never owned a cat. So this was a new experience for me.

The cat has lived with us about two weeks now and seems to be getting on fine. We have introduced her to the 3-dogs, one dog at a time. She doesn't seem to mind them, and they are more curious about her. She currently lives in our daughter's bedroom.

Chanel seems to be very gentle and well mannered. All the things one hopes a cat to be. Except the other day, I don't know what exactly happened but our daughter relates that as she was lifting Chanel out of the way, and the cat bit our daughter on the face. It wasn't a bad bite, but Chanel definitely punctured the skin. Oh well, the cat may not have gotten her tongue, but definitely got her nose.

Here Kitty.....Nice Kitty.....Sweet Kitty.....Gentle Kitty.....Ouch!

Dream

2008-01-21T19:30:00.000-08:00

Today is January 21, 2008, Martin Luther King, Jr Day...A day to honour a man with a dream. What's your dream?

Shimmer.....Glimmer.....Dreamer.....Mind-Weaver.....Ideator

2008

2008-01-09T21:16:00.000-08:00

Here we are in the year 2008. Do you have a favourite number?
The number eight is considered a money number in many Asian countries. The explanation I was given was that eight on its side resembles the symbol for infinity, suggesting infinite wealth. And if you look at our dollar sign, $, it does look like the number eight.

The number eighteen in Jewish tradition is associated with the word "chai" in Hebrew. Chai means "life" in English. The two Hebrew letters that spell the word chai are equivalent to the numbers 8 and 10, which added together equal "18."

Roses are beautiful flowers and some are very fragrant. They are often given as symbols of love and friendship. But like anything sweet in life, you must deal with some pain, like the thorns on a rose's stem.

So this year. 2008, I wish you all a year of prosperity, good life and good health and to appreciate the beauty around you. And if you should ever be pricked by a thorn, don't hate the rose, instead appreciate it all the more.

Eighteen Flowers.....Inspiring Powers.....Gentle Bowers.....Happy Hours.....Tender Towers

Rain

2008-01-02T22:09:00.001-08:00

I live in a desert climate, and yes it is a dry heat in the summer time. During the winter, it can get cold and wet. We have had a considerable amount of rainfall in the last couple of weeks. Our winters are like extended autumns.

What's nice about this time of year is that the rose plants love it. I have a small rose bush in a pot outside my front door. Last week only one rose was in bloom. But what caught my eye was the way the rain had covered the rose's bloom. I don't have the words to describe what I saw, so I grabbed my digital camera. I took several pictures and tried the closeup feature of the camera. When I loaded the picture onto my laptop, I experimented with the image a little bit and below is that rose. The little circle-dot like features in the image are all raindrops clinging to the rose. I added nothing to this digital image. I only altered the the way it appears.

Raindrops Delight The Rose Observer

Guilt

2007-12-27T21:38:00.000-08:00

This one is called "Guilt" or "Ode to Mom." The abstract below is my tribute to my mom. Her initials are CZ and so it is doodled.

I learned the art of “Jewish Mother Guilt” from my mom. I thought I had learned it all until I tried to turn the tables, by trying to give my mom a little guilt trip. I said, “mom, I think you have never been to my house during Passover and it has been a long time since you’ve been to Arizona. Why don’t you come this year?”

Well, being the novice that I truly am, I did not get the response I expected. She immediately started crying, and acknowledging her faux pas. She then continued to tell me how miserable she felt by her not coming more often, and she got more and more upset. I then stupidly attempted “damage control” and tried to explain I was using the “old guilt trip technique,” but by then she wasn’t listening to me. Alas, it was too late, she had ‘trumped’ my guilt card and took me down several notches until I begged for mercy.

I am humbled. I had the audacity to challenge the Queen, and she took my volley and spiked it back to me, sending me cowering into the corner not only feeling guilty but also ashamed. Wow, she’s good.

Me bad. Lesson learned. Don’t try to out-guilt your own mother and expect to surface unscarred. Back to therapy I go….

Grate.....Underrate.....Intimidate.....Lacerate.....Truncate

Calm

2007-12-23T19:59:00.000-08:00

After my abstract class finished, I decided I needed to explore other mediums. I tried my hand at acrylic paints on canvas. The painting below is the result and I call it "The Calm Before the Storm." I did not realize how prophetic this picture would be. After I painted it, I saw tornadoes looming in the background and five plants in the foreground waiting.

Well, our prodigal daughter, CFMG, has returned to the homestead and the whirlwind of high drama continues. I like to pride myself for remaining calm amidst chaos. Tornadoes are known to carve out destruction along an unpredictable path. The safer place to be is inside the tornado, the calm within the storm and that is how I have chosen to ride out this current storm of events.

The Calm Before The Storm

Flower

2007-12-13T21:36:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow I will be taking an art class. It will be a two hour introduction class, called "Art, Courage & Creativity." The brochure describes this as a "class for adults who want to express themselves artistically, but who feel unsure of their natural abilities." Well that describes me. This is a new adventure for me.

The blank page, whether it waits for the written word or the stroke of a brush can be intimidating. I intend to keep an open mind and open spirit. We all stand alone from time to time, especially when we take on a new task.

Yellow Flower Stands Proud Alone

Pisces

2007-12-10T22:03:00.001-08:00

Out of habit, I read my horoscope everyday. My main two sources are the Internet and the local newspaper. I especially embrace the words and seek out this 'fortune cookie-like' wisdom, when life is not treating me kindly. The trick is to read your horoscope in the right frame of mind. This gives you a 'win-win' scenario, no matter what is written. For example, if my day starts out good, and my horoscope advises caution, I think "well, I'll just take a little extra care today." And if something bad happens, I can't say I wasn't warned. On the other hand, if I am feeling like things are not going well, I turn to the horoscope for confirmation of a possible not-so-good-day, or for information that this nasty time will soon pass.

Do I believe that the movement of the planets shape our lives and our personalities? I don't know. But it is interesting to think that some of us might share similar traits and fates because of birth dates. And I have never met a Pisces person that I didn't like. So there. Pisces people rock!

Fishy.....Flaxy.....Flitchy.....Flity.....Flip-Floppedly

Hanukah

2007-12-02T19:21:00.000-08:00

Hanukah. Latkes. Dreidels. Eight nights with eight lights. 25th day of Kislev, 164 B.C.E. Sufganiyot. Menorah. Nes Gadol Haya Shom. Judah the Maccabee.

According to The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture, Copyright 1999, by Rabbi Benjamin Blech, page 111.

For those who still think that Hanukkah is the Jewish Christmas, it's only fair to point out that the story of Hanukkah preceded the birth of Jesus by 164 years. More significantly, the Jews at that time were the only monotheists in the world. If Judaism had been destroyed, Christianity and Islam probably would never have come into being.

Thinking of

.....Hanukah.....Happiness.....Health.....Heartiness.....Hope

Think!

2007-11-23T08:34:00.000-08:00

"Do you think....?" "Nah, I'll pass today."

Thinking too
MUCH.....SOON.....LOGICALLY.....INTENSELY.....HOPEFULLY

Autumn

2007-11-11T18:13:00.000-08:00

Autumn in Toronto is lovely. The trees are changing colours. There is a brisk freshness in the air. And best of all, I don't have to rake the falling leaves.

Final.....Five.....Fall.....Foliage.....Float

DNA

2007-11-08T20:03:00.001-08:00

The structure of DNA has been said to resemble a spiral or helix structure. There is an inherent grace, balance, and beauty in its construct and design. This organic microprocessor is said to be encoded with our individual design. How magnificent is that? All living matter is bonded by a DNA that dictate what we are!

I just spent ten days with my mother. I wanted to be with her after her cataract surgery. I finally had a chance to mother her a little bit. I knew her spirits were starting to improve a few days after her surgery when she asserted her independence and resisted my attempts to wait on her. She soon picked up the slack and told me what to do, how to feel and what to say. I'm glad I was there to help and she was appreciative. But that Mother-Child bond, is forever strong. And you know for the most part, I didn't resist my mother's "mothering." In fact, I finally understood my own 'overbearing-caring' of my own child. Hey, I have an excuse now. You see it's not my fault, 'cause it's in my DNA.

CHAINS that

Connect.....Bind.....Break.....React

Amazing

2007-10-25T06:33:00.000-07:00

Remember those children's puzzle books with the little mazes. It was usually marked "Enter Here." You took your pencil and started following the path until you found the exit. The beginner puzzles were mapped out very clearly with very few wrong turns. As an adult you could easily scan the whole picture and see exactly how to proceed. The more advanced puzzles were very intricate with many wrong turns and dead ends. It's an interesting thought. You can see how you start off and see where you are supposed to end, but it's all that stuff in the middle that can mess you up.

Emily and I were talking. Nothing strange there. We always talk. In naming this watercolor below we differed on the phrasing of the last thought. I initially wrote "It's how you Choose." Emily said "It's what you Choose."

But so many other combinations also ring true. Try these....
It's why you Choose.
It's because you Choose.
It's when you Choose.
It's where you Choose.
It's who you Choose.
It's how much you Choose.

Well, you get the idea. I'm sure you can figure out a few other words that would work for you. The key working word here is still "Choose." The power is in that word. We all may not be able to choose whether we win or lose as we navigate this maze of our lives, but how we chose to react to it. I still choose "how" and I added "what" for Emily because it made me think. Thank you Emily.

Happy Blues.....Misguided Muse.....Pay you Dues..... Deja Vu News.....

It's How and What you Choose

Perspective

2007-10-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

I don't remember much about taking art class in junior high school, but I know I did. I'm sure I learned about perspective or ways to make objects look like they disappear into the distance.

So I tried my hand at it, and it was fine. I painted a road of a sort going off into the distance, making it progressively narrow and embellished it, in an abstract way. So mechanically, I followed the formula and the result is just okay.

Comments from friends varied. The most amusing is that all my work stems from sexual frustration. Hey, whatever scratches their itch, works for me. As far as I'm concerned everything can be construed as sexual. At our last family gathering we discussed the merits and challenges of eating a pomegranate, and it essentially came down to "do you spit or swallow?"...(the seeds if you please) and the rest is just a titter (get it, titter, and if you do, shame on you) and a giggle.

I still think of this painting as a symbol of life's path. I painted an abstract road going off to who knows where. In reality the road ends where the paint ends near the edge of the paper. That's it. But in my perspective, that road is endless. It may have a few bumps and ruts, but it will take you to places with endless possibilities. It's just a matter of how you look at it.

Path.....Passion.....Patience.....Persistence.....Possibilities

Journey

2007-10-12T09:56:00.001-07:00

Our little bird, CFMG, has left the nest. The feelings between us all, are currently amicable. Having said that, implies it wasn't always that way. I will say no more on that subject.

At this point in her life, she is not ready for a college education, but she is seeking to enroll in the school of life. We are very proud of her choices.

Electrifying, spine tingling, nerve pinching, laugh and cry out loud, sleep, eat and sometimes quiet, that's what its all about and more. Like a bolt of lightning and a clap of thunder, it's over in a flash. Where did the years go?

Yah, I know, life's a journey. I have said it too many times myself, but I was talking about me. It's hard to let go...

Jaded.....Jagged.....Jealous.....Jaunty.....Journey

Toothbrush

2007-10-02T12:14:00.000-07:00

I need to do less to be appreciated more. The more you think about it, the more it makes sense. It's one of those reverse curves in science, I think it is called the law of decreasing benefits or diminishing returns(or something like that). So here's how it works....you do something nice for someone and they're all happy and grateful. You do more and you're acknowledged and given a nod. You do even more for approval and you get criticized for a "job not-so-well-done."

The one thing I always would remember even on one night trips and sleepovers is to take a toothbrush. On our last trip, as usual I made sure everyone's luggage and toiletries were packed accordingly. Who's toothbrush did we forget to bring? Mine. I did the utmost to make sure everyone was packed. All items remembered. House instructions to pet sitter, tickets, passport, snacks and that everyone is up and running in a timely manner. I forgot my toothbrush. A small seemingly insignificant item, an item that was easily acquired at our destination, but an item that spoke loudly to me.

Future.....Lure.....Endure.....Unsure.....Reassure

Autumn is upon us.

Flowers, Trees, Birds, Bees, the cycle continues...the Autumn of our lives is here. Lots to do before winter settles in and we run out of options.

Manor

2007-09-24T18:25:00.000-07:00

Tree in Bird

We have returned to our home in sunny, warm, "but it's a dry-heat" Arizona. Here most people speak English and Spanish. There is a growing diversity of peoples from other homelands outside the USA, but most of the immigrants to this state come from somewhere in the United States.

Toronto, my city of birth is a very diverse city. But like many enthnic groups in big cities, I grew up surrounded by my enthnic group, Jews. The face on this community has changed quite a bit in the last 30 years. Each time I go back I see new ethnic stores that are not all Jewish. But I still call it home. There is a sense of familiarity and comfort with each trip. And because I go back about every year, I am able to track the slow changes in buildings, population and stores. And of course there are the stores that seem to have always been there. This part of town is referred to as the "Bathurst Manor." And yes, it's true, in a manner of speaking, that while "You can take the girl out of the "Manor," you can't take the "Manor" out of the girl. It's still inside me. And I'm glad.

Toronto

2007-09-20T06:37:00.000-07:00

Time for family, food and just catching up.
My family of three travelled to Toronto this week of the Jewish New Year. The weather has been wonderful. Autumn is just around the corner.
It's a week of happiness of coming and sadness of going and a little gladness when we head back to our USA home.

Blame.....Broken.....Blunder.....Blatant.....Blue

5768

2007-09-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

Many people think of Wednesday as the "over the hump day" or the "weekend's almost here day." I think when the calendar hits September, the year feels like it is almost over. I am referring to the fact that the stores begin to show signs of Halloween and Thanksgiving and fall decorations as Labour day weekend approaches. And by the time Halloween comes, look out for Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year. And by the time New Year's decorations have cleared the shelf, make way for St. Valentine's day hearts and flowers and chocolates.

Actually, come to think of it, the Jewish New year is about a week away. So to all of you who indulge in a little apple and honey, and a little reflection and fasting, I wish you all a Healthy and Happy and Prosperous L'Shanah Tova Tikatevuh 5768.

Sedate.....Understate.....Navigate.....Necessitate.....Year-To-Date

Herchel

2007-09-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

Here is my first attempt at painting what I see. With apologies to our dog I have finally crossed the line from the surreal to the real.

Above is a watercolor of our Boston Terrier / Pug, aka "Bug." Actually, he belongs to our daughter. We got him on St. Valentines day over 4 years ago. He was about 2 years old when we adopted him. He was shy, he pished all over the house and he was afraid of my husband. Our daughter named him "Herchel." And, you know what? The name suits him. Over the last 4 years he has certainly grown into the dignity of his name. He is a volunteer pet therapy dog with Pets on Wheels of Scottsdale. He has made over 200 hours of community service visits with our daughter to local nursing homes. He meets and greets people with good cheer, calmness and confidence. He sheds fur on their beds, and the nursing home residents treasure every furry bit he leaves behind as a reminder of his quiet and loving demeanor.

His full and proper name, as given by our daughter is "Herchel Ridgel Stitch Bug Goldenthal." For a full explanation of all of his names, you will have to read her blog. But I don't know when she'll make a posting to her blog, so please be patient. Her blog can be found at

http://adayinthelife-kiki.blogspot.com

Rose Coloured Glasses

2007-08-30T18:39:00.001-07:00

I like looking at the world through rose coloured glasses to filter out all the nasty images we get from TV and other media. There should also be rose coloured hearing aides to filter out all the hurtful things people say. And what about rose coloured dampeners so we don't think too hard or rose coloured softeners to protect us from a broken heart.

I think I'm onto something here.

Stain glass.....Hardass.....Harass.....Surpass.....Outclass

Freeze Frame

2007-08-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

A voice captured on tape,
a smile conserved on film,
Letters written long ago...
It all has meaning still.

A hint of laughter,
a glimpse of yesteryear--
Our lives embraced
only a moment's time...

And I still remember,
please don't forget,
the moment, the embrace
the silent talk,
and we, gone by(e).

written???by me 1974? 1975?

Freeze Frame.....Reclaim.....Acclaim.....Misname.....Endgame

Enough Already

2007-08-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I don't know when to stop. It's like that old joke. A young child asks "where did I come from?" And parents go on and on with a long explanation of anatomy, birds, bees and love and life and mummy's tummy. Then the kid asks again, and says, "but where did I come from? Daddy was born in Toronto, where was I born?" You answer, "La Junta, Colorado." The child says, "okay." But do you stop there? No. You proceed to get out the maps, and go to the computer and go on and on about getting info from the chamber of commerce and you just don't know when to stop. Sometimes if we all listen very carefully to some of life's questions, the answers are pretty simple. And that's all people want. Simple "yes" or "no." A 500-page essay with footnotes is not necessary.

When I was working on the picture below, I just kept going on and on. I knew I was going to stop at one point, but I just kept adding layers and colors and I couldn't stop. But what the heck. Sometimes I like to give long convoluted explanations, just to watch them squirm.

Erode.....Rough Road.....Outmode.....Decode.....Expose

Pineapple

2007-08-20T18:30:00.001-07:00

I remember writing that I could not see myself painting a still life of fruit. It was too cliche. Yet when I look upon this particular piece, that's what I see. I didn't start off with the intention of fruit, but as the picture grew, that's what happened.

Alas, my art has reached to a low level which I consider mundane and average. Even the poetic phrasing is contrived, forced and with less depth. You will note that there are two separate phrases for this piece. The words are chosen more for their gimmickry than the feeling. I also couldn't make up my mind which I liked better.

The series of "psychedelic" abstracts are done using Prismacolor Markers. My doodling art comes from the use of these markers. The lines are definite and do not blend or bleed the way watercolors can.

Reacting to life is sometimes like choosing your medium for a piece of art. Do you choose watercolor or do you choose markers? With watercolors, I try to go with the flow and see how the watercolors run and blend together. After it dries, I sometimes choose to give it a little structure by means of an outline.

But when working with markers I almost have to plan lines and strokes and there is very little blending. The colors are bold and definite and the shapes are quite defined.

So again like life, sometimes you have to plan and be definite about where you are headed and what you are doing. Be bold with your color choices and stick with a plan so that everything works together. Watercolor is a little more forgiving. There is a freedom of correction, blending and redirecting what might initially appear as a mistake.

So with this piece I didn't plan to see fruit, but there it was, when I was done, a pineapple, and cherries, and kiwi and whatever else you want to see.

Pine.....Appeal.....Appease.....Applause.....Aptitude
OR
Frustrate.....Relegate......Underrate......Initiate.....not Too late

Truth

2007-08-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

What does the truth look like? It is colorful, tearful, restful, stressful and happy. Sometimes one cannot hear or understand the truth until one experiences the lies. Hence the expression "therein lies the truth." (Ha ! Ha!)
Enjoy!

Twicetold.....Roothold.....Uphold......Threshold.....Household

Dream

2007-08-11T20:33:00.001-07:00

Dream.....Scheme.....Gleam.....Theme.....Supreme

Dare to dream.

Emily

2007-08-10T06:59:00.001-07:00

Good morning. Today this is for Emily. Featured below is a piece I specifically did for her. Most of my current watercolor pieces are abstract. When I think of Emily and the words she gave me I had to draw flowers. And Emily likes purple. I have fond memories going to JoAnn's and helping her while she chooses from the dried flowers. And then I remember those glass flowers. This blog is about friendship. It seems funny to thank someone for their friendship. And perhaps we don't say thank you enough to our spouses and our children and our family.

Emily's words are filled with optimism and good things. She is a kind and generous soul. Thank you Emily.

Emily's
Peace.....Love.....Hope.....Joy.....Appreciation

Doodle

2007-08-07T18:04:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found yourself "doodling" while on the phone or during a lecture? I think there is even a book published featuring doodles of well-known persons. I am not an avid doodler but I have on occasion noticed a doodle or two on a piece of paper after being on the phone. Some doodles can be quite telling depending on what task is stimming the doodling.

I will digress a moment. I looked up doodle in my Little Oxford dictionary, and it said scrawl. Now please, "scrawl," just say it for me a few times. "Scrawl... scrawl." No, it does not feel or sound right. It actually sounds quite harsh. "Doodle" is much more pleasant, happy, almost musical. Our daughter sometimes refers to her uncle ( my brother) as "Uncle Doodle." She named him that for a reason, which has more to do with word association. Though, I just gave myself a good laugh when I consulted my larger Collegiate dictionary and looked up the word "doodle" and well, I'll go no further.

Where was I? I digress too much. So I usually go to my art table and begin a picture for whatever reason. Sometimes the TV or music is on in the background to keep me company, but there are no other distractions. This time, with purpose, I decided to begin a picture during a phone conversation, just to see where the brush strokes take me. The result is below. I like it very much. I showed it to my neighbor/friend and talked about it with her. Thank you Caryn. The more I look into this piece, the more it tells me about myself and how I am feeling. "Wow!"

How Low?.....Hollow.....Howl "Oh!".....Hallow.....Hello

Fruit

2007-08-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

I have generated a lot of watercolor pieces in the last few months. Today I am posting one of my favourite pictures below. Everything about it is pleasing to me. I like the colors and shapes and the way it sits in a plain black frame in my hallway.

I remember putting the first blob of yellow on the paper. Don't ask me which yellow. Several shades of yellow came in my watercolor tube set. As I was saying, I started with a blob of yellow and the picture just grew, until I stopped. After the paint dried, I took my fine tip drawing pen (I have several pens ranging in size .01 - .07 microns) to outline some of the aspects of the picture. Then I looked at it and went through my notes on Quinary Poetry. I decided upon the words, signed and dated it and voila, it was finished.

When I look at this painting, sometimes I think I see a pear or some exotic fruit. It makes me think about all those "How to Watercolor Books," where you follow the step-by-step photos. I have yet to sit down with the intention of painting a still life of fruit. Knowing me, I would become very frustrated.

Other times I look at this same picture, I see oversized tear drops. Actually, if I were to acknowledge a theme in some of my pictures, I would say it is the tear drop shape. In this painting, the little tear drop in the upper right corner is emulating the big tear drop. Lately, I have been questioning my own parenting methods. Like many other parents, I hope that my child would emulate the best of the best of me and figure out how to filter out the not so good stuff.

Elevate Escalate Evaluate Estimate Emulate

Surreally?

2007-08-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

I thought I made up the word surreally. You don't believe me? So really, I did make it up and I did think it was original. But so really, "surreally" is really in the dictionary. I can't take credit for the word, but I still like it.

Life is looking a little distorted these days. Happiness is fleeting. Challenges pervail. Routine and the mundane are comforting. Note the picture below. Happinesses are abound. Happiness is flee(t)ing or rather flowing and floating. I did this picture on a happy day. Lots of smiles. What do you see?

Sleepy Slippery Slowly Slyly Surreally

Lollipop

2007-08-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

We have started counselling. I find my biggest challenge in a counselling session is to keep my mouth shut. By this I mean, don't go speaking for other people. Yes, when it's my turn, and the attention is focused on me, I may speak.

When it is time for others to speak, I take on the role of editor and explainer. Perhaps you know the feeling. It's when someone you don't know well, tells you a story about themselves and they talk about George and Gracie, you don't know if George and Gracie are alive or dead, friend or foe, dog or bird. And if I know that George and Gracie are a couple of basset hounds, I will tell the audience/listener when I see the puzzled look on their face.

So as I opened my big editing mouth, I thought our therapist was going to have me excuse myself from the room. He did not. Instead he got up, went to a corner of the room where he keeps a package of lollipops. He offered me one. He said "any time I feel I had something to say, that I should stick this in my mouth." It worked beautifully. Our therapist is a miracle worker. I hope he has such easy fixes for my husband and daughter.

Rede..... Redress ..... Redeem..... Reduce..... Redo

Wave

2007-08-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

Life sometimes comes at you like a giant wave as you stand safely on the beach shore. Out in the distance you can see it grow. As it travels to shore, it sometimes builds in strength and height. Standing at the shore's edge you have a choice to remain there and be enveloped by its force or move back a little so that it barely tickles your toes. Others may turn away and leave with the just the crashing of the waves echoing in the air.

However, you experience your wave, you cannot ignore its pull nor its power. But take a moment after the noise, when the air resonates with a great quiet and stillness and anticipation, before it starts all over again.

Volume Venture Vastness Vacuum Void

Go Slow

2007-07-31T07:21:00.001-07:00

I am impatient, I like control and predictability. What's wrong with that? Nothing. I get things done and I get there on time.

But lately, I have been giving myself the message of "go with the flow," "ride the tide," and "glide on the slipstream." That "slipstream" phrase is my own creation (I think). I'm not even sure what it means. I even had to look up "slipstream" in a dictionary to understand its meaning. My handy little Oxford Dictionary says "slipstream" is a "current of air driven astern by propulsion unit of aircraft." Anyways, I still like it. I imagine myself on a a surfboard riding a wave of air to safe ground.

It has been challenging for me to let go of control, but has been rewarding. I have no specific story to tell, but sometimes if you pull back a little, some decisions are made for you. I am not advocating hiding your head in the sand. But sometimes it's okay to be an audience member watching the play of your life, until a player comes down from the stage and beckons you to participate.

Grow.....Go Slow.....Follow.....Flow.....Glow

A Request

2007-07-28T08:27:00.001-07:00

I had a request from a dear sister/friend to take a second look at my pile of poo picture and come up with something that smells a little sweeter.

I got to thinking about that favourite catch phrase, "when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade." And it is also sometimes true when life gives you manure, you can either complain about being stuck in the stinking muck or you can plant a garden and reap the fruits and blossoms of your efforts. The difference between the lemonade and the garden analogy is time and patience and that is a lesson I have been working on for a very long time.

So, a Rosemary by any other name would be just as sweet...here it is....

a Reason.....a Remark.....a Range..... a Rise..... a Rose

Remorse

2007-07-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

Remorse. What does it look like? With the challenges we have recently faced with our daughter, many ask me "is she remorseful?" And each time it is asked, I answer, "I am not sure."

If someone is sorry, do they roll up in a fetal position, crying and rocking themselves in pain for the pain they have caused? Do they write letters of apology? Do they walk around depressed and in a daze wondering and bemoaning the choices that got them in trouble? Do they look like someone who resolves to turn over a new leaf, with promises and actions to put them on a positive path? Do they pick themselves up and get on with the business of the day and not look back and think, oh well lesson learned? Do they just regret getting caught? The loved ones looking on hope and feel that any and/or all of the above would indicate that remorse has taken place.

I looked "remorse" up in a dictionary and the definition uses words such as "moral anguish" and "bitter regret."

In the end I think remorse means, moving on, remembering, and revamping your life choices that demonstrates compassion for yourself and those in your world.

Remorse.....Regret.....Rethink..... Resolve..... Repair

Alliteration

2007-07-25T18:07:00.000-07:00

The quinary poetry generated in the month of June consists mostly of alliterative phrasing. I tried to challenge myself by creating phrases for most letters of the alphabet. I have over 20 quinary/watercolor pieces for June 2007.

I am trying rhyming quinary for July. I'm in a strange mindset right now and have not created too many pieces. I have also found distraction by the latest Harry Potter book.

I don't know if I have a certain image in mind when I start. I do enjoy hearing what others see or feel. Sometimes I start with the words, sometimes I start with the watercolor.

Below is the first, alphabetically in my series for the month of June.

Amuse.....Annoy..... Admonish..... Accept..... Ascend

Purple & Yellow Make Brown

2007-07-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

I admit, I am really new at this watercolor art. So I am happily exploring my feelings with brush strokes of all kinds and different colors, shapes and designs. I enjoy watching the watercolor paints run into one another and when it's dry I use a fine point marker to outline various/or all aspects of the design.

My neighbor/friend asked me, "what kind of brushes are you using?" And I thought, I don't know, just brushes left over from when my husband was into art. (His art is a whole other subject for another time).

Now, before you look at the watercolor below, I will give you a little background on my thinking. I was going for a spirally swirly effect. And I was hoping to make the colors purple and yellow stand out. Why purple and yellow? Well they felt like good colors at the time. Any ways, when I was done with the piece, I looked down on it, it was actually shades of brown and looked like a pile of doggy do-do. And well I know doggy do-do, as I do do-do clean up for our three dogs.

I don't know what you will see when you look up at this picture, but that's what I see. As for the words, well let's just say I feel like there's been a lot of bullshitting going on these days.

But I will be happy if some art critic looks upon this work and declare " I think this painting is a piece of shit." Thank you!

Dark.....Direct.....Detect.....Deflect.....Drek

Quinary Poetry and Abstract Watercolors

2007-07-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to Quinary Poetry. The poetic rule with Quinary Poetry is to limit your poetry to five words. That's right, a minimalist approach or poetry for those on the go. The words will take you on a journey. Accompanying the words is an abstract image of my own creation.

I have my family (my husband and daughter specifically) to thank for this journey. They have given me angst and inspiration to discover this little frustrated artist. And well lately, angst levels have been above normal around here, so I have been generating a lot of "art" and "quinary poetry."

Actually, the first piece I created was a little over two years ago when I was flying back and forth between my current home and childhood home. My inspiration and angst at the time was my father's final battle with colon cancer. That image/words hangs in my bedroom. I have not yet photographed it for publication here.

The first watercolor and accompanying words I wish to share is:

Explore.....Envision.....Express.....Experience..... Enjoy

I got some interesting reaction to this art work from some women at the framing section of the craft store. I will leave it to your imagination.