getting outside

They say beauty feeds the soul, and the soul feeds the creative fire.
When I am stuck, I go outside.
Then something usually happens that makes me know I am on the right path -- here is one of those happy collage results:

"Those who took as a guide anything other than Nature herself, the teacher of teachers, labored in vain." --Leonardo Da Vinci

why do we make art?

Just watched a documentary about Christo and Jean-Claude and their installation of 28 miles of saffron gates in NYC's Central Park in February of 2005. I got to see that in person, and the experience was amazing - people were wandering around in awe, looking at the billowing orange fabric, walking in contemplation, talking to each other about beauty and art.
People were smiling and looking each other in the eye.
I chatted with quite a few strangers, from all over the world, about the wonder of it all.
I make collages, and I paint and draw. I work in a visual journal, and post some pages here. I have a book I put together about all this which might sell a few copies, and sometimes I wonder why.
Watching this movie I know exactly why.

Make Art.
It's worth it.

"Just think of any negativity that comes to you as a raindrop falling into the ocean of your bliss." --Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

The Book!

Volume Two of my book, Art Journal Pages is now available:
180 full color collage pages from my own Visual Journals for inspiration, instruction, enlightenment, and just fun. When you are stuck in your own visual journaling process, just open this keepsake book, and after a few pages, you will be running for your own papers, inks, pens, and photos, and be right back in touch with The Muse.

This link can show you how to order, and provide a full color preview of the whole book, you can see lots of my journaling pages all in one place on-line, (and you might even decide to purchase the book so you can flip though these pages while you ride the train to work, or wait in the doctor's office, or sip tea in bed, or while waiting for inspiration in the coffee shop . . . )
Visual Journal Pages

and thank you for the well wishes and positive thoughts while I am healing, and thank you for supporting the ARTS and especially the Art of Visual journaling.

"Create beauty. Give everything you have to creating. No matter what you have to do to get by each day, never stop creating. If it is an actual art form, you will likely master it. But if it is just how you live, you'll be very alive and far happier."
--J. Bruce Wilcox

birthday card

Recently at a birthday brunch for a dear friend, I gave her this card. My friends said I should sell it on Etsy, and share it with the world -- it is an accordian folding 24" x 5" card which celebrates any important birthday. It reads: "wisdom, power, love, beauty, abundance, may all this be yours on your birthday." It depicts Ganesh, Rama, Krishna, and Lakshmi. The card comes in a celo wrapper with white envelope. This is a very unusual card, more like a banner, which is suitable for framing after opening, or hanging by your desk to assure the blessings of the Gods and Goddesses for many birthdays to come.
(note: the watermark words will not appear on the card.)
link:
Gods-and-Goddesses

Taking a Break

Hello, dear readers.
a bit less than two weeks ago, I underwent some surgery on the three "B's", bladder, butt, and babymaker. (yup, this included a hysterctamy.)
I wasn't going to write about it here, too personal and actually, a bit gross, even to me.
But I want to explain my absence.
My body is working differently.
What goes in must come out in one way, shape, or form, and I am having trouble with this. Its not easy, and there is pain and lots of time in the bathroom.
Healing is my priority right now.
Also, I am taking this fallow time to rethink my work focus and choices.
I had three galleries show my collages this year, with only one sale, and this might mean I need a new direction.
I am looking at some new options for how I spend my work time, and although taking the time to make art will always be what I do, blogging everyday about it might not be in the best interest of moving my work forward into the world.
I get so many hits here, and so few comments, this might be the Universe letting me know to move on, or maybe just post only now and then.
your feedback is welcome, I'll gather my thoughts and work and healing, then make some new plan for my artistic and work life.
Namaste.

"I thought my mountain was coming this morning. It was near to speaking when suddenly it shifted, sulked, and returned to smallness. It has eluded me again and sits there, puny and dull. Why?" --Emily Carr

flowers, not journal pages

Healing.
Taking time off.
Enjoying the amazing flowers blooming in my garden, and I wanted to share some with you:





"Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate." --Chuang Tzu