Wednesday, February 4, 2009

My Latest Work of Art...



Here are some photos of my newest piece of artwork.  It took me about a week and a half to finish it.  I was inspired by various images I found while looking through a 1968 Esquire magazine that I had purchased last week at a used bookstore.  I decided I would quickly flip through the magazine and find one element from each page to sketch on my sketchbook page.  I found hair, quotes, numbers, faces, symbols, buildings, figures, etc.  It was a cool exercise that helped me to not think too much about my decisions ( i tend to over-analyze, which paralyzes me in working on my art).  Made me concentrate on the elements (line, shape, texture, etc.) within the images.  So, that is what originally inspired me... I was also inspired by my feelings about my week at work.  There was a bad fight at school, between two teen girls, blood and all.  After the fight, brass knuckles were found hidden in one of the seats on their school bus.  This fight really affected me.  I work in a tough school, where fights are not uncommon, but for some reason, I was really bothered by this one.  So, I've been thinking (and feeling) about violence and compassion and how to teach peace.  I added a fist, brass knuckle (top left) lotus flower, and heart to symbolize all of that experience this week.  I had fun playing with my oil pastels and also scratching the oil pastel layers with a thumbtack, to draw lines and show color underneath.  This isn't a favorite work of art of mine, but it is meaningful and I really enjoyed the process.  


Sunday, February 1, 2009

Sunday walks...







Went on a beautiful walk today in Valley Green (Wissahickon Valley).  It is quite an amazing place, being that it is considered a part of Philadelphia.  I thought my husband was going to take us (myself and the kids) on a nice, easy walk through the (flat) gravel path through the park... Nope.  We parked way above the park and never ended up even seeing any gravel path.  We hiked down along the mountainside and all over the place... It was mud-covered ice with some wet leaves thrown in there too.  Not the easiest "stroll" with a 5 and 7 year old, but we all did great.  It was almost like being back in Maine... I saw no litter, heard hawks, and leaves rattling against each other.  Clean, crisp, sunny air, with the smell of mud and melting ice all around.  It was great.  Now I am exhausted from all of that crazy climbing.  Hope you enjoyed some photos from our adventure!