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Candle or Mirror?

Hi all y’all!

I am inspired today by a poem I found on-line. I decided to name my most recent painting after one of the lines. The poem is, “Be Strong. Be Confident. Be You.”~ Copyright: Tia Sparkles Singh, 2011. You can read it here. The line I borrowed is, “Stronger than you know.”

She was originally called, Born Hip".
She was originally called, “Born Hip”.
Maybe a third of the way finished here. It is a large canvas. 24 x 36
She is, maybe, a third of the way finished here. It is a large canvas. 24 x 36
Strength
Stronger Than You Know

I don’t think I used any cool painting techniques that I haven’t written about before. This is the first time I painted a border on the canvas. I knew what I was painting when my hands touched the canvas, but not before. She wanted to wear all red, and not have any red elsewhere on the painting.

The background was red inside the border in the beginning, then I added white with a roller, then the teal with a brush.

I used Caran D’Ache water-soluble crayons for fun and for the crayony look. To make the crayons permanent, I used Golden spray varnish when I was completely done.

“Strength” was the only title I could hear.

The next painting is, “In The Garden”.

In The Garden
In The Garden

I am showing part of the easel so you can tell she is in progress. I was going to paint her with an “Oh my!” mouth, but Maggie said she is just giving her friend a ride on her head because her hands are full. I liked that better. I love chickens.

 

Raffi is beginning his 3 year old painting.
Raffi is beginning his 3-year-old painting.

His favorite color is blue. His next favorite is orange. His third favorite color is blue and orange.

Gator Agent, JanMy newest Gator Agent. This photo makes me laugh, because when she was teaching kindergarten, she dressed like this one day (without the mustache) and her students didn’t recognize her. I am thinking she is still incognito.

The King Gator  original has sold. I think he sold to his soul mate.

King Gator Says Wager it All!
King Gator Says, “Wager it All!”

There are two ways of spreading light. To be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it. – Edith Wharton.

With loving abundance and sparkly light (reflected or not),

Gator Girl

 

 

 

 

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On the road…FINALLY!!

Adventures in Skyhorse

My sister said it best in her recent facebook post: “Never thought this day would actually come. What started as an ambulance 2+ years ago has finally embarked on its year-long journey through north and central America.”

Image

We finally left Key West on Thursday April 25.  It was completely anticlimactic. Hani left for the mechanic early in the morning and I stayed back and walked aimlessly around a depressingly empty apartment. I followed up a few hours later with all the animals in tow, after I couldn’t bear to sit (on the floor) there anymore. We waited at the mechanic for a few more hours for them to fix (the last?) thing, AND THEN we were finally off. By that point, my tears had dried (I’m such a sap) and we were both antsy to get moving. But not without a few stops on our way out of the Keys…

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Adventures in Skyhorse

Hi all y’all!

This blog has been on my mind and in my heart, but not on-line. Other things have trumped art this last month…

a weekend with a long lost childhood friend who has been to New Orleans every year for 20 years and had never been out of the French Quarter…

our family reunion in New Orleans and at  Jazz Fest,

Jazz Fest
Cousins at Jazz Fest

Lafayette and the Crawfish Festival in Breaux Bridge,

My sister and I at the Crawfish Festival.
My sister and me at the Crawfish Festival.

swamp tour at Lake Martin…

Cajun Swamp Tours
Cajun Swamp Tours

a great performance from Charmaine Neville at Snug Harbor (she is there for two shows every Monday night and tickets are only $15 …

Maggie’s ballet recital…

Maggie waiting for her performance.
Maggie waiting for her performance.

and ending with a weekend getaway in Grand Isle.

Mimi at Grand Isle
Mimi in Grand Isle

Grand Isle brings me to this weeks blog. While in Grand Isle, we met some friends of friends that are taking a year off for an adventure.

They can tell you better than I can, so I am re-blogging their blog. I think it is important to tell you about Hani and Sarah right away because you can catch the beginning of their trip.

Hani and Sarah are attorneys, married, and driving a vehicle that Hani built out of an ambulance, a truck and a plane.

Here you go…

I am not going to miss an episode.

They are also on Facebook.

Celebrating life’s great adventures!

Love to you all,

Gator Girl