Moonbeams And Mocha

December has been a challenging month. Lots of life going on: travel, fun, friends, family, all good things but throw in surgery for both Rick and I then a bonus big time cold...it slowed us both down for the end of the year. Which is not a bad thing, not a fun way to do it but starting a new year with a Super Moon helps.

We sat outside by the fire-pit, with warm apple cider, watched as the first full moon of 2018 came up from behind the mountains. A very nice way to end the first day of the year.

I was planning to do my review of 2017 in pictures as I have done for many years in the past. The problems is picking one picture to represent each month is really hard this time. We did a road trip from June to August. I averaged 800 pictures for each state we stayed in, there were several we just drove through Not even going to do the math but that's a lot of pictures. Being that my head has been kind of foggy made this take even longer. I am nearly there, I have the road trip pictures in a separate folder, with folders within that folder for collage images being created. This started as a present for Rick. I gave him a flash drive with the images that are going to go into a book. In a way it turned out well because now I can include additional pictures he  had taken of our road trip.

So, I thought I would put together a FB two part album, First 5 months and the second album would be the rest of the year. I will try to keep it down to 1 maybe 2 pictures for each state and special events. I am going to count this as 3 things to check off my getting started in a New Year List. Back to writing the blog. On a side note, for those that have followed the Blog under Wild at heART, I said last year would be the last year for it and it is gone. This blog will focus more directly on my art but will include travel that especially influence my work. Getting the photos organized is number 2 on my list and 3 will be posting them to FB. Not sure if I should say 4 will be the printed book, still need to put all those photos in a separate file, with titles, locations, etc.

I have been going through all these photographs, inspired to start new works. There are many images as reference for paintings. Today, I will print some of them out and get my studio back in order. To add to our busy December we had some new windows installed. This will make my studio much brighter and stay cooler longer in the summer. I am clearing out things, there may be some special sales, almost free art and a few free suprises. Time to clean out the flat files.

January is a good time to get things in order, make plans and commitments. Shows are coming, need to apply to future shows. Starting to set up the calendar for workshops: Paper Making will be in February that much I know.  My mocha is gone, time to wrap up this long blog with a few pictures of the 2018 Super Moon. This year may be the year I include a full moon with maybe a wise old owl or a big old tree, maybe elephants....too many options. If there is something that you would like to see me create that includes a moon, let me know and I will see what we can create together.

Take care all, Happy, Safe and Healthy 2018!

Silhouettes And Siliques

This morning, before the sun was up from behind the mountains, I heard the great horned owl. He was calling from across the way. He called and called and then I heard the answer...she was in my backyard. I came out and watched, listened for awhile. I took the chance and came in to get my camera. As I came back out I saw that she had invited him over, to share the mesquite tree.

They did not seem to mind me, as they were high above in their tree. He called, she answers, I got a couple of dark, silhouetted pictures and they were gone.

It was a lovely way to start the morning.

Being Creative

We are coming up on Thanksgiving. This day, sometimes, weekend, maybe even a week, we pull out our creativity. There have been many times in my past that I used cooking, especially baking as my creative outlet.

There are times I hear people say they are not creative. Oh, so, not true. Everyone finds ways to be creative, this time of year it is especially true. Pulling out grandma's famous recipes. Setting the table with those special things, that may or may not match but go together perfectly. Creating wreaths for the door. Even the food takes on a special blend of spices, colors, sounds of sizzling and the taste of the holidays.

Today I will do most of my creating in the kitchen. With a little luck, I may finish a graphite piece I was working on over last weekends art show. More on that soon...after all, Small Business Saturday is coming up too!

So, find your creative spirit and share it with family, friends that are like family. Enjoy, travel safe and be creative.

Paintings Waiting To Happen

I generally don't do landscape paintings but lately as I watch the sun rise in the morning I keep thinking I need to start painting what I see. The photographs are nice but they do not pick up all the color, contrast and emotion. As I was watching this morning, I kept thinking the sky looks like a watercolor painting. I turn around and there is a rainbow in the sky to the west. I am taking this mornings show as a good sign for the weekend.

Art All Week Long

Coming this weekend is the Old Adobe Mission Show. Located in Old Town Scottsdale: 3817 N. Brown Avenue. I will be demonstrating there off and on all day into evening Friday, November 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. From 5:00 to 7:00 is the evening reception, many of the artists will be there to meet you and share their art.

Saturday from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. I will be at Liberty Wildlife 2600 E. Elwood St., Phoenix, AZ doing a demonstration from the educational rescued raptors. If you are interested in taking a class at Liberty Wildlife to learn to draw birds, please stop by we are just starting to work on scheduling programs. http://www.libertywildlife.org Check the web site for other events, talks, and volunteer opportunities.

Saturday afternoon  1:00 - 5:00 you may find me back at the Adobe Mission show and Sunday I will be there from 1:00 - 4:00 when the show closes. For more details on the times the show is open I have included a postcard. You can also find information on my art facebook page at http://facebook.com/LindaWildlifeArtist

The rest of the week you can find me working in my studio: painting, framing, pricing and getting inventories together. My studio gallery is by appointment just drop me an email and we can set up a visit. lharrisonparsons@gmail.com

Hope to see you soon!

Artful Meditating

This weekend was filled with walking, photography time with Rick and our friend, Michael Haid. Spending time outside in nature walking in between the monarchs, buckeyes, fritillaries, swallowtails, sulphers and a few hummingbirds I had a moment. A calmness, I was aware yet not, a artful meditation. I took lots of pictures and I stood in stillness, watching as the butterflies flew around me before landing back on the flowering bushes.

I do not know when these butterfly images will appear in my art but I will remember that moment of beautiful emptiness. It kind of sounds sad but truly it was a heart-full passing of time, artful meditating. I can only wait to find it again.

Art Calendar: November

I am running a little behind in my posts and painting. Working on several projects, some that need to be done for December, another grouping for a show in February. Plus, a few things for this months local shows.

Coming up November 17-18-19 is a group show at the Old Adobe Mission, 3817 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale, AZ. The hours are: Friday & Saturday 10-5, plus Friday evening is Artists Reception, all are invited from 5-7. Sunday hours are 11-4, nice time to come by see great work, pick up something special for the holidays and maybe have brunch in town. The Mission restaurant is right next door and one of my favorites, you may want to make reservations. On Saturday across the street is the Farmers Market, you can pick up something for breakfast or lunch and come on over to see the art. watch demonstrations and talk to the artists.

If you are too far away to come by the Scottsdale show, check on-line Saturday, November 25th for Small Business Pop-Up Art Sale. The album will be set up on FaceBook. It's easy, just tell me what you want and we will make it happen.

On the east coast you can check out small businesses that carry my work: Matrix Gallery, Blacksburg, VA and Willow Oaks craft cider and wine (and art space) 6219 Harley Rd., Middletown, MD.

Better get back to the drawing board, get some of those works finished and framed!