2Things Challenge- Textures/Shapes

For this week's 2thingschallenge-Textures/Shapes, I defer to
some landscape images I took on my trip last month.

If you look closely you'll find that our landscapes are much
like quilts with many textures and shapes.

White billowy clouds, with ever-changing shapes we imagine
to feel like cotton. Golden hills shape the land, mounds of
earth covered with rocks and vegetation each in its own
shape. This glassine-like body of water in its organic shape
surrounded by spindly triangular shaped evergreens
and tall slender grasses. Do you see what I see?
Click image to enlarge.

Flathead Lake in Polson, Montana

In this next image you can see that the water's texture has
changed as it is pushed through the narrow gorge. It
becomes thick and opaque as it churns and foams, unlike the
tranquil glassine water of the lake. Each rock or boulder's
shape is constantly evolving, by wear and water erosion, as
rock and water exchange places. Click image to enlarge.

Columbia River Gorge- Oregon

You can see the many different shapes in this pool of
colorful rocks. This image was taken at the water's edge
looking into the lake. Under water their texture is slick
and smooth, once removed and left to dry they are
rougher. Click on image to enlarge.

Lake McDonald -Glacier National Park, Montana

What I know for sure is when you don't look, you can't see.

Please exercise your right to V O T E-Tuesday, November 4

Thank-you for your visits and kind words. -Andrea
My other blogspot "ThE ArTful Eye"

Shore Memories

9 x 12 mixed media

This mixed media piece began with a few fish image
transfers randomly placed and adhered with gel medium
onto a plexiglass sheet. I then painted over these images
working in the reverse, on the backside of the plexiglass
laying down an array of transparent color. The front of
this piece looked like stained glass. I took a photo of the
plexiglass mixed media painting and incorporated a vintage
photo of two bathers. Using PS craquelure filter, and
adjusting the opacity of the images I created this digital
piece from my original artwork.

I was thinking of the sea and the shore and for some reason
those stretchy bathing caps we had to wear. Mine had flowers.
There was something about the struggle to jam
my long hair into this small tough rubbery cap and wrangle
the chin strap across my neck as though I were going to swim
the English channel. The rubber had a smell, a good rubbery
smell if there were ever such a thing. I can remember it and
I felt fancy in my one-piece seersucker suit. I was 5.

Summer is waning and fall waits in the balance.

Thank you for your visits and kind words.
Cheers! My other blogspot ::: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Found Object Bling

Dabbling with bits 'n pieces of chain, buttons, charms and
baubles. I'm just scratching the surface with this jewelry
assemblage stuff and have lots of ideas mulling around my
head and quite a number of pieces started and strewn about
my studio. No expert here, just having fun and enjoying the
journey.

This past weekend was busy with 3 day PMC certification
class at The Shepardess with a wonderful mentor/teacher
Barbara Becker-Simon.

Life's been busy and hectic and the 8-5 has somewhat
morphed into what seems like a never-ending day.

The good news is my husband and I are off for the next
2 weeks and will be traveling the great Northwest, away
from email, cellphones, computers the craziness of the
everyday doldrums.

I've been amiss at visiting most of you my dear blog
friends and am pummeling myself daily. I do want to thank
you all for your visits and most wonderful kind words.

Jack Kerouac once said, "All of life is a foreign country "
I'm off to be an explorer in this uncharted territory.

My best to all of you! "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

2 Things Photo Challenge - Window/Shop

For this weeks' challenge over at 2things it's
Window/Shop. I had to dredge the archives.

From the living rooms of Hearst Castle located in
San Simeon, CA. So many notables in the day of
William Randolph Hearst including Mr. Hearst himself
have peered from these windows, gazing into the glorious
golden hills of San Simeon.

and from the libraries into the courtyards reminiscent
of the ancient Greeks and Romans adorned with beautiful
sculptures and lush landscapes.

A table with a window view at Bayside Betty's in
Provincetown. Great hospitality and wonderful seafood.

I couldn't resist this photo. "John's Only"
Food and Chachkes (aka knickknacks, souvenirs, stuff)
and when you can't find Burger King there is always
Burger Queen.

No cheap burgers here. I took this pic early morning
we rode our bikes here and stopped for lunch the
place was packed.

The craziest head shop I've ever seen. Three floors and all
the paraphenalia you can dream of, black light posters from
the '60s, clothing, jewelry, incense, pipes you know what
I'm talking about.

Thought for today:
"Wherever you decide to go, go with all your heart"

My best to all! My other blogspot "tHe ArTfuL Eye"

2Things Challenge - Over/Under

For this weeks "2Things" Over/Under challenge.
It's a visit to California Adventure Park.

The "Sun Wheel" has gondolas that remain static as the wheel
goes 'round and 'round and then for the more adventuresome
there are those gondolas that break free to swing and drop
as the wheel goes up and over.

under the ferris wheel waiting for the {shaking} car

here we go up....


and over....

A replica of the Golden Gate bridge looms over my head..

and while living "A Bug's Life" I found myself under large
over-sized plants.

"That's all Folks! Have a great day!

I am grateful for your visits and kind word. Thanks for stopping by.

At my other blog locale, a new polymer piece: ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Flower Fields

9 x 13 collage
Golden acrylics, collage scrap, Caran d'Ache
Neocolor II crayons

"There are always flowers for those who want to
see them"- Henri Matisse

If you just look, you will be surprised at what you can
see.

Today as I was meandering around the house, I saw what
appeared to be a very, very teeny, tiny baby lizard, on the
white ceramic tile of my dining room floor. Sure enough...
this little creature was frozen in this stark unnatural
environment. He let me pick him up, so I quickly took him
outside, snapped his photo and wished him well on the
beginning of his new life in the wild. Maybe it was a her?


Enjoying the summer, how about you?

Wishing you well and many thanks for your visits and kind words.
My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Now for some Fireworks

I think fireworks are amazing, because they can never be
duplicated. Random works of art in the sky.
Here are a few I captured last night.
















Firework Mandala for Sue

Cheers! "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

It's the 4th of July

Our flag- this picture taken from the deck of
"Old Ironsides" the USS Constitution in Boston.

Here's to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
wherever you are... may it be in peace and
with tolerance.

"ThE ArTfuL EyE"

2 Things Photo Challenge - Round/Square

This week's challenge at 2things-"Round/Square"

Since I'm a collecter of old cameras and projectors
among many other things...you know we artists are
collectors, right?! I'll begin by presenting some
that I've owned or currently own to show
off their lovely round/square attributes.

very old oil lamp projector


Agfa Isolette 120


4 x 5 Viotlander


Yashica -A


Kodak Anastigmat Compur folding camera

Let the games begin...

old dice, new dice, fun dice, letter dice, tiddly winks
and dominoes.

Photo taken this morning in full sun. I wanted
to cast some rounding shadows and look it made cubes
out of the dominoes.

and lastly a round/square digital collage using some
aquarium and landscape images.


I do hope your day will be solidly square and rounded off with
many good things. As always, thank you for your visits
and kind words.

My other blog locale is here at: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Parallel/Perpendicular-2Things Challenge

Sock Monkey crawled quitely out of his tent, trying
desperately not to disturb his neighbors and travelled hither
and yon to meet this week's challenge over at 2Things-
Parallel/Perpendicular.

Friday on his way into town for some bananas he discovered
these parallel mailboxes with perpendicular notices and
perpendicular shadows, it was perfect.

On his way back home on this HOT Friday night, he decided
to do Cruisin' Grand in Escondido, and check out some
COOL vintage vehicles. He began to notice that lots of things
were parallel and perpendicular. It appeared that perhaps it
was going to be a particularly perfect and practical, parallel
perpendicular kind of day!

Do you notice all the parallel and perpendicular here?

How 'bout the fins on this 1960 Eldorado for parallel...
He liked that the paint was so shiny it captured image of the
tree.

...and this 50's Chevy parallel parked, just look around the
perpendicular tree trunk.

...now for real manly-monkey types- this small block Chevy
has parallel stacks and a few other parallel nuances.

...and how 'bout that little Deuce Coupe '32 with it's
perpendicular decal and parallel trunk lines.

...exhausted Sock Monkey came to this chair and was going
to rest his tired monkey peds when he noticed, the parallel
open lines in the chair and as he began to look around he
found all sorts of parallel and perpendicular.

Well this particularly perfect and practical, parallel
perpendicular day was nearing an end. He was pooped...
and it was HOT so...

He decide to go home, take the weight off, relax and keep
COOL.

Maybe even shoot a few hoops!

Thanks for stopping by and visiting! I hope all is well
in your neck of the woods.

Cheers! My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Fireplug/Flagpole-2ThingsChallenge

For this week's challenge at 2Things Fireplug/Flagpole
I take you to Cape Cod, MA.

I found a bit of humor in this one because I realized that
I had some affinity for these objects. I didn't have just one
but several images of poles and plugs.

Commercial St. - Provincetown, MA


Shankpainter St. Provincetown, MA
A bit worn, but not as short and stubby. I liked how the
Alyssum hugged the base.


Commercial St. -Provincetown, MA
This was Provincetown's first firehouse. Notice the traditional
1/2 cape architecture. Only ghosts live here alongside
that sparkly red and white hydrant.


Firehouse #5 Commercial St.- Provincetown
This firehouse is still in business. I took this pic because the
street has my father's name and coincidently the street
diagonal was Mary St. which is my mother's name.


Hyannisport, MA
JFK Memorial Park

Hyannisport, MA Cape and Islands Korean War Memorial

St. Andrew's by the Sea- church of the Kennedy's
Hyannisport, MA
I don't believe I have ever seen a flagpole on top of a church.

Edgartown, MA
Quaint, quiet Victorian streets adorned
with flagpoles at every residence.

Edgartown, MA boat harbor for Chappaquiddick Ferry

"Fancy a flagpole, a fireplug or two, have a cheery day
my friends and I thank-you.

My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Symmetrical/Abstract

This week's challenge over at 2Things is Symmetrical/Abstract.

Abstract "Sitting by the Window" 11 x 17 acrylic on manila folder

I usually bring a small bag of goodies (fluid acrylics, glaze,
collage material)to work each day so that I can feed my
creative muse on my lunch break. One day I found myself
without my journal or any strong substrate to paint on so
I reached for some manila folders. I really like how the paint
and glaze reacted with this paper.

I don't usually paint abstracts but when I do, the enjoyment
comes from gazing at the image, spinning it around, and
seeing if something emerges. I'm seeing a seated female figure
in the right hand corner, poised, gazing out a bedroom window?


Abstract "Waterfall" 11 x 17
acrylic on manila folder

A waterfall spray, over a cliff beyond a brown rugged boulder
submerged in a pool of turquoise/green water... or a man
with a hat, fishing from several poles while seated upon this
boulder in a lake. Can you see what I see? or am I just crazy.
I'm okay with crazy by the way.

My intention now is to use these backgrounds for another
project in the works. More on that to come.


Symmetrical "Sunrise, Sunset"
8.5 x 11 heavy cardstock, stencil, mask, spray paint

During my stencil burning frenzy, I used one of my
Stampscapes rubber stamps, enlarged the image and
then burned a stencil into mylar, which in turn presented me
with a mask (positive image). I took both mask and stencil
outside and then proceeded to spray test the several colors
of Montana Gold I had recently purchased.

Something to think about:
"Many would rather be ruined by praise, than saved by criticism."

May your days be filled with mystery and wonderful surprises!
Thank you always for your visits and kind words.
My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

In the Sky/On the Ground

This week's challenge over at 2things :
In the Sky/On the Ground

In the sky ... this cloud image was taken from our airplane
just minutes before our descent into Logan Airport in Boston, MA.


In the sky... test missile launch from Vandenburg AFB taken
from our front yard in Santa Maria, CA. This was what the
contrail looked like in the night sky.


In the sky at dusk from our side yard in Santa Maria, CA.
For logistic inquiries - Santa Maria is located just 40 min.
north of Santa Barbara, 15 min south of Pismo Beach.


On the ground... King St. downtown Boston, MA marked the
actual spot where tension grew between the American
colonists and the British on March 5th, 1770, resulting in the
Boston Massacre.


On the ground... at Jalama Beach in Lompoc, CA
We found these unusual tide pools with all sorts of colorful mollusks.


On the ground...Jalama Beach, CA my dear husband
surprised me with this message of love. Can you spot our
mysteriously tall shadows looking back and admiring his
creation?


Open space behind my mother's house in Broomfield, CO
I thought it would be fitting to end with a mirror image of sky in the ground.

I really enjoy looking for images to post for these challenges
as it gives me a chance to revisit all the wonderful places,
I have enjoyed living and visiting.

Glad you stopped by and thank you.
My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Noisy/Peaceful

This week's 2thingsphotochallenge "Noisy/Peaceful"

Pics from a road trip on Hwy 5 and Hwy 101.

Peaceful, serene wildflower fields- Gorman, CA


Peaceful- California Poppies and Wild Daisies - Gorman, CA


Noisy -in contrast a close-up of these wild lupine and daisies.


Peaceful- a valley of lupine, mustard, california poppies


Peaceful - taken on the Cuesta Grade in San Luis Obispo, CA


Noisy -(visually) a close-up through some hibernating vines
along side the road.

Hope your day is Peaceful!

Thank you for your visits and kind words.

My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Mom, we love you.

My feeble attempt at a digital collage.

...and a warm wish for a "Happy Mother's Day" to all my dear friends, near and far.

I was ecstatic when this flower bloomed on Mother's Day. I don't know the name of this plant and its flower is so amazing and fragrant. My dear mother-in-law Ada, gave me this plant years ago and I waited patiently for it to flower.

She passed away this past Thanksgiving and today it bloomed. A small, special miracle. I know she's watching over us.

"Whatever beauty or poetry is to be found in my little book is owing to your interest in and encouragement of all my efforts from the first to the last; and if ever I do anything to be proud of, my greatest happiness will be that I can thank you for that, as I may do for all the good there is in me; and I shall be content to write if it gives you pleasure."
Louisa May Alcott - "Letter to her Mother"

Have a wonderful day and thank you for your kind words.

My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Eve's Peril

9 X 13 watercolor paper, magazine image transfer,
Golden Fluid acrylics, paint pens, assorted collage fodder

In every good piece of fiction you will find conflict, the antagonist, the protagonist, a beginning, a middle and the end, oh... and let's not forget conflict.

This is my "Flash Fiction Collage".

"Don't stand in the place of danger, trusting in miracles"

Thank you for you visits and kind words.
I'm grateful for this community of wonderful talented people.

My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

2 Things Photo Challenge - Rough/Smooth

Bryce Canyon National Park located in Southern Utah


South Rim of the Grand Canyon, in Northern Arizona

My contribution to 2thingsphotochallenge.

These photos were taken on a road trip we took last year through Arizona and Utah specifically to visit Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, South Rim Grand Canyon and Sedona.

While both terra's are vast and expansive, the buttes of the Grand Canyon, lush with lichen and rising from the Colorado river seem smooth. In comparison to the rough terra at Bryce Canyon, where the landscape is vast with rugged spires and pinnacles that rise from the deep canyonlands.

Have a wonderful week!

Thank you kindly for your visits and kind words-

My other blog playground: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Thirteen

9 X 13 journal page
Golden Acrylic paints, collage fodder, paint pen, stamps

Thirteen was the turning point in my youth and in no particular order, everything was changing, mind, body and soul. There was lots of daydreaming, about boys, marriage, future, family, all the things you dream about at this tender young age.

Afternoons were spent playing with make-up and trying to look pretty. I begged my mom to buy me some make-up and she came home with Yardley of London, pink cow lipstick and pink twinkle blush and I remember being aghast because this was just not hip enough. I wanted Mary Quant, this was hip and va va voom. My mom wouldn't have it. I would have to begin this transformation, demure and sweet. There was talk about pink ribbons in my hair and eating apples everyday to stay healthy. I was coming of age. I was lucky.

and speaking of luck... I had decided that '13' would be my lucky number. It was an awkward number and that's why I liked it. For many cultures it was considered 'unlucky', especially on the 13th day of the month, when it coincided with Friday.

My dad's birthday is on the 13th of October and I would get such a kick out of it when it would fall on a Friday. I thought it was so cool to have a birthday on Friday the 13th. My dad's not at all superstitious, you see... because he informed me that 13 is actually a lucky number for us eye-talians. So there you have it, besides you can't divide evenly into it, so something or someone was always left out and as luck would have it, we always had a referee.

I'll leave you with this quote:
"Never trust a man who tells you all his troubles, but keeps you from all his joys"

I love her voice, the music of Alison Krauss here is
"The Lucky One" for your listening pleasure.


Have a wonderful weekend and thank you always for your visits and kind words.

My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Masculine/Feminine

Bougainvillea in my side yard

My contributions to Masculine/Feminine for 2thingsphotochallenge.
Most plants have masculine (stamen) and feminine (pistil) reproductive organs. This bougainvillea's filament stamen are surrounded by beautiful fuschia bracts, paper-like leaves. The white flower is the pistil.

I spent the first 5 hours of this glorious Saturday playing in the dirt, gardening, which is something I really enjoy doing and have not done for some time. There is something about the smell of potting soil and earth that is so refreshing. I needed to repot my planter boxes and tend to all my flower pots that had struggled through our winter cold spell. Yes, winter in our neck of the woods, sunny SoCal a 22 bone chilling degrees.

We have a difficult demographic to cultivate here in zone 20 according to my Sunset Western Garden Book. We have unusual thermals and micro-climates that come through our canyons due to marine/coastal influence and the interior desert climates. Our winters can be frosty and our summers extremely, dry and hot. Most of the surrounding area of our home is in full direct sun, so I have to be mindful of what will survive the summer heat. It's taken 4 years to find the survivors. This Bougainvillea is one of them.

Now for a little tool time, masculine/feminine.

I don't remember how I came upon this pink hammer, but I've loved it ever since. It wasn't initially pink, it's a Craftsman and comes with a lifetime exchange for a brand new hammer. No way am I exchanging this hammer, it has a little electrical tape around it's neck and has a time worn, lovely feel. I am a hammer junkie, I may have mentioned this in an earlier post. A girl can't have too many hammers, once I learned that not all hammers are created equal. One blue hammer secretly absconded for this post.

I thank you for your kind words and visits.
I hope you are all doing what you love and loving what you're doing.

My other blogspot: "ThE ArTful EyE"

Domicile

9 x 13 journal page
Golden acrylic paints, Montana spray paint, college fodder,
custom stencils (made by moi) and word stencils by Stamper's Anonymous

Let me begin by saying that stencil burning is not as easy as you might think. I've sucked in enough toxic mylar fumes to choke a horse and still haven't produced anything to brag about. My dear friend Julie here at Lost Luggage is an expert though and she's been trying to teach me the tricks of the trade, but to no avail, I have not been a good student. Michelle Ward is responsible for starting all this craziness here at GPP Street Team a.k.a. Green Pepper Press. Thank you both for the push and inspiration.

now on to the matter at hand, "Domicile" pg. 6 in "The Book of Eve"

You've heard the sayings, "Home is where the heart is" or "Where your story begins,"

My story begins in the first house that I can remember, the house where I was born, 2324 E. 73rd St. Brooklyn, New York, Bergen Beach to be exact. The dwelling was split level, we lived in the upstairs. Last time I was in N.Y. the house was still standing, small, very small quaint charming little house in a neighborhood now overrun by ungodly mansions and a complete disregard to any sense of community or architectural informity.

In the 1950's this was the new affordable community to raise your family. The streets were not paved, nor were there sidewalks. I lived in this house until my sister Linda was born and then we moved around the corner upstairs in my aunt Mary and uncle Tommy's house, I believe the address here was 2348 E. 74th street. We liked living here. My uncle Tommy had a pool in the backyard and this is where I learned how to swim. I love swimming, even today. Soon my sister Gina was born and we needed more room so we moved to a larger flat across the street 2357 E. 74th St. This was the last stop. It would be here in this domicile, where my heart would grow, and my wonderful childhood memories would unfold. I lived here 13 years.

We moved from this home in 1974 to Denver, Colorado.

When I think of all the places I have lived in my life, I realize today that I'm still searching for the home where my heart lives. Please don't get me wrong, I have a lovely beautiful home with a wonderful husband, but there is a feeling you have when you and your domicile are one and I have not had this feeling for a long time. Home is definitely where the heart is.

I hope your heart finds you home.

One final thought,
"Once you are outside your door, the hardest part of the journey is behind you."

Thank-you for your visits and kind words.

Have a wonderful week! My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"