sunday's art

Well, this weeks subject is MUSIC. I love the wind instruments. I always get disappointed when I see the typical 4 piece band with NO HORNS !! I play clarinet and flute.

Bad luck, Starbucks, "cluck-clucks wearing mukluks", my car SUCKS, and finally, good luck!

Today I had a shitty, stressful, yet interesting and fruitful day. I drove 25 miles into Houston help Sarah with her car stuff. When I arrived at her place I got mad cos we were right outside her apartment and a homeless man kept bugging her (and me) for a handout. I started yelling at him to "Either play a guitar or flute or carve pencils, sell newpapers --- DO SOMETHING --- and then I'd give you some $". Sarah got all embarrassed and mad at me.
Well, she got over it and I drove her to Goodyear to get her tire replaced, and then off we went to have her car inspected. Luckily, Sarah just paid to renew her insurance. (well, her Dad did) She had been driving around for 2 mos without it....but I don't blame her - too much going on, too busy.
So we had some time to kill... and both enjoyed a frappachino at Starbucks. We also went to my fave feed store and I bought 3 chicks at $ 3.50 a piece. Cute breed.. they have furry feet.... kinda like mukluks. Sarah "almost" bought a kitten for her apt.
We decided to go to some boutiques.... Sarah bought a drop dead gorgoeus black sleeveless skimpy dress for $14... She is a size 2! I was never that small... maybe at age 12? Well, she looked gorgeous in it!
So around 4 pm, I dropped Sarah off at her apartment (no pesty homeless man bothering us this time) and I headed back home early on I-59 to avoid traffic. My car lost power in Sugar Land... damnit. After about 30 m, I pretty much cried. I figured a cop would find me soon and I have not had car insurance for 3 months. Plus the chickens were panting, & I had no water, no cell.
I just waited for a tow truck but found out later they don't have the mandatory "wait for a tow truck or else" LAW in Sugar Land. (in Houston they have the "wait for a $200 tow truck or else" LAW and that really sucks).
Finally after 45 m, I got BOLD & I crossed the freeway ON FOOT. I ran 5 LANES across I-59 (top speed for a 47 year old) - it was too scary! I climbed down the median and went to a ritzy Mercedes dealership & they let me call a tow co. They said it would take 2 hours for a truck. No way! So again, like a crazy lady, I RAN back over the freeway, with a cup of water for the dyhradrated chicks.
Luckily my car hadn't been abducted by a stray tow truck. A nice young man stopped in the gridlock traffic and I used his cell phone and I called my mech. He was busy & told me to call again in 20 m. CHRIST.
I cried again, sat in the car...90 f. out. I held a panting chick, tried to give her water. Then I stood by the back of my car and made eye contact with the on coming rush hour traffic, daring someone to "please stop and help me".
A Redneckish guy "SCOTTIE" stopped and offered help! He had a tow rope and towed me (in neutral) to the other side of the freeway. It was VERY SCARY driving 20 mph. over 5 packed lanes of grouchy rush hour traffic while we hooted and tooted our horns. We dragged my car to a nearby LOWES. I called Bruce again (my mechanic) & he showed up 15 m. later. THANK GOD....... Bruce said the timing belt had busted. Fucking old shitmobile. So I decided to trust SCOTTIE and he drove me home; He helped me with the chickens and adored Diamond. I gave him 2 pieces of art in return for his random act of kindness...... he really appreciated the art!
Scottie has already called me and says he knows a guy with a Texas honkey tonk kinda store who would love to have my TEXAS art on consignment.... so he wants to pick me up Sat. and make me a real Texas dinner...BBQ brisket ! He also reminded me to get my portfolio ready for the store. My life is CRAZY! Its amazing how we meet special people sometimes. The new chicks with their mukluks are cute and doing well. Their names are cluck, muck and luck.

NEW ART July 2, 2006

Fresh and "hot off the press", I did these 5 in the last few weeks.

1. Cabin at Nt. Nebo. Its beautiful and rustic and so is the view of the Ozarks. I've been there twice with my good friend.

2. A beautiful Chruch in nearby Rosenberg, Tx.

3. "Saxaphonio" (a fun commission)

4. HEIDI! (I dog sit her and she's mighty big St. Bernard sweety girl)

5. Little Chihuahua (a memoir gift for a friend of a friend who I havn't met yet!)

THE MURAL

Yesterday I had 6 hours to create a half way decent mural for my friend TRUVEY. He has a cute little starling called SKEETER. Truvey is in the process of building her an aviary. He asked me to paint the background of the aviary. I had
a lot of fun! Heres's some photos I'd like to share.

















(Happy

Truvey!)

latest artwork - June 16 2006

1. 2006 Valentine
2. The Doberman
3. Tenement cats
4.Cypress roots
5. "Fanny"

Using your hands can help cure illness

BUSY HANDS CAN HELP HEAL
A recent book, "Cancer and the Art of Healing" co-written by Dr. Marilyn Hundleby and Sherry Abbott, catalogues a variety of activities--painting, singing, writing, photography, journaling, quilting, etc., that have positive effects on patients. "Art helps teach resiliency," says Hundleby, a clinical psychologist from Canada. "Art puts the everyday aspect of their healing journey into perspective," she says. Those of us who enjoy relative wellness can adopt the wisdom of this therapy.
Researchers have found that art has the ability to rebalance and reunite the mind, body and spirit. As well as improving the quality of life, art can actually prolong it. This is due to the shift in outlook that occurs when we create. Busy hands help healing.While Dr. Hundleby puts emphasis on the group aspect of the creative cure, a great deal can be self-taught and self-realized. In my many years of observing what I call "the transformation to the creative mode," I've seen many latent creators quietly and effectively do it on their own. As a by-product, some petty phobias, health issues and perceived limitations are tamed or beaten. This success comes with the understanding that we are taking part in something greater than ourselves. It's easy to place art into the pantheon of humanity's more evolved pursuits. It's too bad that so many wait until things are terminal before they come to this realization. But for many the penny just drops and people realize that, philosophically speaking, times are terminal right now.
Art instructors particularly need to look out to those curious and often puzzled faces and realize that many students have a challenging transition ahead of them. It's going to take a bit of character. For those of you who might try this at home, here's what you need to do:Ask yourself what you'd really love to do. Teach yourself new ideas and new habits.
Use your mind and your hands simply for joy. KNIT! CROCHET, DRAW! Do a mural in your bathroom! Measure life's progress by creative jobs done. Raise expectations and the level of work quality. Monitor the way you feel and what you're learning. (artwork by nina)

VESPA POWER!

WHO RIDES A VESPA?
I live just outside of Houston TX, and rode a vespa ET4 for almost 2 years. Now I am back to driving a car because TOO MANY S U V 's. (Here's a painting I did of Vespa scooters)

KNITTING

I just finished knitting this. It took me between 2-3 months to make. It is for my friend Truvey because he LOVES roosters. He has been such a good friend and I hope he loves the blankie.

AMERICAN UGLY

We've all heard of different styles of housing such as British Tudor, Victorian, Log homes and quaint cottages. You know what I mean.IF YOU LIVE IN A TRACT HOUSE, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS POSTING PERSONALLY. I have lived in track houses too but currently live in a renovated 1947 cottage. Having roof over your head is a wonderful thing.I am going to briefly focus on a style of housing that's been around since the 1970's. Its called American Ugly.These homes have sprung up in droves, boxes with manicured front lawns. NO trees. Big benign tract houses with no charm or character. They all look the same. Color choices are gray, beige and tan. Whatever the community dictates. Nowadays, American Ugly homes are slapped together according to a neighborhood plan after the land is totally raped of trees and landscape. Suburban spread. You get to chose one of five "prototypes". All are American Ugly. Many people seem to love these convenient, safe, predicatable and uniform abodes. Planned communities. Absolute safety in numbers when you can look out of your kitchen window and see the neighbors' bathroom. American Ugly.Occasionally, American Ugly domains become more attactive over time when trees grow in. Many times they become practically unsaleable after they foreclose due to cracked slabs and cheap, rotting, crumbling construction. The general life of an American ugly home is about 30 years, because people want to "move up". Thus, more and more (even larger) American Ugly homes grace the landscape and spread like cancer. There are Small American Ugly homes for the working poor and Big American ugly homes for the more affluent members of society. All this is divided into "desireable" sub divisions and "attractive" gated communities. Safety and security in numbers is Amercian Ugly. EI YI YI.

COY DOGS

DOES ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE (or suspect they have) a COY DOG?
My dog is definitely half coyote. Her name is DIAMOND. Diamond is half husky and half coyote. She looks scary but NOT!
How cool is that ? ;)
She's a sweet dog, very submissive....friendly. Not a great guard dog but has a good bark!

For more about coydogs:
http://www.apetsblog.com/pets-journal/coydog-coyote-dog-hybrid.htm