On My Easel

BE YOUR OWN VALENTINE

2012-02-11T07:37:00.003-05:00

LOVE YOURSELF AND YOUR LIFE TODAY. "If you aren't good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you'll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren't giving to yourself.". Barbara DeAngelis

Ode to Keats....

2012-02-07T22:03:00.001-05:00

Beauty is truth, truth beauty - that is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know
John Keats

AWAKENING

2012-02-06T09:39:00.002-05:00

an original watercolor 24 x 36

12 Essential Traits of a Survivor

2012-01-17T08:14:00.001-05:00

ADAPTIBILITY, RESILIENCE, FAITH, HOPE, PURPOSE, TENACITY, LOVE, EMPATHY, INTELLIGENCE, INGENUITY, FLOW,INSTINCT.

Hmmm...

2012-01-15T20:40:00.001-05:00

"The more you take responsibility for your past and present, the more you are able to create the future you seek."
Author Unknown

Calendar Girl

2012-01-15T10:12:00.001-05:00

THE MAN WHO REINVENTS WHEELS

2012-01-12T06:37:00.002-05:00

CLICK ON THIS SITE AND ENJOY READING ABOUT ANDERS WARMING, AUTOMOBILE DESIGNER.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204531404577052223474515382.html

IF YOU ARE AN ARTIST, DESIGNER, AUTOMOBILE LOVER OR JUST FACINATED WITH DISCOVERING THE PROCESS OF CREATING A MASTERPIECE, READ ABOUT ANDERS. I OWNED THE INNOVATIVELY DESIGNED 2003 Z4 ROADSTER INSPIRED BY CUBIST PICASSO AND I NEVER CEASE TO BE IMPRESSED BY IT'S BEAUTY AND BY ANDERS WARMING. ENJOY!

Better days....

2012-01-11T07:37:00.000-05:00

2011-12-31T07:49:00.003-05:00

A new dawn, a new day, a new year.

2011-12-31T07:05:00.004-05:00

I awoke today resolute (determined, unwavering). Somewhat inexplicable, like the sudden closing of a door, it's over. Human beings are fragile and relationships the stuff that can make or break them, but the survival instinct is not to be underestimated. One cannot be taken to the moon one minute and then dropped from a cliff in the next without sustaining injury and eventually comes the final blow.

EAT, DRINK AND BE MISERABLE?

2011-12-27T06:24:00.002-05:00

Don't worry about what you eat between Christmas and the New Year. Be concerned about what you eat between the New Year and Christmas.

THANK YOU "AUNTIE M" FOR MY CHRISTMAS SWEATER

2011-12-23T06:18:00.004-05:00

Here I am modeling my new (and very warm) beautiful Christmas sweater from Auntie M, Uncle Jim, and Rieley.

My runway walk (rear view) should cause a new trend (but is natural to me) one black leg and one white.

Merry Christmas to all! Doggie hugs, S

Hmmm....

2011-12-20T18:42:00.001-05:00

"The wise lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver.". Thomas a Kempis

FABULOUS FALL

2011-12-05T08:22:00.002-05:00

The Dilema

2011-12-05T08:21:00.002-05:00

Dr.Karl Menninger......

2011-11-30T21:33:00.000-05:00

'Love cures people — both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it.'

Generosity

2011-11-29T21:14:00.002-05:00

"The wise man does not lay up his treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own."
Lao Tzu

OWN YOUR POWER AND CREATE THE LIFE YOU WANT

2011-11-27T19:53:00.002-05:00

Take action today. Discover a new sense of control. Power and self-confidence will develop giving more energy to change what's important to you. Begin now.

Time to leave the table when love is no longer being served.

2011-11-26T22:15:00.002-05:00

"The only source of knowledge is experience."

2011-11-16T04:36:00.000-05:00

Albert Einstein

Being in Love

2011-11-12T17:18:00.000-05:00

by C.S. Lewis

Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing. There are many things below it, but there are also many things above it. You cannot make it the basis of a whole life. It is a noble feeling, but it is still a feeling. Now no feeling can be relied on to last in its full intensity, or even to last at all. Knowledge can last, principles can last, habits can last: but feelings come and go. And in fact, whatever people say, the state called "being in love" usually does not last. If the old fairy tale ending "They lived happily ever after" is taken to mean . . .

SUNSHINE PLAYING ON YELLOW LEAVES

2011-11-07T07:50:00.002-05:00

AWARENESS, AWARENESS, AWARENESS

2011-11-04T07:47:00.003-04:00

Recommended reading - "Awareness" by Anthony deMello, SJ and the speech of David Foster Wallace to the graduating class at Kenyon College found at this site:
http://moreintelligentlife.com/story/david-foster-wallace-in-his-own-words.

This is the comencement address he gave to the graduates of Kenyon College in 2005. It captures his electric mind, and also his humility--the way he elevated and made meaningful, beautiful, many of the lonely thoughts that rattle around in our heads. The way he put better thoughts in our heads, too. (Many thanks to Marginalia.org for making this available.)

Love so right....

2011-11-01T20:30:00.002-04:00

"The truth will set you free, but not until it's finished with you."
David Foster Wallace - Infinite Jest

David Foster Wallace.....

2011-10-31T20:52:00.000-04:00

“If you worship money and things — if they are where you tap real meaning in life — then you will never have enough. Never feel you have enough. It’s the truth. Worship your own body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly, and when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally plant you. On one level, we all know this stuff already — it’s been codified as myths, proverbs, clichés, bromides, epigrams, parables: the skeleton of every great story. The trick is keeping the truth up-front in daily consciousness. Worship power — you will feel weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to keep the fear at bay. Worship your intellect, being seen as smart — you will end up feeling stupid, a fraud, always on the verge of being found out. And so on.”
― David Foster Wallace, This is Water

2011-10-24T08:30:00.000-04:00

2011-10-24T08:08:00.000-04:00

FOR THE LOVE OF RACING....

2011-10-24T08:03:00.001-04:00

CARPE DIEM....

2011-09-30T01:23:00.003-04:00

CARPE DIEM - " Seize the day"

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may - " make much of time"

Memento mori - " remember that you are mortal"

De Brevitate vitae - "on the shortness of life"

THIS IS IT - KENNy LOGGINS ( song above)

Can't smile without you.....

2011-09-24T20:05:00.000-04:00

Richard Diebenkorn

THE PUPPY SONG......

2011-09-23T22:34:00.002-04:00

BY: HARRY NILSSON DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE - SAMANTHA

Dan Fogelberg...

2011-09-21T17:29:00.003-04:00

should be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame (posthumuously)

over coffee.....

2011-09-18T08:59:00.000-04:00

Sweet Caroline

2011-09-16T18:40:00.000-04:00

2011-09-11T22:47:00.000-04:00

De Mello was correct......

2011-09-09T08:07:00.002-04:00

All you have to do to WAKE UP is to have enough of your suffering, of your nightmare. Reality is frightening at first and then you discover your natural urge to be free, your natural urge to love, your natural state of happiness.
Nobody can do this for you. Nobody can take one step for you. "Jesus Christ himself could do nothing for many of his hearers."

You can only do your best....

2011-09-07T04:02:00.002-04:00

You are not responsible for the reactions of others.

Remember

2011-09-04T13:28:00.002-04:00

just dreaming....

2011-08-31T20:40:00.002-04:00

ISOLATION

2011-08-01T12:13:00.000-04:00

ALONE

2011-08-01T10:04:00.000-04:00

Dining Alone

2011-08-01T08:03:00.002-04:00

red roses & yellow lilies

2011-07-29T22:02:00.000-04:00

What is love?

2011-07-29T04:51:00.002-04:00

It is a sensitivity to every portion of reality within you and without, together with a wholeheared response to that reality. Sometimes you will embrace that reality, sometimes you will attack it, sometimes you will ignore it and at others you will give it your fullest attention, but always you will respond not from need but sensitivity.
"The Way to Love" Anthony de Mello

It is wisdom to know others. It is enlightenment to know one's self."

2011-07-28T19:42:00.000-04:00

Lao-Tzu

Fashioning Vessels from Clay

2011-07-22T08:03:00.004-04:00

Everybody's youth is a dream, a form of chemical madness.

2011-07-19T20:52:00.001-04:00

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Obedience keeps the rules. Love knows when to break them.

2011-07-15T17:05:00.000-04:00

Anthony DeMello

"Aspiring Peace II"

2011-07-10T09:23:00.003-04:00

mixed media, 18 x 24

2011-07-06T07:40:00.000-04:00

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

2011-07-03T09:29:00.005-04:00

Lao Tsu

Letting go requires you to bring up a lot of dark, shadowy, ugliness and attempt understanding. Sometimes a friend with a kind and gentle soul, gifts you with their time and ear while you vent. Happily, afterwards there is freedom and following that, there is joy.

Two of my favorite artists...

2011-07-02T06:30:00.004-04:00

Richard Diebenkorn and Edward Hopper both succeed in expressing feelings in their paintings. I feel a great urge to create a series of expressive figure paintings and will begin my project today. Perhaps in black and white.
Above image is Hopper's drawing for the etching, "Evening Wind" and the etching.

Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours.

2011-07-01T07:41:00.001-04:00

C.S. Lewis

MISTAKES

2011-06-30T14:50:00.002-04:00

MISTAKES
A Meditation by Anthony de Mello, SJ

To a disciple who was terrified about
making mistakes, the Master said:

"Those who make no mistakes are making
the biggest mistake of all - they are
attempting nothing new."

How I Love the art of Richard Diebenkorn

2011-06-27T20:46:00.005-04:00

If these images don't touch you.....

The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected. ~Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

2011-06-27T15:31:00.000-04:00

Observe the lilies of the field...

2011-06-23T08:31:00.002-04:00

THE ENLIGHTENMENT

2011-06-23T05:04:00.003-04:00

When I try to change what I dislike in me - by fighting it - I merely push it underground.

If I accept it - it will surface and evaporate.

What I resist - will stubbornly persist.

taken from Wellsprings, A Book of Spiritual Exercises by Anthony de Mello

2011-06-13T08:30:00.001-04:00

The finest way to heal, or deepen, the relationship is dialogue.

Handbuilding

2011-06-08T08:00:00.002-04:00

My handbuilt, curvy, pitcher inspired a tree-like motif.

Happiness

2011-06-05T19:43:00.002-04:00

Happiness is our natural state. Happiness cannot be acquired, because you have it already. Tony de Mello

A really hard/fulfilling day at the easel!

2011-06-01T18:58:00.007-04:00

Perservering to create new work and to honor the beauty and excitement of nature's gifts. Click on the image to enlarge. Your feedback is most welcomed. Note to self: Lesson of today is a paradox - it's not what you do that makes things happen but what you let go of and allow to happen that matters.

SPRING - SWEET, SERENE, & SUMPTUOUS

2011-05-27T12:09:00.001-04:00

Shirtsleeves

2011-05-22T18:06:00.003-04:00

Rush hour at dusk

2011-05-22T18:03:00.004-04:00

Last minute touch-up

2011-05-22T18:00:00.001-04:00

snowy blooms hit the ground and blow away

2011-05-15T12:28:00.003-04:00

The lush, fragrant, bell-shaped flowers of the styrax japonica

2011-05-15T12:24:00.002-04:00

looking out

2011-05-14T10:08:00.001-04:00

looking up

2011-05-14T10:07:00.000-04:00

that rainy day

2011-05-14T10:05:00.002-04:00

Be

2011-05-13T12:44:00.003-04:00

Experiencing a dry spell in creativity and painting is painful. It is also inevitable especially when you have a flood of feelings that you want to express. It is a bit like trying to remember something and the harder you try the more frustratingly difficult it becomes. It usually comes to you when you relax and give up the search. For now I must back off, decompress, allow the emotions to quiet and stay firmly in the moment.

To ponder...

2011-05-13T12:43:00.001-04:00

"To what do we really commit ourselves? Is it to playing it safe and manipulating our life and our whole world, so that it will give us security and confirmation? Or is it our committment to deeper and deeper levels of maitri [loving-kindness]? The question always remains: In what do we take refuge? Do we take refuge in small, self-satisfied actions, speech, and mind? Or do we take refuge in warriorship, in taking a leap, in going beyond our usual safety zones?"
Pema Chodron

The beauty of the Pagoda Dogwood

2011-05-09T20:33:00.003-04:00

Poor, dear, silly Spring, preparing her annual surprise!
Wallace Stevens
poet and businessman, 1879 - 1955

Inspired by my friend C. C.

2011-04-27T08:14:00.002-04:00

more on knotholes...

2011-04-27T07:52:00.001-04:00

KNOTHOLES

2011-04-01T18:01:00.003-04:00

NEW PAINTINGS

2011-03-16T15:14:00.002-04:00

2011-03-16T15:12:00.000-04:00

ART OR SHORT-TERM MOOD REPAIR?

2011-03-08T08:04:00.001-05:00

IInteriorly

2011-02-23T09:00:00.003-05:00

2011-02-23T08:59:00.000-05:00

2011-02-23T08:57:00.000-05:00

blue, blue

2011-02-11T12:29:00.002-05:00

OUTSIDE

2011-02-09T05:23:00.003-05:00

VARIOUS VIEWS

2011-02-09T05:15:00.005-05:00

SKEINS

2011-01-03T20:54:00.001-05:00

MYSTERIES

2011-01-03T20:50:00.002-05:00

WINTER WOODS

2011-01-03T20:46:00.003-05:00

using paint to deal with feelings...

2010-11-27T08:30:00.001-05:00

tricky time...

2010-10-12T06:29:00.002-04:00

more heels and soles...

2010-10-12T06:27:00.002-04:00

what does it all mean?

2010-10-04T09:07:00.000-04:00

The Passion for Red and Shoes...

2010-08-19T19:06:00.000-04:00

2010-08-19T19:05:00.000-04:00

Painting with renewed vigor... the "memories" series continues

2010-08-03T19:28:00.001-04:00

2010-08-03T19:27:00.001-04:00

2010-08-03T19:26:00.000-04:00

2010-08-03T19:24:00.000-04:00

2010-08-03T19:23:00.000-04:00