last night after the baseball game
Rodney suggested we stop by the bay
to look at the moon on the water
I love when nature catches his eye
our gaze is synchronized
our hearts beat for the same reasons:
dark night, wet grass, water sounds,
sand still warm from the summer day,
the pregnant moon hangs heavy
a white slice on the placid bay
I watch as he steps in
past the shards of broken shells that line the shore
until he is knee deep in moon glow
his frame reflects on the surface
an imperfect attempt at playing card symmetry
my king of the bay
this night is for him
his quiet energy casts ripples
one affecting the next
soft, wet metaphors
of all his good deeds
they disappear outside the moonlight
but we know they are still there
those endless crests and troughs
such is the anatomy of a ripple effect
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
Sunday, August 5, 2012
52/365: You Are Just in Time
Today I made:
altered book art...
I have a thing for old books. Vintage dictionaries, out of print novels, nonfiction nature themes, outdated children's activity books- I have quite a delightful collection. I love the yellowed pages, fabric covers, gold leafing, vintage photographs and illustrations. My favorite, by far, is the flow of language and eloquent wording. They just don't write 'em that way anymore.
These books, or bits and pieces of them, are finding their way into my art. Altering books is an old art form, but rather new to me. We were always told as kids not to write in our books, but I like to think I'm breathing new life into them. And they are providing me with a unique new canvas, just in time to tell my story through art.
It's a great excuse to use up all those odd bits of paper left over from collage and scrapbooking. It's also a perfect little album for snapshots that may work their way into other pieces of art eventually. In this book I can play and practice composition and color theory, both areas I need to work on. The small size of the pages (about 5x7) makes it less intimidating to fill than a larger art journal. And once I get into the inside pages, there will be endless inspiration from the old text- poems waiting to be found!
Today I just designed one of the end pages, but I have plans for this little book. Each page can tell it's own story- or not. There can be a theme to the photos, words and collage bits, or it can just be a mini art journal. This particular book, published in 1966, is called Stalking the Good Life. I think it will lend itself beautifully to telling the story of our life here by the sea.
One of the greatest things is that once I had collected the elements (which didn't take much thought) it only took me about 10 minutes to put the page together. I've been looking for a quick creative activity that I can do on those days when there's not much time, and these playful altered book pages might be just the thing I need to get out of my own head, make art fast and not stress so much about the end result. It's less pressure, somehow, than working on a canvas and the possibilities are endless.
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| altered book page: original photo, scrap papers & found text |
altered book art...
I have a thing for old books. Vintage dictionaries, out of print novels, nonfiction nature themes, outdated children's activity books- I have quite a delightful collection. I love the yellowed pages, fabric covers, gold leafing, vintage photographs and illustrations. My favorite, by far, is the flow of language and eloquent wording. They just don't write 'em that way anymore.
These books, or bits and pieces of them, are finding their way into my art. Altering books is an old art form, but rather new to me. We were always told as kids not to write in our books, but I like to think I'm breathing new life into them. And they are providing me with a unique new canvas, just in time to tell my story through art.
It's a great excuse to use up all those odd bits of paper left over from collage and scrapbooking. It's also a perfect little album for snapshots that may work their way into other pieces of art eventually. In this book I can play and practice composition and color theory, both areas I need to work on. The small size of the pages (about 5x7) makes it less intimidating to fill than a larger art journal. And once I get into the inside pages, there will be endless inspiration from the old text- poems waiting to be found!
Today I just designed one of the end pages, but I have plans for this little book. Each page can tell it's own story- or not. There can be a theme to the photos, words and collage bits, or it can just be a mini art journal. This particular book, published in 1966, is called Stalking the Good Life. I think it will lend itself beautifully to telling the story of our life here by the sea.
One of the greatest things is that once I had collected the elements (which didn't take much thought) it only took me about 10 minutes to put the page together. I've been looking for a quick creative activity that I can do on those days when there's not much time, and these playful altered book pages might be just the thing I need to get out of my own head, make art fast and not stress so much about the end result. It's less pressure, somehow, than working on a canvas and the possibilities are endless.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
51/365: My Music Man
Today I made:
some art for my Music Man...
For his birthday this past June, I wrote my husband this free verse poem, hoping to capture my admiration for his creative passion. Because I am the Queen of Unfinished Projects, the scrapbook page that was supposed to go with it didn't get completed until today.
The photo is a self portrait he took when he had long hair...and the most amazing mustache. He probably wouldn't be thrilled that I'm posting it here, but tough cookies. I love that sweet face!
Thanks to my hubby for always encouraging me to finish what I started and to find the purpose behind my creative passion. xo
some art for my Music Man...
For his birthday this past June, I wrote my husband this free verse poem, hoping to capture my admiration for his creative passion. Because I am the Queen of Unfinished Projects, the scrapbook page that was supposed to go with it didn't get completed until today.
The photo is a self portrait he took when he had long hair...and the most amazing mustache. He probably wouldn't be thrilled that I'm posting it here, but tough cookies. I love that sweet face!
Thanks to my hubby for always encouraging me to finish what I started and to find the purpose behind my creative passion. xo
Friday, August 3, 2012
50/365: Nifty Fifty
Today I made {it to} 5o Days of Creative!!!!!
Fifteeeeeeeee!!
When I realized what day it was, I did a happy dance. Then I patted myself on the back.
Then I made this picture...
Fifteeeeeeeee!!
When I realized what day it was, I did a happy dance. Then I patted myself on the back.
Then I made this picture...
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| Mixed media journal page: collage papers, colored pencil, ink, water soluble oil pastels |
Thursday, August 2, 2012
49/365: Beachy Keen
Today I made:
a new set of photos on Flickr...
Feet in the sand, head in the clouds, sea spray, sunshine, salty air,
the colors of seashells, the rumble of the waves that drowns out the noise in my mind...
this is my happy place.
If you ask me, the best kind of dizzy is standing at the edge of the Pacific and letting it tug at your toes.
I will always long to be closer to the sea. I'm not the only one...
The moon has a love affair with the tide and the sun sees fit to kiss it every evening.
There's something special about that place where the sand meets the surf.
This collection of photos is my ode to the ocean.
"May you always have a shell in your pocket and sand in your shoes."
browse my "Beachy Keen" album at www.flickr.com/photos/milabcreations
a new set of photos on Flickr...
Feet in the sand, head in the clouds, sea spray, sunshine, salty air,
the colors of seashells, the rumble of the waves that drowns out the noise in my mind...
this is my happy place.
If you ask me, the best kind of dizzy is standing at the edge of the Pacific and letting it tug at your toes.
I will always long to be closer to the sea. I'm not the only one...
The moon has a love affair with the tide and the sun sees fit to kiss it every evening.
There's something special about that place where the sand meets the surf.
This collection of photos is my ode to the ocean.
"May you always have a shell in your pocket and sand in your shoes."
 |
| Pacific Beach, San Diego |
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
48/365: You Are a Child of the Universe
Today I made:
an affirmation...
an affirmation...
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| ink and gel pen on scrapbook paper with original background painting in acrylic |
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| "Child of the Universe" photo journal page: original photograph, cloud paper, pencil, gel pen |
This quote is an excerpt form Max Ehrmann's poem, "Desiderata," all of which I love, but these lines especially have been echoing in my mind the last few days. I need to remember to be gentle with myself, to accept that I am enough right now just the way I am, and to honor how far I've come on this journey. This affirmation comforts me when I feel anxious about living up to my self-imposed expectations.
The photo is a shadow self-portrait I took a couple weeks ago at the cliffs in Ocean Beach. The whole thing was a happy accident. As I stood on a higher rock and pointed my camera down into a lower bed of rocks that were partially underwater, I had no idea at the time how meaningful the picture would be for me. I love the colors and textures of the rocks. It reminds me of a galaxy. My shadow, an expression of self, is a child of that Universe. I also think it's quite symbolic that the shape of my shadow looks like an eye. There comes a time in all our lives (I hope) when we begin to see ourselves as a part of the Universe. Like the trees, we reach and grow. Like the stars, we shine our lights. And with the understanding that we are connected to all of creation comes empowerment. We are all creators. Remember that.
The photo is a shadow self-portrait I took a couple weeks ago at the cliffs in Ocean Beach. The whole thing was a happy accident. As I stood on a higher rock and pointed my camera down into a lower bed of rocks that were partially underwater, I had no idea at the time how meaningful the picture would be for me. I love the colors and textures of the rocks. It reminds me of a galaxy. My shadow, an expression of self, is a child of that Universe. I also think it's quite symbolic that the shape of my shadow looks like an eye. There comes a time in all our lives (I hope) when we begin to see ourselves as a part of the Universe. Like the trees, we reach and grow. Like the stars, we shine our lights. And with the understanding that we are connected to all of creation comes empowerment. We are all creators. Remember that.
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