New Birth

Last week, my first grandchild was born....a little boy, so sweet and so small.  I think about him all the time and every time I close my eyes, I see his little face.  It was love at first sight!

I follow Donna Iona Drozda's blog, Following the Moon, and in her last post she wrote about celebrating the arrival of a new natural year and about renewal and the birth of new things.  I can not think of any better way to celebrate a new year than with the birth of a child and I find it a perfect way to reflect upon the experience of rebirth and renewal.  To associate that with my ART/LIFE, I purchased a Visual Journal sketchbook and plan to use it to capture images of  the new grandson, Owen, as he grows.  I will photograph or sketch him each month for at least the next two years creating a visual journal of his early life to be given to him on his second birthday (or maybe I will continue it longer?).  The first of such images is pictured here as the first installment in the series.  It was created from a photograph taken shortly after his birth.  Charcoal was used for the preliminary sketch, then collage materials and finally acrylic paint.  I will post others as they are completed. 

The Great Escape

Last weekend I had the pleasure of being at "The Great Escape" with six wonderfully creative ladies. 

That was the name of the beach house that we stayed in at Sandbridge, and what an aptly named location for a weekend of relaxation and renewal.

Along with flavorful wine and delicious food we managed to also get our creative juices flowing in the form of fat books, ATCs, fiber arts, and "shrinky dinks". 

There is nothing more stimulating, nothing more rewarding or life enhancing than being around other artists.  Their generosity and love for all of life feeds my soul and lifts my spirit.