Using Vintage Photography in Mobile Art

Larceny

I have an obsession with looking through old mug shots. It's weird, I know, but over at Flickr Commons you can browse through vintage mug shots that were taken over in Europe and I have wasted plenty of time doing just that. Many of the mug shots come along with the story behind the person's arrest. I love reading the circumstances behind these mugshots. I noticed that many of the crimes had to do with larceny, theft of personal property. Many of the stories indicated that the perpetrator was either trying to steal to feed their family or themselves. I found myself feeling sorry for them. Many were orphans with no source of income. They just ran the streets and tried to get food when they could. So tragic and sad.

Anyway, I was inspired to create this digital collage art piece after browsing those images. I took 4 mugshots of 4 boys who were accused of larceny (thus, the title of this piece) and used various parts of the 4 faces to create a collaged face of a young man in Photoshop CC. 

Then, I imported the above image into my iPhone 6S Plus and used 4 different apps including Snapseed, Distressed FX, Trigraphy, and Fragment to create the vision I had in my head for this piece. I ended up with the piece below.

I still wanted to add some moths to the background and add a triangle connecting the eyes and while I could have done this on my phone, I chose to import it back onto my computer and use Photoshop CC to do this. I added the vintage moth texture and then drew in the triangle, finishing the piece.

I hope you liked this glimpse into artistic process! Have a wonderful day.

xo

Let Go- Those Precious Morning Hours

Let Go- Digital Collage by Tracey Grumbach  (stock image of woman from Pixabay)

In the very early morning hours my alarm goes off. I don't have anywhere to be or anything to do except start the day with my first dose of medicine that needs to be taken on an empty stomach...thus the 6:30AM chimes dinging on my iPhone. After taking the two pills that are on my bedside table, I breathe in the day and often times climb out of bed despite the exhaustion. I never have been an early riser and I still hate it. However, I have a new appreciation for those quiet hours before the kids rise and start their day. I have claimed that time for myself...to let go. To do the quiet things that bring me joy.

Today I spent this time beginning a new art project in the online class I'm taking...Figurescapes. I found myself not only learning all about an app I've had for a long time but never used, but I also felt myself let go as I began the project. I was so mindful in that moment...nothing else existed except for me, my iPhone, and the stylus as I drew an abstract figure on the screen. All the thoughts, feelings, worries, and obligations this day will bring melted away. I didn't allow myself to become "precious" (as one of my favorite art podcasters, The Jealous Curator of Art for Your Ear, calls it) and didn't freak out when I made mistakes. Those mistakes turned into beautiful opportunities to make my work unique and unlike the instructor's. It was free flowing and fun and invigorating to be doing something completely unlike the art I have done in the past. Before I knew it, the two hours had passed that I need to wait until I eat. I didn't even feel a hunger pang the entire time I was working because I was so completely engrossed.

This "let go" time for me is so important in my healing and in my sanity. Just as I was finishing up the very first step of this art project, I heard footsteps and toilets flushing downstairs in our living area. I came back to the present feeling refreshed for having this time to myself to be creative, present, and mindful. Now I am ready to care for my family for the rest of the day, but my mind will be on this new project, ever anxious and excited to grab just a few more minutes to myself to see where this project takes me next.

Tonight I will be working the Opening Reception at Arts By the Bay Gallery from 6PM-9PM where 5 of my framed pieces will be hanging and 10 matted pieces will be available in the print bins. I hope you can stop in and say hello...I love meeting everyone!

Have a beautiful weekend. See you on the other side of the weekend. xo

I Thought You'd Give Me Wings- Digital Collage by Tracey Grumbach

About this image: We've all done it before. We've attached our hopes, dreams, and aspirations to someone or something (a house, a job, a preconceived notion about ourselves) that we thought would make us fly and yet we find ourselves utterly clinging to something dead and still that keeps us grounded. But not grounded in a positive way. Grounded in a "I wish I could soar" way. All we need to do is let go, put our foot to the ground and take one step away. So simple, yet for some, a concept that is so full of fear.

So excited for the opportunity to show some of my work this Saturday night at Bel Air High School for the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra concert. If you are going, please stop at my table and say hello! I am also working at Arts By the Bay this Saturday from 11AM-2:30PM. Cruise in and take a look at the amazing work our gallery has to offer. It has been voted Best in Harford County, so it is worth the time! I will try to live broadcast from there, so tune in for that as well.

Have a beautiful Wednesday, y'all.

xo

The Shape of My Reality- Digital Art by Tracey Grumbach

About this image: My latest obsession is podcasts. I still have lingering issues resulting from my the Chronic Lyme infection I have been dealing with since about 2011, including auditory oversensitivity. As a result, I rarely listen to music, especially anything louder than spa or classical music, in the car anymore because it feels like someone is grating off my skin with a cheese grater, only in my ear. I know, that makes no sense to most people, but that is the only way I can describe it. Anyway, since I rarely listen to music and I live in a rural area at least 30 minutes drive to any civilization (read: stores), I have started to listen to podcasts. Things like Brains On! Science Podcast for Kids (when the kids are in the car), TED Radio Hour, The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe, REAL Simple Podcasts, The RobCast, and others keep my brain engaged and my perspectives open while driving in my daily life. What does this have to do with this image?  Good question, glad you asked.

So, one of the podcasts I was listening to from TED Radio Hour was all about our five senses and how humans perceive the world. One of the people that the host interviewed is Issac Lidsky (who was on the show Saved By the Bell years ago!), who lost his sight as a young man. One of his quotes that grabbed me was the following:

You see, sight is just one way we shape our reality. We create our own realities in many other ways. Let's take fear as just one example. Your fears distort your reality. Psychologists have a great term for it - awfulizing, right? Fear replaces the unknown with the awful. When I was diagnosed with my blinding disease, I knew blindness was a death sentence for my independence. It was the end of achievement for me. Blindness meant I would live an unremarkable life, small and sad and likely alone. I knew it. This was a fiction borne of my fears, but I believed it. If I had not confronted the reality of my fear, I would have lived it, I am certain of that.

(If interested, here is the transcript of his section of the podcast.) Seriously, how powerful is that statement? SIGHT IS JUST ONE WAY WE SHAPE OUR REALITY. Let that sink in. We are largely, and some would argue completely, in control of our own reality. We shape our reality based on how our brains receive and process information, how our fears shape the truth, how our backgrounds and experiences form unique-to-us connections in our brains.

So, why then, knowing that each of us is so incredibly unique, can we not respect the uniqueness of our fellow man...lately sometimes even those who we called friends or family before the election? What we all feel is REAL TO US. Why do we have to say the way we perceive the world is right and the way you perceive it is wrong? The fact is, none of us sees true reality...it is all just a picture formed in our brains from our senses! Let's all be nice and get along and respect each other' view even if we don't agree with it.

So, this digital collage was born out of these thoughts...that each of us has our own unique human experience here on earth; that each one of us perceives the world slightly (or greatly) different from every other human being on the earth...and yet we are all still so beautiful and loved (if you believe in our Great Creator like I do.)

Have a listen to the full podcast:  It is very engaging:

Let's all try to be just a little bit more tolerant of differing views. There is no need for name calling, putting down, hysteria, and broken friendships because we are different! The End.

Have a beautifully blessed day.

xo

The Loss of Innocence- Mobile Art by Baltimore Artist

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field...I'll meet you there.

-Rumi

About this image- As I sat in our homeschool room/art studio yesterday, I felt this strange feeling on my skin. It was warm and tingly. It reached down into my soul with long golden fingers and awoke a sleeping part of me. After two and a half weeks of rain, gloom, and gray skies, this sunbeam found its way into my window and onto my arm. Its touch felt vaguely familiar and as I turned to greet it, the ray of amber light filled my face and eyes with the most brilliant light. It was like crawling out of the proverbial cave of darkness into the light where a human must blink over and over again as one's eyes adjust to the brilliance. The occasion called for drastic measures...homeschool came to a screeching halt and we went outside into the 50 degree weather for a walk. As we walked around our rural neighborhood, we came across a swingset sitting alone in a field and I felt inspired to create this digital art piece, The Loss of Innocence. 

Wonderful news...the editing process has been finished for the article I wrote for Somerset Digital Studio and it will be going to print shortly! I was sent the PDF proof copy to edit and I was so excited to see the layout and my words on the "pages" of the magazine. After making a few changes to my article and correcting a few typos, it received final approval! It was so exciting to walk through this process. I also received information on the payout I will receive (they pay per page, so until the layout was finalized, I didn't know the total). Then, something amazing happened...I got a separate email from the editor with a PDF proof of the cover...with The Wheel on it! Yes, they selected my image (along with two other images by other ) to feature on the COVER! I was shocked and honored! I can't share the cover just yet as it is still under wraps, but when I get the go-ahead, I will share it with you all. The print copy will hit the newsstands on March 1! I can not WAIT! Thank you for sharing this exciting journey with me and always supporting my growth and development as an artist. 

Speaking of The Wheel...the one and only print copy of this featured art piece will be showing and for sale at the "Winter Blitz" show at Arts By the Bay Gallery in Havre de Grace, opening on Friday, February 3 from 7PM-9PM! If you would like to be the owner of the piece, be sure to stop in a grab it before someone else does! It is one of my favorite all time pieces, so I am a bit sad to see it go! I am working the desk that night, so please stop in and see me! (I am also working tomorrow from 2:30PM- 7:00PM. This is the last weekend for the current show, so come see it before it goes!)

Also, if you are so inclined, you can check out this article written by the Chester County Press about the art show I am involved with at Oxford Arts Alliance in Pennsylvania. I was thrilled the writer chose to mention two of my three pieces that are showing there. 

Have a beautiful day! I'm hoping for more sun, but so far it doesn't look promising. I will just have to make my own sun today.  

xo

Forgotten Wreaths- Digital Art St. Michael's, Maryland

Forgotten Wreaths- Digital Art by Tracey Grumbach

About this image- This is another one of my rediscovered old photographs that caught my attention. The original photograph was taken back in 2010 during a trip to St. Michael's, Maryland. If you didn't know by now I have, for a long time, been fascinated by houses and old buildings. This one was no exception. I was intrigued by the overgrown grass growing around the front door making it look as if no one was coming in and out of the residence. But, yet it was decorated for Christmas with beautiful wreaths. The home itself was in great condition with a beautiful golden eagle ornament sitting atop the peak and the dual matching chimneys. The semi-circular porch  reminded me of a carousel top and don't get me started on the beautiful attic window. I totally could have lived here.

Speaking of forgotten wreaths, this year is the longest that we have ever kept up Christmas decorations. We finally took down the tree and indoor decorations on Tuesday but our outside decorations are still up, although they are unplugged now. We have been so busy, we just haven't had time. Our house has the big empty feeling it gets every time we take decorations down. It seems cavernous and echoey. I miss the tree, but I don't miss the cats making toys out of all my ornaments, lol.

Today is full of errands after teaching homeschool. I will be off to the bank to deposit the last of the 2016 checks for art sales, then to Oxford, PA to deliver the three new pieces to the gallery there. Next, I need to rush home and prepare for my daughter's IEP meeting (I homeschool her but have a good relationship with the local school where she receives speech services and I maintain a current IEP for her in case she needs to return to public school.). Next, I have to rush home for a phone conference with my oldest daughter's admissions and financial aid counselor for a college she is considering. Then, I need to pack and get ready for our trip to Full Sail University. We will be leaving tomorrow and coming back on Monday after touring the campus and local housing options. After this trip my oldest daughter will be able to make her decision about what college she will attend.  I am so blessed to have my God-daughter and my oldest son watching the twins and running the house until we get back.

Try to stay dry out there! At least it is a bit warmer, which makes the damp a bit more tolerable.

xo

Solitude Expresses the Glory of Being Alone- Mobile Art by Harford County Artist

Sichuan Takin- A hoofed mammal indigenous to the mountainous bamboo forests of western China

Solitude.

Solitude is different than loneliness.  Loneliness has a sad, isolated connotation to it while solitude reflects being alone by choice. Everyone deserves some time alone to think, decompress, and learn more about yourself. If you had 30 minutes to yourself, with no responsibility, what would you do? What kind of "date" would you take yourself on?

I would:

-take a guilt free nap
-make a quick art journal page
-curl up with a good book
-sit on the front porch swing and watch the birds at the feeder
-take a photo walk around my property
-take a hot bath with lavender body scrub and spa music

Make a list of all the "dates" you could make with yourself that would fit in 30 minutes. Plan a day this week to schedule time for you and treat yourself to just 30 minutes.

Love yourself.

xo

The House on Main Street- Digital Art By Tracey Grumbach

20 Little things that bring me joy:

1.  The smell of fresh laundry
2.  A fire in my fireplace
3.  Lavender Essential Oil Linen Spray on my pillowcase
4.  My morning organic decaf coffee with a teaspoon of hot chocolate mix
5.  A walk along a wooded trail in any season
6.  The crunch of autumn leaves under foot
7.  The first winter snow
8.  The smell of Christmas cookies baking in the oven
9.  Moonlight or sunlight sparkling like diamonds of the water's surface
10.  Learning a new skill
11.  Laughter- I am an empathetic laugher so when I hear laughing I automatically laugh
12.  My alpaca wool socks keeping my feet toasty
13.  One square of organic dark chocolate with cherries
14.  The feel of dirt under my nails when planting a new seed
15.  Watching a good football game on a Sunday afternoon
16.  Cuddling under a blanket reading a captivating book
17.  Feeling my cat purr as she curls up on my lap
18.  Playing a board/card/dice game with my family
19.  Christmas carols on Christmas Eve
20.  Comfortable fleece long underwear worn as leggings

What is one little thing that brings you joy?  Take notice of it and plan time in your day to experience it...even if it is just for 5 minutes.

Have a beautiful day.

xo

There Are Joys That Long To Be Ours

Digital Art by Tracey Grumbach of Nine Acres Designs, LLC

There are joys that long to be ours. 

God sends ten thousands truths, 

which come about us like birds seeking inlet;

but we are shut up to them, 

and so they bring us nothing,

but sit and sing awhile upon the roof,

and then fly away.

-Henry Ward Beecher

God is good. This week I went back to one of my doctor's and had a repeat VCS test. The VCS test is a neurological test (although it seems like a vision test) that identifies the potential of biotoxins in the body (produced by mold, Lyme, and co-infections). For the first time, two rows of the test came back normal! Different rows on the test help determine different things and the two rows that improved to normal were indicative that the current treatment I am on for my re-exposure this summer is working! I also increased my score (although still not normal) in two other rows as well. The area I still need the most work, according to this test, is my vascular system. I am still not getting all the blood and oxygen I need to the brain or other parts of my body such as my hands and feet (which I believe why my hands and feet are constantly freezing!) But, this is the first time I have EVER done this well on this test--the doctor and I are thrilled! My husband was with me in the exam room and we all high fived and whooped and hollered that I did so well. It is such a relief after all this time fighting Lyme, co-infections, and then mold that I am getting some positive progress.

In addition to that, there is guarded good news for my cousins' kids who were in a terrible car accident about 10 days ago. My cousin's son has been opening his eyes briefly now for two days. He is still very critical, as is his sister who is still unconscious, but it was a bright light in a long and difficult journey this far. Thank you to everyone for your prayers. They do work. God hears you and He is working miracles!

A bit about this digital art piece...I was sitting at a stop light on the way home from the doctor yesterday when I spotted these three birds on the roof of building. I grabbed my phone and took the shot. Then, later, I added textures, the tree, and the sun. Then, I digitally painted it a bit for this final result. Here is the original, nasty, horrible photo that was hastily taken out of my truck window and then I turned it into the above. Hope you enjoyed this rare before/after!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Be safe and be kind to each other.

xo

Hay Harvest- Digital Collage by Harford County Artist

Hay Harvest by Tracey Grumbach

As the days seem to slow to a turtle's pace, my thoughts are in St. Louis with my cousins and their children. If you are not friends with me on Facebook, you may not know that their 16 year old daughter and 13 year old son were in a horrific car accident and are both in comas with traumatic brain injuries. It has been quite a desperate time for my extended family as they have already lost one son in a car accident years ago when he was only 19.

If you could, please pray for my extended family. You can read more about the children and read the medical updates from their parents at their Go Fund Me page. The children's older sister set up the account to help relieve the incredible cost of the medical care for two children and the daily living expenses (my cousins are both staying at the hospital with their children, of course, which is two hours away from their home.)

The outpouring of help, love, prayers, and thoughts for my extended family has been amazing. Thank you to everyone who supports them in daily prayer. This is going to be a long difficult journey for the children, their parents, their grandparents, and their siblings. But with everyone's support, we can get them through this. Please continue to check the Go Fund Me page for updates, as I don't feel like it is appropriate for me to blog about it here daily.

Thanks and have a wonderful, safe Halloween.

xo

Belfry- Digital Art Chesapeake City, Maryland

Digital Art By Tracey Grumbach

The day is done, and the darkness
Falls from the wings of Night,
As a feather is wafted downward
From an eagle in his flight. 

 "The Day Is Done" 

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This past Friday I had the pleasure of taking a day trip to the very lovely Chesapeake City in Cecil County, Maryland. I immediately fell in love with this quaint historic town. It was relaxing to stroll the streets and take in the mid 1800's architecture. The whole town was decked out and decorated for autumn. While sitting and eating lunch at the Chesapeake Inn, I watched all kinds of boat traffic cruise along the C&D Canal. I am embarrassed to say I grew up in Maryland and I didn't even know the C&D Canal existed. Now I do...I read tons of information about the town and the canal, learning the importance of this tiny town that serves as an important hub in the transportation industry. The town may be tiny in size but certainly not in spirit!

Happy Monday to you all. I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I will be traveling out of state this week to visit my mother in Lynchburg, Virginia, so I have prepared some new digital art pieces to be posted while I am gone. I hope you will stop in to see some new things I have been working on. I am excited to share them with you! Please pray for a safe voyage for me as I drive 5 hours south.  Thank you!

xo

Santa Monica Pier at Sunset- Travel Art

During my recent trip to California, I had the opportunity to walk from our hotel to the Santa Monica Pier. We stayed in a hotel very close by, so the walk was short, which was perfect because I still don't have very much endurance for exercise. After walking around the pier itself for a bit we watched the sun disappear over the horizon, kissing the Pacific Ocean as it slid to the other side of the earth. Slowly, we began the journey back to the hotel and when we had gotten a decent distance, I turned back to see this...the amazing colors the sky becomes when the sun is below the horizon. It was breath-taking and of course, I had to create something out of it. Truly, God is the most amazing artist. His taste in colors, exquisite.

Yesterday, I finally had the opportunity to upload the pictures I took with my Cannon 5D Mark III to the computer and take a look. I haven't shot with my "big camera" in a long time and to be honest, while I was excited about a few shots, I am clearly out of practice. I was a bit disappointed in myself. But, I will use that feeling to encourage myself to begin taking my camera with me again and get back into good habits.

In case you don't follow me on Facebook, I wanted to mention something I am proud about...I was blessed for the opportunity to have a piece of my work published on the front cover of a monthly local newspaper. I was honored and I really liked the process of working with the art editor, the CEO of the paper, and the deadlines during this process. I would love to have the opportunity to work with them again in the future. My goal is to use art as the mode to get my Lyme story out to the local public with the intent of helping others who may be suffering. Perhaps in the spring I will reach out to them again.

Happy Hump Day, y'all. Enjoy the sun while we've got it. If you are reading this from the southeast states, please be safe as Matthew approaches the United States. My prayers are with you. Stay safe, everyone.

xo

When At First I Learned to Speak- Digital Collage Inspired By Music

When at first I learned to speak 

I used all my words to fight 

With him and her and you and me 

Oh but it's just a waste of time 

Yeah, it's such a waste of time.

"I And Love And You"

The Avett Brothers

One of my favorite bands is the Avett Brothers. Of their many songs that I love, I And Love And You has always stuck with me for the amazing lyrics. This lyric, which is in the middle of the song, has always evoked a strong emotion in me. The first time I heard the song I pictured a boy screaming hate words. That image has been circulating in my brain since then...years.

I recently got back into digital collage and so I was immediately drawn back to those lyrics and this image. I was finally able to get what I was seeing in my head onto the screen. It feels like a mental sneeze to finally get out an art piece that has been circulating in my brain for a long time. Relief. 

I hope this digital collage stirred up a strong emotion in you. I know for me it reminds me to pay attention to the words I use and the tone in which I say them.  It truly is such a waste of time to spew hate words.  Have a great day!

xo

Immigrant- Digital Collage Step By Step

Immigrant- A digital art piece by Tracey Grumbach

Thanks to everyone for your kind comments and concern over my last post about my husband's car accident. He really is perfectly fine, without a scratch, so besides the loss of the car (it has been declared totaled by the insurance company), everything is good. Truly. So, no need to worry! Thank you!

Today I thought I would give a brief step by step for this creation since I haven't made one of these in a long time. Many of you are interested in how these are created, so I hope this helps.

First, I looked through public domain vintage images and found an old black and white photograph of a girl. I then imported that into photoshop and colorized the photo by choosing colors for her skin, hair, hat, dress, eyes, and lips. I used various brushes and shading techniques to color her in.

Next, I found an old background of a field I had in my files and brought the girl image on top of it in Photoshop. I added a blur layer to the grass because I didn't like how sharp it was, but wanted to keep the sky sharp, so I masked out the sky. Next, I erased the background from the original girl image (she was standing in front of a fence) so that only the girl and hat were left of the original.

Then, I found an old butterfly image (that I have actually used in several of my art pieces) and decided that I would use it as a mask. I opened it in photoshop, layered it on top of the girl's face and masked out the holes for her eyes. I then added a drop shadow to make it look more 3-D and painted in a strap on the side of her face where a strap would be showing. The other side would be hidden behind the wing.

Then, I took an old scrapbooking typewriter letter, brought it into photoshop, layering it on top of the girl's neck. I then added black dots to form a chain for her necklace.

After that, I imported a bird image from a public domain site where other photographers and artists share their images for artistic purposes and layered it on to the girl's shoulder. I erased the original background it was on and added a drop shadow.

I flattened this file and saved it as a high quality .jpg in Dropbox. (I have Dropbox on my computer and on my phone so I can push files back and forth with no effort and no cords!)

On my phone I opened Dropbox and downloaded the jpg file to my Camera Roll. I then used several apps including Distressed FX, Formulas (which I save my editing formulas to that I make in other apps), Image Blender, and Snapseed. In each of these apps I either added textures, layered previous edits, added the birds in flight, and created new edits by changing the mode to multiply, overlay, etc.

Last, I saved it back to Dropbox, opened it on my computer in Photoshop and tweaked the contrast, warmth, and sharpness. I also used the mixer brush to paint a little bit of detail out of places I wanted to be more painterly.

As you can see, this is a lengthy process involving both my computer and my phone. I could have also used my iPad instead of my phone, but my phone was handy at the time.

Let me know if you have any questions about my process; I'd be happy to answer them.

Industrial Storm Rising- Digital Art by Tracey Grumbach

Industrial Storm Rising

This art was created from a photo taken while traveling up 95 North on my way to New York City this summer. This image was created to portray my thoughts and feelings about the condition of the environment in our country (adding pesticides to the environment that kill our pollinators, spraying our food with glyphosate, chem trails from airplanes, cloud seeding...the list goes on) and also on a more personal level, how those with chronic illness have to live their lives wondering if today will be a stormy day or a good day. It makes it almost impossible to make plans in stone and requires one to live his/her life by "playing it by ear." I hope you've enjoyed this look into Industrial Storm Rising...and hope you noticed I did NOT add birds to this one. On purpose, of course ;)

Have a wonderful holiday weekend and I will catch you on the other side.

xo

The Lucky Sisters

Diligence is the mother of good luck.

Benjamin Franklin

I don't believe in luck. I believe in hard work, diligence, opportunity, preparedness, and God's plan. I know many cultures have superstitions surrounding luck, both good and bad, and while I respect these beliefs, I don't subscribe to them.

One thing I do remember regarding luck in my own family is my maternal grandmother constantly looking for and finding 4 leaf clovers in the grass. She was amazing at spotting these anomalies from a full standing position. I remember trying and trying to find one on my own as a child, crouched low over the clover patch, hand brushing through the greenness, eyes darting around searching for the telltale extra leaf and never once finding one. When I would walk away from a patch of clover, my grandmother would step up to it right behind me and within seconds locate one. She was something else. I miss her dearly.

As a child I also owned a rabbit's foot. Despite my 4 leaf clover hunting and rabbits-foot owning, I don't ever remember believing either brought me luck. I never believed that the wish I murmured as I saw a falling star would come true. I was never jealous of the u-shaped horseshoe that hung over my brother's bedroom door. I guess I was a boring, non-imaginative child that carried too much logic in her head. Perhaps, then, that is why I think one makes his/her own luck and there is not some mystical force of magic out there that rewards the ones with cut-off rabbits' feet, four-leaf clovers, and that see falling stars. I didn't believe God would let wrath be brought to someone for simply walking under a ladder or accidentally breaking a mirror. I found it all very strange to believe, indeed.

Do you have any traditions surrounding the idea of luck? I'd love to hear them.

Have a wonderful week, y'all.

xo

The Cage Without a Key

The fog is like a cage without a key.

Elizabeth Wurtzel

I haven't felt much like writing lately...so I will let the quotes and my creations speak for themselves. 

xo

One Way

One Way Down Up

When life is bringing you down, utilize all means possible to lift yourself back up.

~Me

Sometimes the heavy burdens of life cloud your vision and bring you down. It is imperative that you reach inward and find a way to lift yourself back up, fighting the gravity of everyday life...the news, mean people, and the general burdens of being human. Find your own balloons...friends, art, music, reading, nature, and use them to negate the "one way down" feeling of everyday life. Invest time and energy into your own well being. If you don't, no one else will.

This has been a public service announcement by yours truly. ;)
Hope you all are taking care of yourselves in the aftermath of this historic blizzard. Sending love to everyone.

xo

Woodland Fairies

Let us proceed under the assumption that the fairy folk do exist, and that I am not a gibbering moron.

~Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl

This Is A People Shooting Hat

"This is a people shooting hat," I said.  "I shoot people in this hat."

~Holden in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

My first piece in 2016, This Is A People Shooting Hat, was inspired by the book The Catcher In the Rye by J.D. Salinger. As a teen, I read the book in high school and always held it to be one of my favorite books of all time. Over time, my memory of the plot details has faded so, not only did I need a refresher of the story line and also I wanted a fresh perspective of the literary themes by reading it as an adult.

I just finished reading the book The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope (Book 1 of my 20 book goal I set for myself in 2016) and my junior-in-high-school daughter was getting ready to start reading Catcher for a literary analysis paper. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to reread the book and share my thoughts with my daughter as we read it together. In Chapter 3 the main character, Holden, has a verbal exchange with one of his classmates about his red hunting hat that he wears. During that exchange, he says the quote above, and it struck a chord with me. Many who have not read the book may take offense to this quote considering all the shootings that have occurred in this country of late, but this quote should not be taken at face value. Holden never shoots anyone in the book and it is merely a glimpse into the cynical mind of a young man who is struggling on the edge of manhood, trying to negotiate becoming mature and independent while still retaining the truthfulness he perceives that comes with youth.  To grow up or not to grow up, that is the question.

While Holden never physically shoots anyone, he does "shoot" them with the internal dialog in his brian. He can't stand grown-ups and his disdain for them is quite apparent throughout the book. I was inspired on many symbolic levels to create an image that portrays his internal struggle between youth and manhood.  See if you can find the symbolism and the visual irony I have at play here.

I hope you enjoy This Is a People Shooting Hat and if you haven't read this incredible novel, I suggest you do. Watching my daughter analyze it in context of the political, social, and artistic climate of the time, is both exciting and inspiring. I am glad I have the opportunity to reread one of my favorites while sharing it with my daughter.

Hugs.  xo