In Anticipation of Canada Day

Richard and his dog, Rocket, proudly salute the flag on Canada Day.

Maxim:

Stand up and be counted.

Maxim of the Week

Every afternoon when Naomi got off work from the bakery she would sit on a rock by the duck pond and sprinkle bread crumbs for her fine feathered friends.

Maxim:

Cast your bread upon the waters.

Reconsidering Jack Bush

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Here's the final version of "Letter to Jack Bush." A few postings down there's a picture of how it began as a spontaneous assemblage of pieces. I was pretty happy with it until I went to sew it together and had to figure out how to properly deal with the background material. My friend, the Big Woolly in Seattle, had recently commented to me about how she tends to overthink her designs and I similarly found myself worrying and fretting over a composition that I had previously been content with. In the end, I think it turned out well. I'm tempted to mat it "upside down," though (see below). I like the idea of a less literal viewing of it than is produced if the writing is less easily read. Which do you prefer?

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Just don't tell me you prefer the May 10th version!

Maxim of the Week

Although Patricia was very happy to have a role in Aida, she was less than thrilled with her costume's size.

Maxim:

Don't sweat the small stuff.

A Is/Was For Africa

A Is For Africa

A Was For Africa

This is the evolution of an 8 x 10 inch mixed media/collage. I started out happily with A Is For Africa but when I came back to it, found that it was somehow too obvious. I went at it hammer and tong, so to speak, tearing back layers, covering others with more paint. The end result, A Was For Africa, is ragged, rugged, rough. It has much more passion than the other safer piece. I'm so glad I have a photo of where it came from, though, because in retrospect I do like the original...but what it evolved into is so much more exciting. You would understand better if you could see all the wonderful texture in it...the photo flattens it out.

But the point here, I guess, is sometimes you have to let go of the safe and nice and go for the gritty and challenging. (more on this later)

Maxim of the Week

Feeling faint at work one day, Bartholomew decided it was time to give up waitering and go on a sea-cruise.

Maxim:

Seize the day.