Weekend Journal

I hope this post finds everyone in good cheer and ready for the holiday weekend.  If you've been as busy with special holiday activities as I have, you've found precious little time to retreat to the comfort of your art journal.

After making a healthy dinner of cheeseburgers and fries for Keith and me, I found myself left with half a left over potato.  I couldn't just let it go to waste, so I grabbed my paring knife after dinner, and I carved this holly leaf and berries.

My plan was to make a greeting card of sorts to post here for all of you; however, I never made it past the background.  I thought I would have time to complete this spread last night or today, but preparing for the holidays always takes up more time than one allows for!

I really wasn't planning on baking any cookies beyond the MANDATORY butter balls, when Keith looked at me with those big, puppy eyes and asked, "Are you going to make some sour cream cookies?"  Well, hell's bells, what was I going to do but bake them after that?  They are from his grandmother's recipe, hand written by his mother, and quite yummy!  It was well worth the effort to see that appreciative, nostalgic smile on his face as I handed him a warm cookie from the oven!

THE GHOST OF ARTWORK PAST

So here I am on late Friday night, keeping my promise to post some art, and hoping you've had enough wine or hard egg nog to read right past any errors I've made and to forgive what I feel is a lot of rambling.  I'm tired.  You're tired.  It's all good!

I was looking through my photos trying to decide what I could post, when I came across some images from -I can't believe I'm going to say this, LAST DECADE! - long before this blog was even a thought.  I thought you might like to see some of them even though they're paintings.

This is a 2" x 2" miniature  acrylic painting.  You may recognize him.

One of my favorite paintings, "Ebony Goddess". 18" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

This is another of my favorites and hangs in our living room. "Never Alone" 20"x24 mixed media on canvas.

This 36" x 36" acrylic painting is titled "Celebrate Diversity" and is currently hanging in an art show at the Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland.

"Grand River Lighthouse" 18"x24" acrylic on canvas.  Family members bought this painting for my father-in-law while it was on display in a gallery.  He carried it back and forth with him yearly as he made his pilgrimage from OH to FL every winter.  After he died, I regained custody and recently gave it to our oldest son.

THE GHOST OF ARTWORK YET TO COME

As you can see, my painting styles have run impressionism to fauvism to probably everything in between over the years.  I can't wait to see where my muse leads me in 2012 and beyond. If I could gift you with anything at all, I would gift you with the freedom to truly express yourself and let your creative muse run amok!  You never know what splendid things will come of that adventure.

My creative muse made me save the turkey bones.  Yep!  I know you re-read that sentence to make sure your eyes haven't deceived you!

It began innocently enough; I put the turkey carcass in water to boil for soup.  Simple enough.  As the turkey cooled, I began to sort the meat from the bones as I have done so many times before.  Only this time, my muse could NOT stop looking at the artistic possibility of every bone, and before I knew it, they were soaking in a bleach water solution.  My muse muttered something about ancestors and spectacular journal covers.  I'm really curious to see where this is going - I'll keep you informed!

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND

Photo: Keith Thompson

From my home to yours, I wish you a safe and happy holiday weekend that exceeds your every expectation.  I hope your days are joyful ones filled with peace and filled with those you love, and with those who love you.  Merry Christmas!