What to do with those pesky magazine subscription cards

Glue them onto a cradled wood board

Start smearing on paint with a credit card

Add more paint

Carve a stamp

Stamp repeatedly

Draw some flowers

Add more paint and some stamens

Debate whether the piece needs anything else.

Start another.

Abner

Abner Ben Yoder King Stoltzfus, March 2000-May10, 2013

Abner, dog of many names (not all good)

Abber

Abnerito

Abernito

Abenair

Pup

Puppito

Idjit

DogDog

Fool

F#*@monkey

Stinkbucket

Littledawg

For the Love of Pete

Damnit

Sir

Son

Ate his last stick on Friday afternoon.  Well missed.

The Littlest Thing

Somehow the photo of this little guy did not make it into the last post.  This might just be my favorite little "lost" plant.

I wonder what will become of it.

Charleston. The Little Things. Part 1

I've had my new Canon Rebel camera since Christmas.  I have done so little with it.  I'm somewhat intimidated by it.  I am easily intimidated.

Today I decided to take a short walk with my camera.  My plan was not to take "big" pictures.  I am most fascinated by the little things in my new town -- especially the small bits of foliage that have carved out hostile places to live.

I can somehow relate to them.

Take to the Sky

Fish are Jumpin', Cotton is High - in progress

Recently, I was shuffling through some unused drawings I had cut out of textbooks and never used. Two jumped out at me at practically the same time -- the yellow cotton piece and the jumping green fish piece.  Immediately, the song "Summertime" jumped into my head and this collage began.  I have no idea how many recorded versions of this song are out there, but to me, only one stands out.  Way out.  No one can top Janis Joplin wailin' out these words:


Summertime, 
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high

Oh, Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry

One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll take to the sky

But until that morning
There's a'nothing can harm you
With your daddy and mammy standing by

Summertime, 
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry

Songwriters: GERSHWIN, GEORGE / HEYWARD, DU BOSE / HEYWARD, DOROTHY / GERSHWIN, IRA

Janis puts a certain kind of melancholy and desperation into this song that completely resonates with me.  The sky is yellow with heat.  There's joy and release in letting everything that's inside of you out into the air.  The menace of sorrow and rain is a wide ribbon of black on the horizon.

and Beyond

(exploration and experimentation)

I'm finally working on my newest piece in more than three months.

I've heard of artists moving and, between packing, moving and unpacking, almost no time was lost.  Can't say that about myself.

A new city invites (demands) almost constant exploration.

My new piece is based on exploration and experimentation.  I've spent this week working with Vasco
da Gama, Charles Darwin, Ferdinand Magellan, Isaac Newton and Henry the Navigator (whoever that is).  The piece also includes some bird and boating imagery.  Perhaps this all reflects my move to Charleston.  If so, it was not intentional.  This piece also contains a diagram and information about diphtheria.  I'm hoping there is no connection there.

To infinity . . . and beyond!

New Studio

Finally.

Much smaller, indeed, than my Pennsylvania studio.  And I must say sorry to my guests who won't be able to stay in this room when visiting.  Note the palmetto tree outside of my window in the top photo.  Love it!  I've seen squirrels in it gathering fibrous bits and pieces to build their nests.  Note, also, kitty cat.  While many, many repairs were made to the house, she was hidden away in this room and lived in the cupboard for several days.  It is a bright and warm room and is now her favorite.  I will have to work hard to keep cat hairs out of my work.

Since these photos were taken, we have hung up most of my larger pieces.  It is so wonderful to have vertical walls!

Now it is time, finally, to go into the studio and make a hell of a mess.