Stick a fork in it?

I'm not sure whether I've "finished" this or not. I got tired of it and have moved on to another canvas.

This is the original Henri Villiarme that I used as my inspiration and reference.

In the interest of learning more, I'll see what surfaces when I try to paint the scene from memory.

And one could always look at it from a different angle.

Illustration Friday - FIERCE

The witches in Russian folk tales are different than most Westerners expect...

Could Always be Worse: Bull colonoscopy I survived mine. Dignity and cancer-free status intact.

Hope you are taking good care of yourself.

Oh Granny, Oh, Granny, Oh Granny, NO!

If you're hurting somebody "for their own good" you are missing the point.

Read more here.

Warning: pro GLBT content.

Tragedy can strike any where

This is the scene we came across mid-day Sunday. A father, speeding to pick up his children from his ex-wife, probably ran a red light, hit a curb, fire-hydrant, and mini-van with parents, their daughter and two foster children inside, and then went airborn over a pick up truck in a left turn lane. The entire family group was killed. The driver is in critical condition. The woman in the truck was unhurt.

Be careful out there. And grateful every day that's a safe one.

GEORGE CARLIN

Always do whatever's next.
At a formal dinner party, the person nearest death should
always be seated closest to the bathroom.
Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth.
Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over
a long period of time.
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty
things.
Dusting is a good example of the futility of trying to put
things right. As soon as you dust, the fact of your next dusting has already
been established.
Electricity is really just organized lightning.
Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.
Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die, your
soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck. Have you
ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going
faster than you is a maniac?
"I am" is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English
language. Could it be that "I do" is the longest sentence?
I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don't have as
many people who believe it.
I recently went to a new doctor and noticed he was located
in something called the Professional Building. I felt better right away.
I think it would be interesting if old people got
anti-Alzheimer's disease where they slowly began to recover other people's lost
memories.
I think people should be allowed to do anything they want.
We haven't tried that for a while. Maybe this time it'll work.
I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot
more as they get older; then it dawned on me - they're cramming for their final
exam.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the
self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
I would never want to be a member of a group whose symbol was a guy
nailed to two pieces of wood.
I'm always relieved when someone is delivering a eulogy and I realize
I'm listening to it.
I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My
idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of
them together is certain death.
I'm not concerned about all hell breaking loose, but that a PART of
hell will break loose... it'll be much harder to detect.
If God had intended us not to masturbate he would've made our arms
shorter.
If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have
to say the universe aimed rather low and settled for very
little.
If we could just find out who's in charge, we could kill
him.
If you can't beat them, arrange to have them beaten.
In comic strips, the person on the right always speaks first.
Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist.
Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn't mean the circus
has left town.
May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house.
Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just
enough money not to quit.
Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know
what to do about it if I did.
One can never know for sure what a deserted area looks
like.
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
People who say they don't care what people think are usually
desperate to have people think they don't care what people think.
Religion is just mind control.
Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of
things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and
don't have time for all that.
Standing ovations have become far too commonplace. What we need are
ovations where the audience members all punch and kick one another.
The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the
bad girls live.
The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table
had an argument going.
The reason I talk to myself is that I'm the only one whose answers I
accept.
The status quo sucks.
The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time,
somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over
there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.
There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.
There's no present. There's only the immediate future and the recent
past.
Think off-center.
Weather forecast for tonight: dark.
Well, if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire,
what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that part to us, do they?
What does it mean to pre-board? Do you get on before you get on?
When someone is impatient and says, "I haven't got all day," I always
wonder, How can that be? How can you not have all day?
When Thomas Edison worked late into the night on the electric light,
he had to do it by gas lamp or candle. I'm sure it made the work seem that much
more urgent.
When you step on the brakes your life is in your foot's hands.
When you're born you get a ticket to the freak show. When you're born
in America, you get a front row seat.
You know an odd feeling? Sitting on the toilet eating a chocolate
candy bar.
You know the good part about all those executions in Texas? Fewer
Texans.

I'm sorry there won't be any new Carlinisms.

On the path to completion

Finally got back to the studio to work on what I thought was "after Diebenkorn" but is actually after Villierme. And since I'm interpreting a photo of a painting, my colors are quite different from any California landscape, I'm sure! It needs more "toning" but I'm having a great time.

High hopes and Journaling in Denver

Denver-International Originally uploaded by Sultry
I spent a revitalizing, inspiring almost-week in Lakewood Colorado at the Journal Conference 2008: The Power of Writing with 350 like-minded journalers, therapists and writers.

I arrived at dusk and this was the view out of my hotel window. Sunsets with mountains are different than sunsets without.

I spent a fun pre-conference morning with Lucia Capacchione scribbling to music with my non-dominant hand. I didn't learn much new technique, but there were surprising insights.

And I finally learned how SHE pronounces her name: ca-pa-key-OH-neh.

The afternoon was spent with Kate Thompson in a discussion/experience of self-supervision through journaling. I heard of something called Reflective Professional Journaling that I think should be taught to all professionals, regardless of field.

James Pennebaker, the original scientist and measurer of journal writing benefits gave the keynote. He was funny, optimistic and factual as ever.


I enjoyed writing with my newish Lamy pen so much, I got worried I'd run out of ink. After some time at the Sheraton's S-link, I found that the Paradise Pen Company carried the right cartridges. I braved the highways, byways and one-way streets of Denver to get to Tabor Center and an amazing array of writing instruments. Bliss.








Tristine Rainer keynoted an afternoon session, and then I had a seminar with her the following morning. She's written and produced movies, was an academic protege of Anais Nin, wrote The New Diary and Your Life as Story. She also founded the Center for Autobiographical studies. I shouldn't have been surprised that she was older than she looked! She was academic and intelligent AND approachable. I was inspired. I'm looking forward to the memoir of her life with Anais Nin.

I found these two signs adjacent each other while investigating the neighborhood. Anybody else think they should not be in the same vicinity? I guess it makes sense to skate board when there's no snow for snowboarding.


Linda Joy Myers was charming. She came across as warm, genuine and knowledgeable. (She's written books about healing through writing your own story, her memoir about stopping the inter generational pattern of daughter abandonment by mothers and has founded a group for memoir writers. (If you are airing the family laundry, or letting the skeletons out of the closet, it makes sense you'd want a support group!)

I had dinner with my book (Hide by Linda Gardner) at Cafe Bisque. Pricey and divine. I wish they had a location in Dallas.

The geese have right away on a major street. They waddled to the beat of their own drummer, too. Slowly.

Couldn't help but enjoy the skies, clouds and high-plains fauna.
Finished this luscious, giant piece of cake faster than I finished the mystery novel. Both were rich and satisfying.


Thursday evening I attempted to squeeze in two nearly simultaneous events. Tristine's talk and a book signing by Nicky Epstein at Showers of Flowers. The bookstore helper didn't have a great grasp of Denver streets (or right/left or East/West) so I missed her. (Maybe next time I'll ask the car rental company for a GPS system!) But I found the shop Saturday before I left and got a signed copy of her scarf book and some teeny weeny sock needles that I hadn't seen at that good a price at my LYS.
Be sure to read the Sharon's story here.

I also tracked down KnitKnack , which has a cozier feel, but a less overwhelming inventory. (Both owners keep their dogs in their shop, so it felt like home.) At KnitKnack you can have latte or cocoa... which must really be a treat in those Colorado winters.

I was tired and ready to go home. But Denver had one more surprise. Millions (well, 5280) of tiny propellers in the airport tram tunnel. Nobody I asked knew what they were "for."
Turns out they are civic ART.

What a perfect way to end a week focused on personal expression and creativity.

Martian landing?

Martian landing?
Originally uploaded by Sultry

Actually, these are onions (Allium)! Click on the photograph to see what else is blooming now.

Tools ready

Tools ready
Originally uploaded by Sultry

And my inspiration strikes when it's too hot!
I should promise myself to get up at dawn and hoe and weed and plant and transplant, and then do more at dusk.

Every Bird Should Get To Fly

This sort of twisted my thinking into knots (or a lacy bit) but it makes me happy!