POSTAGE STAMP PEOPLE 

APRIL 25, 2015 

Did you ever try to put a postage stamp on a completed picture to create the image of  a new person? That's what I did with COLLAGE OBSESSION's challenge for the theme SCIENCE and INVENTION. Introducing Albert Einstein, man of science! What fun!!

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Hugs,

abbyj

OLD PHOTO MEMORIES 

April 24, 2015 

Although we've had a bit of snow over the last couple of days, spring is definitely in the air. I see bits of new green here and there...at least I THINK I do!!  

 The backdrop of frost...

a lone daffodil conducts

Winter's requiem

Today's art pieces, for me, have to do with photo memories...

The challenge blog, TAKE A WORD, requested a piece of art included in a family album...

This is an adopted relative...sweet child...

and this is a photo of my father and my aunt...both very dear...

THE THREE MUSES asked to see a book cover of our own creation. I turned to my Africa photos for this cover. It may someday be the cover of a real children's book!

Thanks so much for checking in again. Please come back...

Big Hugs,

abbyj

ARTFUL READERS CLUB REVIEW

LEAVING TIME by JODI PICOULT

April 24, 2015 

It's that time again...book review time for those of us who participate in  the ARTFUL READERS CLUB... an outgrowth of Darcy Wilkinson's blog, ART AND SOLE. My selection this month is LEAVING TIME by Jodi Picoult.

Alice was a scientist who studied grief patterns among African elephants. She moved her study venue to New Hampshire when she married a researcher who ran an elephant sanctuary there...then she disappeared. This is the story of their daughter Jenna, a teen searching for her missing mother, Alice. She went missing when Jenna was 3. At 13, Jenna's ready to launch her own investigation. By using a multi-character point of view, Picoult has each character provide a piece of the puzzle that leads to Alice's disappearance from the sanctuary (soon after a co-worker was trampled to death.) Jenna enlists the help of Virgil, a former cop who worked on the disappearance 10 years earlier... to no avail, and Serenity, a psychic who no longer believes in her gift. They all played their part in taking us to a satisfying and totally unexpected, SHOCKING conclusion!!

The author blends nature and nurture to balance the plight of the Asian and African elephants with the yearning of a child to find her mother. Often writing about controversial subjects pertaining to today's society, Picoult found the plight of wild elephants in Africa and Asia fit the bill. There are quite a few chapters dedicated to elephants, their behavior and the impact of poaching. Being a frequent visitor to Africa and Asia and having met and observed many elephant families, this was of great interest to me. Jodi Picoult certainly did her research. Her book is based on information garnered from real-life elephant researchers and includes a list of their books for those interested.

This is a story of love and respect, grief and loss and the love between a mother and her child... both elephant and human. It's moving, poignant, full of mystery, intrigue, adultery and a twist at the end that blew me away!!

If I were an elephant, I'd trumpet LEAVING TIME by Jodi Picoult. I loved it!

Here's my art representation of the book...

If you love elephants, I highly recommend this book as much of it is devoted to elephant behavior.

Thanks for stopping by...hope to "see" you again for my next posting.

Hugs,

abbyj

...AND THIS ONE 

APRIL 21, 2015 

On a trip to India a while ago, we were privileged to see tigers in the wild. To me, they're the most beautiful, graceful animals on the face of the earth. I've loved them since I was a child so you can imagine how thrilled I was!! I took as many photos as humanly possible...more to play with. And, play I did when TAKE A WORD challenge blog requested a black and white piece of art for this week. Though I felt badly reducing this beautiful creature to black and white, it's beauty shines through no matter WHAT color!! 

"Do not blame God for having created the tiger, but thank HIM for not having given it wings."  

                                                        Ethiopian Proverb

 Thanks for checking in once again. See you soon?

 

Big Hugs,

abbyj 

ART...AGAIN! 

April 19, 2015 

What a beautiful weekend here in Central New York! Spring is in the air, but if I were a betting woman, I'd bet that we have more snow.  It certainly wouldn't be the first time we've had snow on Mother's Day (not 'til May, I know!!)

I found time to answer two more art challenges...so much fun to get back to them and to be sharing them with you. :)

First, for THE THREE MUSES, a "blackbird." Because Fall is my most favorite season, I was picturing him on a park bench with autumn leaves around him...

The last piece is for a new-to-me online art group called TRY IT ON TUESDAY. They were interested in "new beginnings..."

Thanks for checking back...please DO come again.

Big Hugs,

abbyj