CHALLENGES

ART BLOG INVITATIONS 
November 17, 2011 

"Rafters of turkeys in our backyard..."

I can't help but wonder why it is that we only see large rafters of wild turkeys throughout October and November... exactly when they're "in season" and should be making themselves scarce! Strange...don't you think? They are interesting creatures...always seem to be RUNNING. Are they running to or from somewhere?

"Coexistence... what the farmer does with the turkey...until Thanksgiving!"   Mike Connolly   

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Memories of summer are found in the SUNDAY POSTCARD ART  invitation to create an art piece about POPPIES...

"I am a being of Heaven and Earth,

                          of thunder and lightning,

of rain and wind,

of the galaxies."  

Eden Ahbe

Thoughts of our fast-approaching winter are found in 4X4 FRIDAY's art challenge... to create  a piece of art representative of a FROST QUEEN...

Frosty morning trees

start the day by promising

better things to come

It's usually during the winter months that all the carnivals and mardi gras occur... INSPIRATION AVENUE nudged artists into the mood with its call for HARLEQUIN-themed art...

Carnivale time...

evil and funny faces...

which of them are real

Finally, we learn about all this and more in school. I wonder what kind of teacher Albert Einstein would have been... The folks at the COLLAGE OBSESSION challenge blog really like the guy and invited artists to create a piece of art featuring THE MAN...  In a small tribute to him, I gave him a vase of POPPIES!

Thanks so much for checking in with Life...The Vivere. I hope you'll return for my next posting...

Happy Holidays...off for Thanksgiving!  Hope yours is wonderful and blessed!

xox,

abbyj

PAIN FREE and NEW ART

BLESSINGS and IMAGES 
July 22, 2011 

WooHoo! My back surgery was successful and I'm pain free as of July 20, 2011. With a bit of physical therapy for my right foot when the doctor deems it safe to return to any kind of exercise, I will be totally back to normal... (whatever NORMAL is!)  This has been a deja vu experience for me as I had the same back injury (herniated disc) in 2006 and recovered completely. About the hospital, though...

it's definitely not a place to go for some R&R. One would think that after major surgery, sleep would be important...even crucial. Not so...it's more important for nursing staff to turn on all the lights in your room every 30-60 minutes to check your pulse, blood pressure, temperature; administer medication; check how your body parts move... Finally, after realizing that they were doing it all for MY benefit, I threw in the towel and decided I'd sleep at home. So frustrating, though. Well, here I am at home and am still having trouble sleeping!! Aah, life is good!

I have had the opportunity to work on several art pieces...challenges and otherwise...since I've been home. I work both standing and sitting to remain comfortable.  
THREE MUSES  asked artists to submit something with an ORIENTAL flavor... 

THEME THURSDAY asked us to think ROMANCE...

INSPIRATION AVENUE  had us employing WINGS in our art... 

COLLAGE OBSESSION asked us to create a sunset view...when Michael and I were in Myanmar, we saw an unusual way of fishing practiced by the INTHE fishermen....they row their boats with their legs. This happens on the "other side of sunset" as the waters of Myanmar are usually quiet and peaceful. But in this little corner...

Over the last few weeks, I've been responding to some challenges and entered some "swaps" with some of my favorite online artist friends and groups...from PAPER TRADERS...
These for an ANATOMY swap...

and these for a Word Prompt Journal made up of words for life...

 That's it for now, folks! Thanks for stopping by yet again, I really appreciate your interest. Wish me well on my recovery...I'm grateful for all of you.

xox,
abbyj