ART and SOLE CALENDAR CHALLENGE 

OCTOBER 1, 2015 

 I can't imagine that it's October 1st and here in Central New York, it's feeling very Fall-ish. Leaves are crunchy underfoot and the colors of the trees and bushes are turning into vibrant, rich shades of gold, red, rust and brown...it's the most beautiful of our four seasons.

The beginning of each month is "reveal time" for the ART and SOLE CALENDAR CHALLENGE. This month, our task was to:
1- Keep part of the original art in the finished piece
2-Technique- use water, bleach or rubbing alcohol to remove color to create a pattern
3-Add- add something or use the style of a famous artist. Tell us which artist and why you like him/her.

The October artist on my calendar is American painter, John Singer Sargent (1856-1925.) The picture is a portrait of "Mrs. Fiske Warren and Her Daughter Rachel." Here's the original...

and here's my reworked piece based on the art of  Vincent Van Gogh, brilliant but unstable Dutch Post-Impressionist artist. I love his style because of his bold, vibrant, energetic and confident strokes... confident  in spite of his troubled life.

Thanks for checking in...I hope you'll return for my next posting. Stay well... I wish you a happy heart!
Big Hugs,
abbyj  

STUCK IN and PLAYING :)
October 10, 2012

I promise I won't breathe or cough on you...not sure my flu shot worked as I'm stuck in with an awful cold! No "poor me" here as I'm enjoying my time playing on the computer. Here are my latest pieces... hope YOU'RE enjoying your week, too!!

CRAZY AMIGO challenge blog wanted to see some falling leaves... just like fall here in Central New York...

INSPIRATION AVENUE asked participating artists to create in  "mostly orange"...

Finally, COLLAGE OBSESSION was thinking shades of  "brown..."  I was thinking HALLOWEEN!

Enjoy the rest of your week... Hope to see you for my next posting!

No hugs but lots of love,
abbyj

New York State Fair, Hungary, etc. 
August 31, 2012 

Family and holiday...Happy Labor Day! 

Greetings, Family and Friends,

Hard to imagine it's Labor Day weekend, signaling the end of summer (in MY mind!) The children are back in school next week to start their scholastic year... happy day, Moms!!! The great New York State Fair is also one of the harbingers of summer's end. Our family comes down from Canada to enjoy it with us... the food, the rides, the eye candy...

This is a sight that made me smile...a usual sight in the cow barn... the farmer staying beside his "family" for the duration of the Fair... sweet!

Darcy's ART and SOLE POSTCARD CHALLENGE this week invited us to travel and experience HUNGARY... virtually, of course! Interesting things about the country... it's the home of the Rubik's Cube- remember that? The ball point pen and holography was also invented in Hungary. One of the oldest countries in Europe,  it also has a sizeable population of Roma (gypsies,) boasts the world's largest geothermal cave system, is home to the Mangalitsa, delicious-tasting piggies! Whereas most popular breeds of hogs are raised for meat, these hogs (also raised for meat) are extreme lard-type animals. This means they provide high-quality fat that's more unsaturated than normal pig fat so it's healthier... also very marbled, juicy,  flavorful meat. In addition, they're really cute with curly hair. Finally, Hungary produces a very well known and loved white wine. Here is my book page, postcard message and postcard- 

My "etc." this week is about blog art challenges... my usual obsession! First up is the COLLAGE OBSESSION blog challenge centering on MUSHROOMS...

INSPIRATION AVENUE's blog challenge declared one of my favorite themes... windows and/or doors. I was dreaming about the most beautiful colors of our upcoming Fall days.....

Finally, THINK MONDAY-THINK ATC wanted to see art based on words with more than one meaning... I thought of so many, but settled on two...

That's it for this posting, folks. Thanks for checking in... hope to see you again!! Enjoy these final days of summer (or whatever season you're leaving behind for another year.)

Hugs,
abbyj 

TIME PASSAGES

The Subject is TIME... 
September 18, 2011 

 "TIME RACES

WE GLIMPSE ITS PASSING" 

We visited with my 94 year old Aunt Barbara this weekend...she's still sharp of mind and tongue and still fun to be with! She lost the love of her life several months ago...the ravages of time passing. This is my Aunt and her beloved some years ago.

Now, on to some blog art challenges...

TAKE A WORD: Music

Music is such a universal pleasure, crossing over all lines that divide us as human beings. It's certainly food for my soul...my life is better because music is so much a part of my life.! 

COLLAGE OBSESSION: Peace

Two interpretations for PEACE...Peace as the absence of  fear of terrorism and war- the motto for the 60's was "make love, not war." It was a time when people believed in tolerance and all the freedoms! Then, there's personal peace... peace in your heart- something we wish and pray for! Perhaps in the lifetime of our grandchildren we'll see both...

INSPIRATION  AVE./ THREE MUSES: FALL/AUTUMN

I LOVE fall (or autumn) for it's extraordinary palette of colors; for the sounds of crunching leaves beneath my feet and of laughter of children bursting forth from the school yards; for the smells of pumpkin pie, roasted turkey and burning leaves...and I love fall because it leads right into my second favorite season...WINTER!

Thanks so much for stopping by THE VIVERE for  a snapshot of my life... hope you'll visit with me again...

xox,
abbyj 

BUSY TIME

STARTING SCHOOL,  9/11... and ART
September 7, 2011 

Fall is my favorite season and here in Central New York, it's THE MOST beautiful season. Against the deep blue sky, the leaves...the stars of Fall... announce themselves in shades of hot red, glowing orange, vibrant yellow and earthy brown. They linger on the trees for their last bit of life, before falling to the ground to crunch beneath our feet. The cooler temperatures sweep in over summer's waning heat and the growing season comes to full fruition before winding down for its long winter sleep...FALL! 

"FALL is:   colors...and school starting."

Challenge blogs Three Muses  (WORDS) and 4X4 Friday (FALL) can both be satisfied with the above piece

The excitement of a new school year, new friends... growing older... the same, through the ages!

Collage Obsession asked to see our artistic interpretation of the word SLOTH...

Inspiration Avenue was all about PATTERNS this week...and again, Three Muses wanted artists to create something with words added... The leopard was one I saw hunting while in Africa a few trips ago...powerful, menacing and oh so beautiful!

Think Monday-Think ATC declared their theme for the week to be NOSTALGIA. What's more nostalgic than a very early bicycle built-for-two?

 

 

 

Finally, on a very serious note, we're approaching the anniversary of the terrible tragedy of what's come to be known as simply "9/11."  At 8:45 AM on September 11, 2001, the first of two airlines struck the World Trade Center in New York City. It was the beginning  of a series of coordinated terrorist attacks on our United States. At 9:03 AM, a second plane crashed into the other World Trade Center tower and exploded. With both buildings ablaze, hundreds of rescue personnel rushed to the scene. The twin towers collapsed from the top down, releasing a tremendous cloud of debris and smoke...a horrifying picture! At 9:43 AM, a third passenger plane crashed into the Pentagon and 10:48 AM marked the crash of a fourth passenger jet in western Pennsylvania.  It was the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil...all passengers aboard the jets were killed as were more than 3,000 people on the ground. Although I didn't know anyone personally involved in these attacks, I feel connected to those who were lost and those who lost loved ones and friends...we're ALL connected! I mourn those who died as well as their friends and families on this 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

I'd like to also honor those who continue to risk their lives, fighting for our safety and our continuing freedom...this is the SOLITARY WARRIOR. My thoughts and prayers are with each and every solitary warrior...wishing a safe return home to every one!

 Thanks so much for stopping by...see you again?

Hugs,
abbyj