KIDS and FRIENDS

September 7, 2013

 

Hi Folks,

 

Hope you're enjoying your weekend. I've had some time to work on more blog challenges that I'd like to share... for your enjoyment and mine!  :)

 

TAKE A WORD zeroed in on "childhood" and THE THREE MUSES did the same with "reflections." I created one art piece to satisfy both challenges...

Joy is the theme of the current INSPIRATION AVENUE challenge...

Finally, COLLAGE OBSESSION's challenge is all about "friends..."

Enjoy the remainder of your weekend... I look forward to seeing you some time next week. Thanks for checking in!

 

Hugs,

abbyj



STARTING SLOWLY

July 31, 2013

 

 

Hi Folks! Settling back to my "normal" life and somewhat of a routine again. I'm starting slowly with two art challenges... it's good to get back to creating digital art pieces- always a challenge.

 

The first one is for SUNDAY POSTCARD ART and their theme is "friends."



The second challenge piece is for INSPIRATION AVENUE whose theme is "time." For this, I used a photo I took in Ethiopia of my Kara friend's mother-in-law who is 100+ years old. She's amazing!! Her only problem is her hearing!!



Thanks for checking back. I'll be getting back to my art slowly but SURELY. I hope you'll keep stopping by...

 

Enjoy your weekend.

Big Hugs,

abbyj

FRIENDS, STAMPS, BLUE and THAILAND 
May 31, 2012 

"I wanted to be Prima Ballerina!"

Inspired by challenge art blog THREE MUSES, my 6-word memoir this week flashes back to my much younger years when I knew what I wanted to be...I became a TV producer instead! 

The TAKE A WORD challenge art blog invited participants to create art around the theme, FRIENDS. It was my pleasure to do so!  

  

COLLAGE OBSESSION was in a BLUE mood this week...

Finally, the year-long ART and SOLE POSTCARD CHALLENGE 2012 took us on a virtual journey to Thailand. Quite a distance for us to travel from England, but nonetheless different and exciting. Nicknamed the LAND of SMILES, Thailand is approximately the size of France. Called Siam until 1939, Thailand is known for it's orchids, fish and fish products and it's a major exporter of rice for the world. It's a kingdom that was never colonized by a European power...the only country in South East Asia that wasn't! The main religion is Buddhism...95% of its residents are practicing Buddhists. 

Some unusual facts about the country... 
*Every Thai male is expected to become a monk at some point in his life... it doesn't have to be a permanent commitment. 
*Not wearing underwear can land you in jail!
*It's not unusual to see entire families riding on a motorbike (if they don't have a car.)
*It's not unusual to find a roll of toilet paper on the table in a restaurant...they're the paper napkins!
*One of the favorite desserts is ice cream between two slices of bread...their version of the ice cream sandwich! 

Thank you for joining me this week. I wish you a peaceful, happy week ahead. Hope to see you next week when we'll travel to yet another new country...  

Hugs,
abbyj   

KARA VILLAGE, ETHIOPIA

My Extended Families...the Kara

February 16, 2011...

The reason I posted the previous video about the Kara tribe in the Omo Region of Southern Ethiopia... is because I saw another Kara video on a friend's blog, borrowed from YouTube.  It was NOT what these people are truly like...it only showed beautiful photos of what an inventive photographer dreamed up for them. They're world renown for their intricate  and very often magnificent body and face painting... something they do as is their tradition...NOT only for tourists! They are very wonderful people...warm, curious, fun-loving...who are exposed to few tourists. As this changes...IF this changes... (for they're a vanishing tribe in a very primitive area,) I imagine they'll do whatever it takes to become more well known...like having a photographer pose them in ways that are unfamiliar and atypical of WHO THEY ARE. I have two adopted families within THIS Kara tribe...they've been my extended family for 8 years now. I'd like to share their photos with you...

First, the family of my friend, Walla...her husband and 4 children (one of them named ABBY...after me!!)

This is Walla with Abby

Walla's husband, Dido with their oldest, son Gallipo...holding my "flat" grandchildren...Flat Lilly and Flat Hunter who travel with me everywhere!

Now, Buno and her family...

We speak to each other through an interpreter, with pantomime...and with our hearts.

  

Thanks for checking in...I hope this post was of some interest to you. Please come back soon...  XOX,  abbyj

ADMITTED LOVE AFFAIR...

January 20, 2011

THE ROMANCE of TRAINS

OK, I admit it! I've been having a love affair with trains for most of my life.  As a child, I used to ride the subways of New York City first with my Nana, occasionally with my Mom and eventually alone. At this stage of my life, I've journeyed on trains all over the world and STILL find it magical, curious, romantic....even nostalgic. It's  fascinating...even hypnotizing to travel BEHIND the scenes of cities and towns, seeing what's normally invisible to conventional travelers. Trains have often been  a source of inspiration for my art...freight trains, circus trains, the hobos who "ride the rails" ...the motion of the train as tons of steel glide along...the thrill of the horn...

A couple of pages I did from an art journal about trains with an added trading- card- sized  locomotive painting by dear cyber friend, NICK ROMAINE. He  passed away a couple of months ago... an extraordinary artist! Here are two more of his trains... RIP dear Nick.

A boxcar and locomotive added to my art journal about the Romance of Trains... thanks Nick!

ALL ABOARD...'til the next. Thanks for riding with me...please let me know you were here!   XOX,  abbyj